In a 33-page ruling entered in Lamar superior court today, court-appointed special master Sen. John F. Kennedy handed the county some major wins in its ongoing battle with the Lamar County Regional Solid Waste Authority (SWA).
The Herald Gazette is still going through the lengthy document but here are the highlights:
•The county (and Milner) do have the right to remove SWA members they appoint. Sen. Kennedy ordered that the current SWA board must be vacated and reconstituted under the directives of the Regional Solid Waste Management Authorities Act (1990). Milner will get two appointees, the county will get two appointees and those four will choose the fifth member. Those members must be in place by Jan. 16, 2026. This basically means that the current SWA board does not exist and is powerless.
•The county does have the right to tipping fees at a rate of $1 per ton to go to a restricted account for solid waste management expenses. There may be back tipping fees owed and the newly-constituted board is ordered to take up that matter and have a report on fees owed the county to Sen. Kennedy by Feb. 13, 2026.
•Sen. Kennedy is not done. His final report addressing the Waste to Fuel Project, the GEFA loan and the financial status of the authority will be completed in early 2026.
All of the past SWA members and any one else involved should have their assets frozen and returned to the County residents/taxpayers. Hopefully ALL should be prosecuted and see jail time.