County scraps waste-to-energy project

Plans for a regional waste-to-energy incinerator were struck down by the Board of County Commissioners in a 3-2 vote Thursday evening.

Commissioners President Blaine Young and Commissioners Kirby Delauter and David Gray voted to kill the $376 million construction project's contract and permits, while Commissioners Paul Smith and Billy Shreve cast dissenting votes to keep the plan on the table.

“It is absolutely no cost to the county to keep these options open,” Smith said. “To do away with these options is crazy.”

County executive-elect Jan Gardner spoke before the board and about 100 people at the public hearing about her plans to terminate any incinerator plans after taking office Dec. 1.

Commissioners will now discuss which vendor should haul away the county's trash.

— Paige Jones
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