Sevier County committee adopts Solid Waste Operations Policy but excludes fee schedule

The Sevier County Board of Commissioners' Intergovernmental Committee voted Oct. 6 to accept a new Solid Waste Operations Policy governing the department's operations, with the committee specifically excluding the fee schedule from the adopted policy.

Commissioner Jack Parton moved to accept "the proposed Solid Waste Operations Policy as it pertains to the actual operations of the Department and not to include the fee schedule," and Commissioner Carroll Rauhuff seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to approve the motion.

The committee and staff emphasized that the fee schedule was not part of the motion because the Budget Committee had already passed it. Mayor Larry Waters expressed concerns about several proposed policies and directed the Mayor’s Office to continue finalizing the documents as requested by the Committee and Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Parton also asked that the finalized policy be posted on the county website once adopted.

During final discussion, Commissioner Michael Maddron and Commissioner Chad Ogle said they were concerned the new dumping policies could lead to excessive littering. The transcript records these concerns but does not indicate any amendments or additional enforcement steps were adopted during the meeting.

The committee took the vote that approved the operations policy, then recessed routine business and adjourned at 5:30 p.m. The action implements operational guidance for the Solid Waste Department; the fee schedule remains under the Budget Committee’s authority and was not changed by this vote.