Thursday, March 4, 2021

Landfill Bill Goes to Governor

 State Representative Jill Ford pulled it off.  The Legislature passed a bill that will limit the number of landfills in a county.  Representative Ford introduced the bill in response to a controversy that broke out in Madison County over a third landfill. 

Representatives Jill Ford, Ed Blackmon, and Deborah Gibbs sponsored HB #949.  The bill prohibits a county from having more than two landfills unless  the voters approve additional landfills in a referendum. Text and history of bill. 

The bill overwhelmingly passed both chambers.  It heads to Governor Tate Reeves for his signature. 

Representative Ford said

This was a bipartisan issue that had the opportunity to negatively effect all property owners in Mississippi.  I am most grateful to Rep. Ed Blackmon for agreeing to coauthor this bill with me.  By working together, we will continue to do great things for the people of Mississippi. 

I am confident that Governor Reeves will see the importance in signing this bill into law.

The organization No More Dumps issued the following statement. 

Madison County voters would have a say in whether any new household garbage dumps are sited in their community under a bill on its way to the desk of Gov. Tate Reeves.

Mississippi’s legislative leadership worked with a bipartisan, diverse coalition of lawmakers from Madison and Hinds counties to craft and pass House Bill 949. Specifically, the bill would prohibit a third landfill unless Madison County voters are given an opportunity to vote on the proposed NCL landfill in western Madison County because of its close proximity to an existing municipal landfill.

On Wednesday, the Mississippi House of Representatives took the final legislative step in approval by voting 107-3 to concur with the State Senate on House Bill 949 giving voters in the affected county a chance to vote yes or no on having multiple dumps in their county.

The State Senate passed the bill unanimously on Tuesday, and it will now go to the Governor for action.

“I am just so grateful for the people in our community,” said Sylvia Thomas of the North Livingston Homeowner’s Association. “We’ve fought this proposed landfill for many years and were worried sick about a second landfill’s impact on our neighborhood. We thank our legislative leaders for standing up for us and putting the people’s interests before the interests of a big company.” 

“We are thrilled both chambers of the legislature stood strong for the people affected by having multiple landfills near them,” said said Ron Farris, attorney for No More Dumps, a coalition of over 2,000 concerned citizens. “This is the result of real bipartisan teamwork and a sort of David and Goliath story. The entire community came together to fight for the people’s interest against a big, powerful company with millions of dollars and won. This speaks well of Mississippi and our strong support of environmental justice.”

 NCL Waste, LLC has sought approval from the State for years to locate a landfill at 2858 North County Line Road near Ridgeland, Mississippi and right next to the state’s largest landfill. Early last year, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) permit board tabled consideration of the landfill until Madison County updated its solid waste needs assessment. Meanwhile, the garbage company put tremendous legal pressure on the Madison County Board of Supervisors to do their bidding, but were stymied by local opposition, including from supervisors.

Local legislators proposed a similar bill to HB 949 last year, but it failed. This year, a bipartisan coalition of State Representatives Jill Ford, Ed Blackmon, Debra Gibbs and De‘Keither Stamps were determined to find a solution and co-sponsored HB 949. With additional support coming from Speaker Philip Gunn, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, and many other legislators, the bill passed with incredibly strong support in both chambers and now will go to Governor Tate Reeves for his review.

“We are celebrating in the Woodland Springs neighborhood and all over Madison County,” said Cynthia McGilberry, a registered nurse who lives within a mile of the proposed landfill. “We already have the state’s largest landfill just across the woods from us and all the negatives that come with that. Another dump would have been an injustice to the people. This gives me hope; I am thankful for the politicians who did the right thing.”

If the NCL proposed landfill were built, Madison County would be the only county in Mississippi with three such landfills.  Opponents from across the political spectrum agree that an unneeded landfill will threaten property values, quality of life and the environment.

“This is a victory for economic development in our area,” said Katie Warren, 2020 President of the Central Mississippi REALTORS®. “Our organization is invested in growing neighborhoods and communities, and this will give more opportunity for families to build houses and the local economy to thrive.”

“This is very encouraging, but the NCL landfill is not dead yet,” said Farris, the attorney for No More Dumps. “We need the Governor to sign the bill and if NCL were to get approval from MDEQ in the future, we will need to win a local referendum rejecting a third landfill in Madison County.”

Some of the community leaders opposing this landfill include Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee, Jackson Mayor Chockwe Antar Lumumba, former U.S. Senator Trent Lott, the Ridgeland board of aldermen, Canton Mayor William Truly, the Canton board of aldermen, Hinds County Board of Supervisors, some of the Madison County supervisors, Ridgeland Alderman D.I. Smith and thousands of other local citizens. 


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

When you get odd bedfellows such as this, you likely end up with an unconstitutional bill.

Anonymous said...

BUT we never heard a damn word of support from that idiot Louie Miller.

Anonymous said...

Bunch of so called free market Conservatives, eh?

Burke said...

Jill Ford is the anti-Lynn Fitch. It wouldn't surprise me if they are friends, but Jill is on her way up while Lynn descends. She is a capable woman who has finally found a way to demonstrate her considerable abilities on the public stage.

I know Jill and Lynn, but not that well in either case. I'm just going on what I've witnessed over the years.

Anonymous said...

"It all depends..."
This is another of those many examples of government regulation which we certainly hate but on which we certainly depend. Give me liberty but give
me help. When? It all depends...

On this we can all agree.

Anonymous said...

Jill is a realtor. Realtors are worthless.

Anonymous said...

But will the Guv sign it? His former college roommate,‘basketball teammate and best bud is the Lord Snow attorney who represented NCL.

Anonymous said...

@322pm—-Failed your real estate license exam—-did you??

Anonymous said...

Don't forget Feel Brant's close association with the head dog at the landfill company. Meanwhile; isn't it a bit late for this bill to surface since the alligator is already in the water?

Never could trust a blonde who was really a brunette. My grandpappy told me that.

Anonymous said...

Who the fark is Louie Miller and why should be care?

1962guy said...

Not in my backyard (again)

The most equitable way to silence this landfill issue is to require all counties to dispose of their waste within their own borders. That way everybody gets a landfill, recycling center, etc. based on need and volume of trash, not politics, or commercial interests.

Anonymous said...

I'm from Madison County. They haven't convinced me that there is this urgent problem that allows them to restrain trade. As the current landfills fill up are they allowed to enlarge? Does that require a vote? If not, aren't those landfill owners being given a huge gift? What's the difference from landfill Flopsy adding 100 acres vs new landfill Mopsy opening 100 acres? When you start restraining trade like this the cost of everything increases. Most every business has to pay for trash disposal. Certainly every home does. When the dumps have to jump thru these hoops they will charge more and we will all pay more. Not sure exactly what we are getting. Are the dumps required to maintain a buffer zone around the perimeter? If not why not? Maybe that buffer should be larger but otherwise stop the interference with business? All the publicity seems to come from one side and they are very short on specifics.

Anonymous said...

8:10 - You obviously do not know that the intent of a third landfill is to take in garbage from OTHER counties and even OTHER states.

Of course buffer zones are required. Speaking of being short on specifics...you are real short on knowledge. Or is your post required by some sort of assignment given in a freshman government class at one of the local area private schools of higher education?

Anonymous said...

6:29 you are a genius and I wish I would have thought of that. While we are at it beside all 82 landfills we could put 82 power plants!

Anonymous said...

I wish they would pass a bill that would limit nail salons, used car lots, check cashing, convenience stores. Better still one that would ban TV commercials from: lawyers, drug manufactures, Medicare supplement plans.

Anonymous said...

Gubmint knows best. Shut up and pay your taxes.

Anonymous said...

8:10, Stop this immediately. Common sense questions are not allowed on this site. My God man.

Anonymous said...

1:25, did you have to try and demean people all of the time? Please post your Mensa Certificate so we may see if you qualify.

Anonymous said...

Let's open a landfill and a sewage treatment plant next to 8:10's alleged property, upwind. Then across the street, squeeze in some more beer stations, liquor stores, homeless shelters, fireworks stands, pawnshops, storage units, strip clubs, and marijuana dispensaries. Unless he's in Rankin County and the Board of Supervisors has already done that.

Let's not "restrain trade." I believe in the FreeDumb Trade system and GubMint is the PROBLEM!!

We are well on the way to being Pottersville, and no bunch of prissy little folks are gonner stop us.

Anonymous said...

People who have zero knowledge of the situation offering opinions. Classic. Then we have 10:14 who offers less than nothing other than also being 8:10 and 10:11. Oh...lol

Anonymous said...

Finish the pumps!


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