Fentress Working To Resolve Solid Waste Agreement With Jamestown

Fentress County is looking to resolve a solid waste disagreement with Jamestown.

County Executive Jimmy Johnson said a referendum has been in place where the county handles parts of solid waste services for the city. However, Johnson said that Jamestown wants to pull its funds out of the agreement for other uses.

“I don’t believe that could hardly work according to the referendum and such as the information we’ve found out,” Johnson said. “We’ve talked with several people. Our attorney, her office, also with CTAS, with several state authorities.”

Johnson said the money issued in the referendum has to stay for solid waste, unless a new referendum was sponsored by the county. Johnson said that solid waste is a $1.5 million to $1.6 million operation.

“They had the option then to either apply a referendum vote on sales tax, have an 83 cents property increase or pay as you go when you dump,” Johnson said. “It passed 7-1 and 3-1 to distribute the penny.”

Johnson said the county is sticking with what was passed by a public referendum vote in 1992. Johnson said the issue is now being handled by the county and city attorney, to hopefully reach a resolution.

“As far as we can find it has to be done through another referendum vote,” Johnson said. “I hope it gets resolved like it is but it’s in with the attorneys.”