Landfill Letters Pouring In - John Dunn

FOX 17 News – By: John Dunn

The letters just keep pouring in…more than 175 and counting.

When it comes to a new landfill in Marshall County, people just say no.

Waste Management wants to build the garbage dump on 600 acres just outside the city of Cornersville, but angry citizens are sending in their messages against the idea.

For the past 30 days Marshall County leaders have been accepting written comments about the landfill proposal.

So far, every single person who has written has felt the same way.

If the decision about a new landfill was left to the people writing letters, the vote would be unanimous.

"It's 100% against right now, the letters that we have received," says County Mayor Joe Liggett.

More than 175 letters now sit inside the County Mayor’s office.

All of them urge commissioners to vote “no.”

One letter suggests that if the landfill passes, the sign at the count line might read, “Welcome to Marshall County home of the biggest landfill for hundreds of miles.”

"They're interested in their home, and you can understand that, and they're just tying to get their points across," says Mayor Liggett.

Friday, people were still dropping off letters.

Donna Smith brought more than 20 letters from local school kids.

"There are a lot of children down there that are very upset about the landfill coming to their town, and near their school, and I said if you're upset about it, write a letter," says Smith.

Kathy Fox is president of the group leading the fight against the proposal.

"Everybody realizes that this isn't a good situation and they don't want another landfill in Marshall County," says Fox.

She’s not surprised to see people of all ages joining the cause.

"Children are hearing what their parents are talking about at home, and they are beginning to understand that this could be very detrimental to them in the future," says Fox.

Lately, both sides of the issue have been battling it out in the local paper with dueling full page ads.

Those opposed are pointing out environmental risks. Waste Management is highlighting the potential economic benefit.

But it’s the words in the letters that could sway commissioners. Eight year old Laramie Platt writes, “Is there anything we can do to keep the landfill out of county?”

Others like Gladys Cressy keep the message simple. She writes, “My Comment: Stop the Landfill.”