Public Hearing on Landfill Siting Set for Thursday

A formal public hearing on whether to site a solid waste landfill outside Effingham is set for Thursday.

The hearing will be held at Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, and will begin at 9am. 

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said the hearing will be hosted by the Effingham County Board on whether to approve the siting. Kibler said the landfill site is next to the existing Landfill 33 but, by legal definition, would be a new landfill.

The County Board has hired a hearing officer who will conduct the event. Kibler said the hearing could take all day Thursday and into Friday morning.

Brian Hayes, who operates Landfill 33, is seeking the permit for the new landfill. Kibler said there are nine criteria to be proved to get the site approved. There will be time for objections to the request for the permit, and Kibler said objections are expected.

A 30-day comment period will follow the hearing. The hearing officer will then present recommendations to the County Board and a decision will be reached. That might not be the end, as objections can be lodged against the County Board's decision.

Kibler said if you can't attend the hearing in person, it will be live streamed. We are working to find out the streaming source.