Dec 22, 2010
County endorses bottle bill
By Leean Tupper
CLINTON, Tenn.—
After a lengthy discussion on Monday night, the Anderson County Commission approved a resolution that asks state legislators to consider a statewide deposit program on drink containers by a 10-5 vote. The biggest point of discussion at the Commission's regular December meeting was a topic that the group also discussed at length during its November meeting. The resolution that came before County Commission this month was similar to one that failed when presented to the group for a vote in November. "It's a good bill," said Commissioner Myron Iwanski of Oak Ridge. "My generation and my parents' generation had a deposit (on bottles)." "We've gotten into a 'throw-away society' and this is a small step to change that mindset." Iwanski reintroduced the resolution for a vote at Commission's Monday night meeting held in the Anderson County Courthouse. After much discussion and a failed motion that was meant to table the matter, County Commission voted 10-5 to send the resolution to state legislators. Ten commissioners voted for the resolution. They were: Rick Meredith, Jerry White, Johnny Alley, Robin Biloski, Steve Mead, Chuck Fritts, Mark Alderson, Myron Iwanski, Tracy Wandell, and Harry "Whitey" Hitchcock. Five commissioners -- Dusty Irwin, Zach Bates, Tim Isbel, Jerry Creasey and John Shuey -- voted against the resolution. Commissioner Robert McKamey was absent. "It's trying to impose a tax on the people that they don't want," Creasey said during the discussion. Shuey questioned why County Commission was voting on a matter that hasn't yet been presented to the Legislature; the new General Assembly will convene in January. Irwin, who said he supports recycling, said he doesn't support the idea of a state beverage-container deposit program. "This is a perfect example of government sticking its nose in our own personal business," he said. Wandell said while a lot of talk has happened in recent months about a "bottle bill," he'd like to see just as much discussion devoted to local governments' current recycling efforts. Fritts, who voted for the resolution, pointed out that the document is only asking legislators to consider the idea of a beverage-container deposit program. "The resolution is not a tax," he said. Supporters of a long-proposed "Tennessee Bottle Bill" have been asking county legislative bodies across Tennessee to approve a resolution showing support for legislation that could require deposits on all beverage containers in the state. At their regular County Commission meeting in November, commissioners rejected the resolution with an 8-7 vote; the issue needed nine favorable votes to pass. Proposals for a statewide beverage-container deposit program have been brought before the Tennessee Legislature five times, according to Anderson County resident Charles "Buzz" Buffington. It's expected that related legislation will be presented to state legislators a sixth time in the next session. Leean Tupper can be contacted at (865) 220-5501.
http://www.oakridger.com/highlight/x1682028774/County-endorses-bottle-bill
