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LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Loudon County Commission will be formally endorsing the “Jackson Law” via a letter of support sent to its local representatives. The letter was approved unanimously at the commissioners’ March 2 voting meeting, after previous tablings of the motion and town halls to satiate public perturbence over its true intentions.

The letter comes in anticipation of potential legislation against Tennessee Code Annotated 68-211-70, more commonly referred to as the Jackson Law, which allows counties and local municipalities a great deal of agency in their ability to approve or veto the construction of new landfills.

Previous County Commission workshops, and a precedent set by a letter sent to the state from Rutherford County, pushed Loudon County officials to re-endorse the Jackson Law in the hopes of swaying representatives away from any potential proposals to repeal it. While a draft of the letter wasn’r made available to the public prior to March 2, it was read by Commissioner Van Shaver prior to its approval.

Shaver stated that the letter would be sent to the state legislators who represent Loudon County specifically.

READING FROM THE LETTER’S DRAFT

“Please allow this email to express Loudon County’s staunch opposition to any attempts to repeal or change the Jackson Law as it relates to local control and governance over local landfills,” Shaver said, reading from a draft of the letter. “We firmly believe that local control is the best, thank you for all that you do.”

The law was premiered at the state level in 1989, following backlash from homeowners sitting on or near land that solid waste corporations were eyeing as prime real estate. The law was aimed at providing more agency to local officials in regard to their authority over these facilities and protection of their homestead.

It took effect in Loudon County on May 1, 1995, before being revised at the state level in May of 2013 to strengthen its original designations in regards to new construction and expansion of current facilities for counties that implemented the law in local ordinances prior to its more recent changes.

Later in the meeting, Commissioner Chase Randolph said that, when in correspondence with both Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens and Loudon Mayor Jeff Harris, both individuals were in support of sending the letter and “had no issues with it.”

While public discourse surrounding the letter prompted a lengthy town hall meeting between Commissioners Chase Randolph, Bill Geames and their constituents in the First District, public officials have stated on multiple occasions that their endorsement of the Jackson Law is purely a preventative measure to try and prohibit unwanted construction of new landfills and give more guardrails for future development.

Later in the March 2 meeting, Commissioner Adam Waller’s term as Chairman of the Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission was renewed through March of 2032. Dr. Steven Bartel’s term on the commission was also renewed through March 2032.

After a prior tabling in February, the Loudon County Regional Planning Commission was slated to discuss the rezone of approximately 98 acres of the Republic Landfill property on March 10, which is reportedly seeking a transition from an agricultural district to a community facilities district.

According to city officials, the rezone will make way for borrow pits to be placed on a piece of the land that was previously owned by Republic, yet unusable in its current designation.

In other news, Loudon County Commission:

• Approved a rezone for a piece of property on Robinson Road, going from an agriculture forestry district to a developing agriculture district.

• Approved a rezone for a piece of property on Steekee Creek Road, going from a rural residential district to a developing agricultural district.

• Approved a rezone for a piece of property on Jackson Bend Road, going from a rural residential district to a general commercial district.

• Approved amending the storage unit stipulation to allow an office/retail building on a portion of property located on Highway 11.

• Approved a rezone for a piece of property on Parris Drive, going from a rural residential district to a suburban residential district.

• Sent a resolution to Nashville that would allow retired law enforcement officers to serve as school resource officers in county schools.

• Renewed the terms of Jimmy Davis, Van Shaver and Sam Harrison to the 911 Board through February of 2030.

• Approved amending wages line items for a wage increase in the Codes Department.

• Approved purchase of a vehicle from Storm Water Reserve in the Codes Department.

• Approved a pre-pay series for a $2.6 million capital outlay note.

• Approved line item adjustments in the county general, courthouse/jail maintenance, special revenue, highway, general purpose school and school federal projects funds.

The Loudon County Commission will reconvene on Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Courthouse Annex.