Newton County’s waste needs will soon be handled through a Solid Waste Management Authority after a unanimous vote during Thursday night’s Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting.

The move to an authority came after months of discussion following the recommendation of a citizen’s committee on the county’s solid waste needs.

The motion Thursday reactivated an authority which sat dormant and unmanned for some time.

With the activation of the authority, the BOC has 30 days to appoint nine members to a board of directors. According to interim county attorney Megan Martin three of the members are to come from elected officials and the other six can be at-large appointees.

The appointees will also be staggered in regards to their term lengths, Martin said.

The motion to form the authority was made by District 3 Commissioner Nancy Schulz and seconded by District 2 Commissioner Lanier Sims.

For mroe on this story see Sunday's print edition of The Covington News.