Trash panel OKs trespassing

Trash panel OKs trespassing, hunting signs

Staff Reports-newsherald.net

The Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission last week voted to post signs at Matlock Bend Landfill alerting residents that hunting and trespassing on the property is prohibited.

Kevin Stevens, commission attorney, said that allowing hunting in any capacity opens the board up to potential liability. He recommended officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency survey the landfill property and post appropriate signage about the hunting and trespassing ban.

“It would be my position that the board should prohibit it entirely,” Stevens said about hunting.

Board member Larry Jameson said the commission needs to have a firm policy in place against unauthorized activity at the landfill.

“I really think we have to have a no-hunting policy” and allow TWRA to conduct a survey, he said. “I think it’s only fair that this commission do a policy that protects commission and Loudon County from potential liability.”

Jameson made a motion to post signage at the landfill, which was followed by a second from board member Art Stewart. The vote was approved 6-0.

“We need to do something, and we need to do it now and put it to bed,” Jameson said.

Chairman Steve Field told commission members that he planned to invite a representative from TWRA to attend the the board’s next meeting to further discuss adding signage at the site.