Lincoln County adopts local restriction on outside landfills ('Jackson law')

Lincoln County commissioners on Jan. 20 voted to adopt a local landfill restriction the chair described at the meeting as "TCA 6 8 2 1 1 7 0 1, which is Jackson law," saying the provision limits who may put landfills in the county and that allowing an outside person to do so would require a two-thirds vote of the commission.

The chair read the statute language during the meeting and then solicited a motion. Commissioner Rose Walter moved to adopt the measure and Commissioner Taylor seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The chair characterized the provision as a local safeguard to retain control over landfill siting, saying city and county approvals are required and that a two-thirds vote would be necessary to permit an outside entity. No legal text beyond the reading at the meeting was distributed there; the county attorney was assigned to prepare implementation steps after approval.

The action changes the county’s formal posture on landfill siting by adding a procedural threshold for approval; the commission did not take additional implementing administrative steps at the meeting beyond directing the county attorney to proceed.