The Madison County Board of Commissioners voted 3–2 on Dec. 29 to approve a conditional‑use permit allowing a waste transfer station on a 5‑acre parcel at 0 Business Drive in Hull.

The motion to approve, made by Commissioner Goldster and seconded by Commissioner Adams, followed a lengthy public hearing in which residents and nearby business owners warned that heavy trucks would damage narrow residential roads, create safety hazards at sharp curves and at a rail crossing, and could harm groundwater and air quality. David Ellison, speaking for the applicant Wednesday Investments / AAA sanitation, said the parcel is part of an industrial park and the company has offered conditions — setbacks, buffers and stormwater and wastewater safeguards — that Ellison described as “more rigorous than what are under your code.” He told the board that, given those conditions and required compliance with Environmental Protection Division (EPD) rules, it would be legally improper to deny the application.

Why it mattered: opponents cited specific local risks and published guidance. Anne Hurst, who lives on North Chaparral Court, said trucks already “cut[ ] off Charlie Baldwin” on tight curves and that heavy vehicles had crossed center lines, raising immediate road‑safety concerns. Neighbors pointed to the EPA’s transfer‑station manual and to a local code citation (Madison County Code section 54‑72) that Danielle Monroe said restricts bringing solid waste generated outside Madison County into the county. Monroe also cited Northeast Georgia Solid Waste Management Authority projections and said Madison County’s 2031 MSW projection was “only 7,332 tons,” arguing the county is not in clear need of a new station.

Applicant and legal context: Ellison said the applicant owns adjacent industrial parcels, believes the proposed use is consistent with the county comprehensive plan for that industrial character area and has agreed to operational conditions, including limiting hours and directing vehicles to Highway 72 where feasible. He told the board the conditions and required EPD permits would address many concerns and questioned the legal basis for denying the application in the face of those protections.

Enforcement and limits of county authority: County officials noted enforcement of many environmental and groundwater standards lies with the Georgia EPD, and that Highway 72 is under the Georgia Department of Transportation. The board discussed that road maintenance would be a county responsibility. Commissioners and staff also said that, if conditions are violated, enforcement could become a civil or court matter; during the meeting a commissioner observed that some enforcement would effectively be pursued through the courts.

Board action: After debate about jurisdiction and enforcement, the board approved the conditional use with the attached conditions. The motion passed 3–2; the minutes record the motion was made by Commissioner Goldster and seconded by Commissioner Adams, and the board chair announced the motion carried 3–2. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tying each individual vote to a named commissioner in the recorded segment, so the recorded outcome is the 3–2 tally as announced at the meeting.

What’s next: The approval is subject to the conditions on file with the conditional‑use package (the board referenced a set of numbered conditions 1–13). EPD permitting, DOT coordination for highway access, and county roads staff follow‑up on local road impacts were identified as the next practical steps. Several residents said they may pursue other administrative or legal remedies if they believe conditions are not enforced.

Key quotes

“We believe this is an appropriate use of this property,” said David Ellison for the applicant, adding the proposed conditions are “more rigorous than what are under your code.”

“Their trucks are cutting off Charlie Baldwin and... they’re gonna cross over the center line,” Anne Hurst told commissioners, describing near‑misses on narrow curves.

“The majority of everything that’s been said here tonight is not a county controlled issue other than traffic,” a commissioner said while explaining jurisdictional limits and the roles of EPD and DOT.

Authorities and references included in the hearing

- Madison County Code section 54‑72 (referenced by a resident as limiting disposal of out‑of‑county solid waste).
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) regulations (applicant and staff noted EPD compliance obligations).
- U.S. EPA — Waste Transfer Station manual (cited by residents for guidance on viability, queuing and site size).

Ending: The board approved the conditional use with the applicant’s conditions attached; staff and applicants were directed to coordinate with state agencies and county roads staff on implementation and enforcement.