Speaker 1 opened a new-business presentation on landfills and flagged 'Jackson's Law' as a possible measure to give smaller counties additional regulatory authority over landfill siting.

Legal counsel, Speaker 7, told the commission Jackson's Law is an opt-in measure for smaller counties that provides regulatory means to address landfill siting; Speaker 7 cautioned that the choice to invoke Jackson's Law itself requires a two-thirds vote and that the law would not replace ordinary zoning and planning processes. "Jackson Law is something that we can adopt here, that would essentially keep landfills from coming into the county without our approval," Speaker 1 said. Speaker 7 clarified the two-thirds threshold applies to the county choosing to invoke the law, not to the landfills themselves.

Several commissioners expressed concern that, under current procedures, private entities could pursue landfill development through existing permit and zoning processes. Speaker 1 said current rules may not provide the county enough authority to stop unwanted landfill operations and noted particular worry about environmental and visual impacts in hilly districts. "That's the last thing I want to see is some plastic bags blowing around," Speaker 1 said.

Speaker 4 and Speaker 7 described the existing administrative path: landfills are addressed through zoning and planning applications and, if needed, a Board of Zoning Appeals process. Speaker 4 announced the Solid Waste Board will hold a meeting in February with a consultant to examine Jackson's Law, convenience centers and other waste-management options and will return recommendations to the commission.

Because more information was requested, the commission voted to move the item into old business for further review; a second was recorded by 'commissioner Smith' in the spoken record and the motion passed. The commission did not adopt Jackson's Law at this meeting and instead referred the topic to the Solid Waste Board for study and recommendations.