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Polk County commissioners reject amendment to landfill order after split vote
Summary
A proposed amendment to the final order governing the county landfill — which would have limited acceptance to certain municipal sludges from Cedartown, Rockmart and the Polk County Water Authority — failed on a 2–3 vote after commissioners raised transparency and enforceability concerns.
A proposal to amend a court-ordered restriction on the Polk County landfill failed after a split vote by the Board of Commissioners on July 2.
The proposed Amended Final Order would have limited the landfill’s acceptance to municipal wastewater cake and screenings sludge from the cities of Cedartown, Rockmart and the Polk County Water Authority. County Attorney Brad McFall presented the draft order and answered commissioners’ questions about its wording and scope.
Commissioner Jordan Hubbard argued the county should support the cities, saying "this has been going on since 2019," referring to the ongoing dispute about where municipal waste could be accepted. McFall said including a reservation allowing the county later to cease acceptance "would be difficult to include such language due to it being a subjective decision rather as opposed to something that is measureable." Commissioner Linda Liles said she was unaware the amendment was on the board agenda and would have preferred fuller board discussion and public involvement before acting.
Following discussion, the motion to approve the amendment was denied. Commissioners Hubbard and Ray Carter voted in favor; Commissioners Liles, Gary Martin and Chuck Thaxton voted against the amendment. The transcript records those five votes; the chair’s vote was not recorded in the minutes for that motion.
Why it matters: The amendment would have narrowed which municipal sludges the landfill may accept, affecting city waste-routing options and local economic development tied to industrial and municipal waste handling. The denial leaves the existing Final Order in place and maintains the status quo until further legal or administrative action.
What’s next: The Board did not adopt the amendment; no further action on this item was recorded at the meeting. County staff and legal counsel will retain the proposed language and the issue could return if the Board or affected cities pursue additional options or if a court issues further guidance.
