Duplin officials preparing landfill franchise ordinance
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on November 10, 2005 1:45 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County commissioners voted 4-2 Monday to have county staff draft a landfill franchise ordinance.
The action came after a presentation by W.E. Foster, who asked commissioners why they were not considering a request by Waste Industries for a franchise. The company wants to build a landfill in Duplin and contract with the county to haul and dispose of residents' waste.
Commissioners said they want the ordinance ready for review in 30 days.
Commissioners L.S. Guy and Arliss Albertson voted against the measure.
Commissioner David Fussell said he had prepared a suggested landfill franchise ordinance for County Attorney Wendy Sivori to review. He said he wanted it voted on Nov. 21.
County Manager Fred Eldridge said he and Sivori would work on the proposed ordinance but he did not promise to have it ready as soon as commissioners wanted.
"We'll be glad to move forward, but we're not sure we can have it by the next meeting," he said. "I've seen them two pages long, and I've seen them 20 pages long."
The request for a franchise ordinance was made five years ago, said Commissioner Zettie Williams. She said state law requires a county have a landfill franchise ordinance in place.
The commissioners' action displeased some county residents. Deborah Kornegay of Citizens for a Safe Environment said Foster was permitted to speak to commissioners during the public comment part of the meeting but that members of her group, who oppose a landfill, were not allowd to get on the agenda.
"The explanation given to me was that citizens were allowed to speak only at the public comment part of the meeting and for only three minutes, and we abided by that rule."