07.25.09
Hutto Citizens will continue to fight for a fair landfill contract
Via AAS, Despite setback, opponents of landfill contract vow to continue fight.
A group of citizens opposed to the expansion of a landfill north of Hutto vowed on Friday that the fight over the validity of a contract to operate it is not over despite a major setback in court the day before.
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A group of citizens, however, including the Hutto Citizens Group, appealed the ruling.
The court of appeals on Thursday ruled that because the 2003 contract had ended, claims that it is invalid are moot.
Jeff Maurice, a member of the citizen’s group, said the group could take the issue to the Texas Supreme Court or file a lawsuit claiming the new contract between the county and Waste Management is invalid because of a lack of competitive bidding.
“In terms of our next steps, we have at least a couple,” Maurice said. “By no means is it over.”
He points out that the court dismissed the case because the 2003 contract was no longer in effect, as opposed to ruling on whether it was valid in the first place.
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Opponents of the expansion say the large size of the landfill will have a negative effect on economic development and quality of life in Hutto.
The Hutto Citizens Group, Mahlon Arnett, Robbie Arnett and TJFA L.P. are listed as appellants in the opinion released Thursday.
The new contract was not competitively bid. It was actually more a reworking of the previous contract as opposed to a whole new contract. Maybe the court should have taken that into consideration? Either way the our county elected officials concerns for a corporation over it’s citizens still shines through.