After burning trash affected his health, Jackson County man pushes for burn ban
The Jackson County Legislature recently passed a stronger ban on the unregulated burning of household and business waste in unincorporated areas, following concerns raised by a resident about health impacts. Separately, the article notes a proposed data center zoning moratorium in these same unincorporated areas, which is scheduled for discussion at a town hall on June 1.
The Jackson County Legislature has unanimously approved a stronger ban on the unregulated burning of household and business waste in its unincorporated areas. Sponsored by Legislator Jalen Anderson, the new ordinance prohibits residents from burning treated wood, plastic, construction debris, or furniture, bringing county regulations into alignment with state laws while affirming county authority in areas without city-level governing bodies. Violators face a $500 daily penalty, enforceable by law enforcement, emergency responders, or county officials.
The legislative action was partly prompted by resident Jesse Hill, who lives in unincorporated Jackson County. Hill contacted Anderson in April after his neighbor's practice of burning trash from multiple properties caused significant health issues for him and his wife, both of whom suffer from asthma. Hill, a former Greenwood alderman, expressed renewed faith in regional legislative bodies due to Anderson's swift response to the issue, which state and local fire officials had previously stated was beyond their authority.
Separately, the article highlights that county-level regulation of unincorporated areas is also central to a proposed data center zoning moratorium. This proposal, which has been before the legislature for six weeks and will be discussed at a June 1 town hall, seeks to implement a temporary hold on zoning approval for data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS) facilities in these same unincorporated areas.