The following is a summary of the Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority hearing held on March 26, 2026. This meeting addressed the proposed construction of a transfer station and changes to the "green box" waste disposal fees.
Solid Waste and Fee Proposal
The primary focus of the meeting was the impending closure of the county landfill and the transition to a transfer station model.
Landfill Status: Officials stated that the current landfill is nearly full and attempts to expand on adjacent land failed years ago [00:18].
Transfer Station Plan: The authority proposed an agreement with Jackal Properties LLC (owned by Jacob Meck) to build a transfer station. This is structured as a public-private partnership involving the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation to reduce costs through property tax abatement [22:33].
Green Box Fees: There was significant discussion regarding raising the "green box" fee (residential waste fee) to fund the new system. Residents expressed concern that fees could rise from $130 to $300 or more annually [01:09:59].
Public Concerns and Opposition
The hearing was marked by intense public opposition and frequent interruptions.
Affordability: Many residents, particularly those on fixed incomes or Social Security, stated they could not afford the proposed fee increases [09:02], [01:13:22].
Lack of Competitive Bidding: Citizens repeatedly questioned why the multi-million dollar contract was a "no-bid" deal given to a single private entity rather than being opened for public bidding [27:18], [01:33:06].
Monopoly Allegations: Residents expressed fear that the mandatory disposal regulations would create a monopoly, forcing them to use the new facility and making it illegal to take trash to neighboring counties where it might be cheaper [52:30], [58:39].
Transparency: Speakers requested access to the financial analysis and full contract documents, which officials stated would require a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request [01:13:36], [01:18:51].
Board Actions and Governance
Despite the vocal opposition, the board moved forward with several procedural votes:
Board Vacancies: The public pointed out that only three of the five board seats are currently filled [41:50].
Approved Motions: The board voted 3-0 to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp and Jackal Properties in its current form [33:34]. They also authorized the chairman to execute the lease agreement with Jackal Properties once legal reviews are finalized [35:51].
Mandatory Regulations: The board voted to approve the mandatory solid waste disposal regulations [40:19].
Deadlines for Public Comment
Written Comments: The public may submit written comments regarding the green box fee to the Solid Waste Authority office until April 6, 2026, at 4:30 PM [15:43].
Board Applications: The County Commission is accepting applications for the vacant board seats until April 3, 2026 [01:31:57].
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