Atmore joins landfill lawsuit
Published 10:08 pm Monday, June 13, 2011
The Atmore City Council voted Monday to join a lawsuit filed by the Town of Repton against a proposed landfill in Conecuh County.
The Escambia County Commission also voted to intervene in the suit.
The commission and city will now be named as plaintiffs in the case against the Conecuh County Commission and Conecuh Woods LLC, developers of a proposed 5,000-acre landfill near Repton.
“This thing applies to us because of the increased traffic and debris, but also because of the water tables under that area that supply Conecuh County and Escambia County,” Atmore Mayor Howard Shell said. “The initial outlay for us is $4,000. That’s a small token to pay. And we’re not by ourselves in this — other cities are going to entertain resolutions as well.”
The county and Atmore will be represented by attorney Ed Hines of Brewton.
“This will affect our children and our grandchildren,” county attorney Thad Moore told commissioners Monday morning. “I think it’s important that we are part of this.”
The county’s resolution seeking to join the lawsuit notes that Conecuh County commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of approving the landfill application despite overwhelming opposition to the project.
The resolution also notes that “the Escambia County Commission is charged with the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Escambia County.”
The Brewton City Council is expected to consider joining the lawsuit at its meeting Tuesday. The Atmore City Council voted Monday afternoon to join the lawsuit, and other cities and counties are expected to join as well.