Council tables landfill vote after emotional hearing

KINGSTREE – A public hearing regarding the proposed new Williamsburg County landfill was held at the county council chambers on Thursday, Oct. 2. In a surprise move, the council voted 4-3 to table the third reading pending further study. Opposed to the tabling motion, were Harry (BoBo) Huggins, W. B. Wilson, and and Andy McKnight.
Ann Rogers-Chandler summed up the feelings of area residents, when she made an emotional appeal, noting that she was the widow of Bill Chandler who had tirelessly worked for the county's benefit. "This project would break his heart," she said. "Please don't bring this into our county." A steady stream of citizens pleaded with the county council not to enter into the agreement to develop the landfill. One who passionately opposed the agreement said, "Y'all give us three minutes to speak, when you are requiring a lifetime committment for us. I'm going to have my say, and you can take me to jail if you want." His speech was cheered by the audience.
Some citizens were opposed to tabling the vote, as they said the county would sneak in a vote when no one was watching, to create the huge landfill.
The plan, if all contingent permits are obtained, would open a landfill that would accept municipal solid waste from outside the county, making it one of the largest landfills in the state.
The hearing was attended by about 200 people, nearly unanimously opposed to the landfill as proposed. Most waited after the long hearing to see how the vote turned out.
During the council meeting, Supervisor Stanley Pasley requested an executive session to consider an amendment to the contract. Weekly Observer Editor David Green objected to the session, as no amendment was on the agenda. The council recessed for an executive session, except for council members Franklin Fullmore and BoBo Huggins, who stayed in the auditorium. No amendment was mentioned after the open session continued, rather there was a vote to table.
Rhonda Daniels said after meeting regarding the surprise vote, “We can look at it two different ways. It could be a good thing that they have heard all the information we presented and will develop a better plan. Or it could be that they are just trying to wait us out and take another vote when we aren’t looking. We know we have to have another dump to replace the Salters dump, but we just don’t want a megadump that takes other people’s waste."
Council member W. B. Wilson, who represents the Nesmith area, said he opposed the tabling motion because, “We needed to take a vote and settle this.”
The plan was disclosed on August 26 to the county council and the public by MRR Williamsburg, which had contracted for the site selection of the project. The company had narrowed down possible locations to three sites, one at Hebron, one at Greeleyville and one at Nesmith, with the company recommending the Nesmith as the best of the three. County council has previously held first and second readings on a contract for development of the Nesmith site with MRR.
At the August 26 presentation meeting, County Supervisor Stanley Pasley said the public/private cooperative agreement would mean that the county would own the landfill, but the company would operate it at no cost to the county. He indicated that the landfill would produce revenue instead.
Ron Gilkerson of MRR Southern said the company would generate its income from tipping fees, some of which could come from other coastal counties. At that time he said the company did not plan to be receiving waste from distant sites – a statement disputed by the total tonnage of waste that is proposed.
Area residents point out that the proposed landfill is expected to input 1.8 millions tons of municipal solid waste each year, while Williamsburg County produces less than 18 thousand tons.