On February 24, 2022, the Pettis County Commission passed Order No. 01-2022-#1841 (“Order”) regarding the establishment of solid waste management facilities within the county.
According to a news release, this order was the result of input from residents and interested parties and providing opportunities for public comment from various stakeholders. The opinions of residents and businesses of the county demonstrated a desire and need for the Order and the requirements and limitations contained within the Order. The County Commission provided multiple drafts of the Order to the public for further comment at a public hearing. Following the public hearing, the commission adopted an Order for Environmental Standards for Solid Waste Management to establish requirements for the permitting and licensing of solid waste facilities, for the collection of service charges for services, and other requirements and procedures necessary to provide for proper and effective solid waste management in the county.
The County Commission found that the adoption and enforcement of the Order on Solid Waste Management Regulations, including Environmental Standards, was necessary in order to enhance and protect the air, water and environment of the county and to provide orderly solid-waste management regulations within the county. Since the Order’s adoption, interested corporations have filed lawsuits in state and federal court seeking to invalidate the Order.
In May, the Pettis County Development Company, LLC and Presidio Environmental Services, LLC filed a federal lawsuit against Pettis County challenging the validity of the Order and other related claims. Last week, Mid-Missouri Waste Systems, LLC, filed a lawsuit in Missouri state court requesting that the Order to be declared invalid and other related claims.
Commissioners- Presiding Commissioner David Dick, Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza say, “The County intends to defend against these lawsuits and protect its interest and the interests of the community and residents.”