10/20/09 - Madison County

By: Jonquil Newland
jnewland@wbbjtv.com
10:10 p.m.
 
According to citizens in Denmark, county leaders did not do their job when it came to notifying the community a landfill was going to open. Calvin Golden has lived on his property on Betty Manley Road the majority of his life. Last year, he built a new home there. But less than a year later, something else moved next door.
 
"If the landfill had been here first, I would not have built here," Golden said. He said the landfill opened about three months ago. Since then, he and his neighbors have had to deal with a lot more noise and traffic. "When they are over there, you can hear a lot of noise and cracking and popping, trees breaking," Golden said.
 
"We do not want it in our neighborhood, point blank, we do not want it," said Ranald Nelson, who also lives next door to the landfill.
 
The landfill is owned by Bill McMillen. He declined to comment on the issue. "He can come out here and do damage, and just go back home. He does not have to look at a landfill after he leaves," said Golden.
 
According to documents, McMillen's original application to build a landfill on the property was denied by the zoning committee, stating it would, "constitute a visual, noise, air, and vibration nuisance to the surrounding property owners."  However, the Madison County Commission passed it anyway.
 
"We were not officially notified that something like this was going on," Nelson said.
 
District 7 County Commissioner Aaron Ellison said when making the decision to pass the ordinance he assumed everyone was satisfied. But he said it now it looks likes an "error on his part."
 
Community members also believe the well water they receive could be contaminated by the landfill. "People say we got concern. We are past concern, this is serious. We do not want a landfill out here," said Golden.
 
Citizens have started a petition and are asking for county leaders and McMillen to attend their next community meeting. It is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the West Denmark Community Center.