Pike County court says it only authorized exploration of private landfill; no site approval given

Judge Jones told a packed special called meeting on Feb. 13 that the Pike County Fiscal Court had not authorized construction of a landfill in Myra and had only authorized negotiations for a possible host agreement after receiving a single proposal. "The fiscal court has not authorized anybody to build a landfill," he said, adding that the court had voted in open session to solicit proposals, accepted one proposal and authorized him to negotiate a host agreement to allow the company to explore feasibility and apply for state permits.

Why it matters: The county’s existing landfill opened in 1993 and, Judge Jones said, has accepted interstate waste for decades to help offset costs. The court faces three difficult choices: expand the current landfill (most recent estimate about $18 million), close it (estimated $6 million closure cost), or partner with a private operator to build a new facility. Each carries large financial tradeoffs for residents, he said, particularly because bond terms…