APC rejects landfill expansion

FRANKFORT, Ind (WLFI) - Clinton County's Area Plan Commission voted not to expand a landfill. Many spoke out against the expansion. Around 120 people came to a public hearing for the Area Plan Commission at the 4-H building at the fair grounds. The APC took comments for four hours on two issues. The first was changing the zoning for the landfill. The current zoning is Industrial.  The new designation would be called Landfill District. The second issue is whether or not to expand the landfill. The discussion became heated at one point when a man yelled out comments from his seat in the back instead of going to the podium. The board called for order. No one spoke in favor of expanding the landfill.

"Clinton County is not everyone's garbage dump," said Elaine Lawson of Frankfort.

"The state standards are not protective enough. Already there is documented contamination at the site," said Wabash River Keeper Rae Schnapp.

"Is there any plan to make sure they don't bring in outside trash?" said Bill Caddell of Frankfort.

Concerns included making sure regional trash is not accepted at the landfill, water quality, and declining property values. The Area Plan Commission voted to change the zoning for the landfill from Industrial to Landfill District. The board then voted 6 to 1 not to expand the landfill. Those recommendation will go to the County Commission.  The commissioners have the final say and will discuss the issue at their July meeting.