Jacksonville council adopts Athens‑Hocking solid waste plan after debate over fees and outreach

Jacksonville's council adopted a resolution on Nov. 20 approving the Athens‑Hocking Solid Waste Management Plan update after members debated outreach and potential cost impacts on local haulers.

Jane Forest Redfern, who presented the plan update to council, said the five‑year plan is required by Ohio law, that the district already meets the 25% recycling requirement and that an earlier proposed parcel fee was removed after public feedback. She described increases in generation fees from $3 to $5 per ton and changes to landfill rates that she said together would generate roughly $670,027 for the district, with the majority allocated to recycling programs.

Mayor Samuel Smathers asked whether the landfill increases would be passed through to customers by haulers. Redfern replied that jurisdictions were offered a parcel‑fee option at public hearings to avoid direct hauler pass‑throughs and that the packet for Jacksonville had been mailed in September but to an incorrect address; she offered to provide annual visits and electronic notices about upcoming recycling events.

Councilmember Butch Chapman criticized the district for not engaging Jacksonville sooner. Allison Jago‑Bateman and Peggy Bateman of Bateman's Refuse said better outreach would help residents take advantage of recycling services; Peggy Bateman also asked for district assistance publicizing a community cleanup after low turnout at a recent event.

Councilperson Rachel Gratz moved to suspend the rules and read Resolution 2024‑13 by title. On an initial attempt to adopt the measure as an emergency, the motion failed with Butch Chapman voting no and Jay Chapman abstaining; the emergency requirement therefore was not met. After additional discussion and a reconsideration motion later in the meeting, the council voted to adopt Resolution 2024‑13; the motion carried with all councilmembers voting yes on final adoption.

Redfern told the council she already had enough adopted resolutions from other municipalities representing the required 60% of the district population and that she was meeting with remaining communities out of respect. She listed municipalities that had already approved the plan and identified only a few remaining jurisdictions still pending.

The council did not adopt any local amendments to the plan at the meeting. If jurisdictions do not approve the update by the required threshold, Redfern said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would prepare the plan for Athens and Hocking counties.

The council's adoption of Resolution 2024‑13 is a procedural step to register Jacksonville's approval with the Athens‑Hocking Solid Waste District; the district will implement the updated fee schedule and recycling program funding as outlined in the plan.

The council moved on to other business following the vote; the meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.