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Simpson County fiscal court votes to prohibit biodigesters after debate over health and legal risks
Summary
Simpson County Fiscal Court voted to accept the Planning & Zoning Commission's recommendation to prohibit biodigesters countywide after residents raised health concerns and the county attorney cautioned a full ban could invite legal challenges.
Simpson County Fiscal Court on April 1 voted to accept the Planning & Zoning Commission's recommendation to prohibit biodigesters across the county after residents and officials debated potential health, nuisance and legal impacts.
County Judge/Executive Mason Bames urged the court to adopt the prohibition, saying the county "has to decide about what we want and don't want in our community" and that officials should not "run away from fear of a lawsuit." Bames made the motion to adopt P&Z's option two; the motion was seconded by Myron Thurman and recorded as approved by the court.
County Attorney Sam Phillips, who advises the court on legal risk, said he did not believe a full prohibition was the safest legal path and favored a restrictive…
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