Blount County Commission schedules public awareness session and public hearing on Apex Disposal landfill application

The Blount County Commission on March 10 scheduled a public awareness session and a rescheduled public hearing on an application from Apex Disposal, LLC to operate a construction-and-demolition (C&D) waste landfill in the county. The commission authorized advertising for required public notices and set the awareness session for April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Hayden Community Center and the public hearing for Tuesday, May 12.

County Administrator Mark Staton noted that "the week of May 04th is when the ACCA is hosting both the Engineer and Administrator Conferences," and commissioners amended the originally proposed May 7 hearing to May 12 to avoid the conflict. The change was made by motion of Commissioner Chad Trammell, seconded by Commissioner Allen Armstrong, and approved by unanimous vote.

The action scheduled public meetings for community information and input; the record does not show the commission approving or denying Apex Disposal’s application itself, only that it authorized outreach, advertising and a public hearing. The commission also authorized the placement of required public notices in accordance with statutory notice requirements.

Next steps outlined at the meeting: the commission will hold the public awareness session on April 23 in Hayden and the public hearing on May 12 in the commission meeting room, with notices to be published as authorized. Comments and formal testimony will be taken at the public hearing; the commission did not make a final decision on the application at the March 10 meeting.