Landfill concerns and subdivision issues were voiced Tuesday by some Bryan County residents during the Bryan County Board of Commissioners’ meeting in the County Administrative Complex.

Lynda Morse questioned commissioners and county officials about the current county ordinance that prohibits a landfill from being built off of a county-maintained road.

County Administrator Phil Jones told Morse the current ordinance says such a facility should indeed be built off of a state road. He added that Atlantic Waste Services, the company proposing to build a solid waste landfill in Black Creek, has submitted an application to change the ordinance.

However, Jones said that application could not be processed until the Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) addresses development of regional impact (DRI) issues, large-scale developments that impact more than just the county in which the development lies.

“Anyone has the right to submit (an application to the county), but the board does not have to approve,” Jones said.
Morse said it seemed the county was willing to change its ordinances for “big business” but not for the residents of the county.

Jones reiterated that just because Atlantic Waste Services has submitted an application to change the ordinance does not automatically mean the ordinance will be changed.

“The Constitution and due process of law requires that we have to allow that procedure to be complied with,” County Attorney John Harvey added. “No matter how many people show up and object and make statements and accusations at the commissioners, we are going to go through this process step-by-step.”

Read more in the Aug. 13 edition of the News.