After
just eight months, Loudon County Solid Waste Commission, LCSWC, chair
has been replaced. Local activist, Pat Hunter, was elected as chair of
the LCSWC back in August of 2022 by the former board members. In the
eight months of Ms. Hunter's leadership of the board, very little has
been achieved in the way of rectifying the atrocious contract amendment
with the operators of the Matlock Bend landfill, approved by the
previous board, or to address past contract violations.In her eight month term, Hunter was able to get herself, with approval of the board, a $200 per meeting stipend, the largest of any board chair of any county committee, then set about calling multiple meetings per month. There have also been open meeting violations, public notice violations, board bylaw violations and others. The vote for a new chair was 5-1 for Loudon County commissioner, Adam Waller, who also serves on the LCSWC. Hunter was the only no vote for Waller.
The LCSWC is a very important, body representing Loudon County, Loudon City and Lenoir City and involves managing millions of dollars for the landfill and as one member stated at the meeting, needs to be managed as a business and begin moving forward with the business at hand.