Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — The Hinds County Board of Supervisors denied an expansion of the Faircloth Rubbish Landfill in Clinton.

The landfill owner requested a 29.2-acre expansion of the landfill located on Springridge Road. Dozens of citizens both in support of and opposition to the expansion attended the supervisors' meeting. Supporters wore stickers that read "Faircloth Yes," while the opposition sported stickers printed only with the word, "Stop."

One of the "Stop" stickers was Clinton Mayor Rosemary Aultman. She said the county has access to two other landfills, one on County Line Road and one in Byram, and doesn't need to expand Faircloth, which sits near the southern border of Clinton.

Aultman said the area around the landfill was out in the country at one time, but has changed a lot in the recent years.

"That is our natural growth area, not only for the city, but for Hinds County," Aultman said. "There is a lot of development going on down Springridge Road. Of course, all these residents live in that area, too. It's just not a compatible use anymore."

Supervisor Phil Fisher, who represents the city of Clinton on the county board, supported the expansion of the landfill. During the meeting, Fisher read from the minutes of a 2007 public meeting in which the board of supervisors approved a 20-year plan that included an expansion of the Faircloth Landfill.

Fisher stressed that there will eventually need to be an expansion of the facility.

"As a side note, the city of Clinton sent 451 trucks into that facility in 2011. To date in 2012, (they've sent) 588 trucks. Those are the numbers," Fisher said. "I can't find a legal reason to (not approve the expansion). I know it doesn't matter which side I vote on. I'm going to be booed both ways, I got that."

Supervisor Kenneth Stokes said he wouldn't vote against the people who lived in the area, many of whom attended the meeting to oppose the expansion.

"My concern is, if these citizens want to live in Hinds County, and they like living in Hinds County, we shouldn't do anything to try to uproot them, so to speak," Stokes said.

The landfill expansion would not force any citizens to move, but many who live nearby feared the expansion would bring unwanted smells and garbage-seeking wildlife like rats and buzzards.

Fellow Supervisor Peggy Calhoun echoed his sentiment.

"The majority of the residents that are here this morning have spoken clearly, 'No landfill for the people, or by the people,'" Calhoun said before the vote. "(In 2007) when I voted in favor of a landfill (expansion), I voted at the time because there was no opposition. There were very few residents that lived in the area. The situation has changed. There are people living in the area, hundreds of people living in the area."