Two nights after citizens showing concern for the possible closure of the county’s convenience centers packed the Newton County Historic Courthouse for a board of commissioners meeting, a similar showing by Newton County residents was present during a meeting of the Solid Waste Authority (SWA).

No action concerning the closure or assessment of fees on the county’s centers has yet to be officially taken, either by the board of commissioners (BOC) or SWA, but those in attendance Thursday night were able to hear a little more about what the county is doing to manage its solid waste stream.

The SWA laid out its history at the start of the meeting, with chair Wayne Haynie telling the crowd the SWA was first formed on Oct. 17, 1995, before it ceased operations the next year. The authority was then reactivated on Jan. 21, 2016 and held its first meeting on April 25, 2016, Haynie reported.

Haynie also laid out some of the issues facing the SWA and Newton County, including a landfill with unlined cells and leachate spills.

Following a presentation on the background of the SWA, the floor was then turned over to the crowd for citizen’s comments. Several citizens stepped up to the microphone, stating how important the county’s 11 convenience centers are to them.

“I think they’re good for the county,” Gene Spencer said. “I think we need to find a way to keep them open. I think that one of the things that has to happen is we have to be transparent to the public.”

SWA members Nancy Schulz and Ronnie Johnston shared the authority’s desire to remain transparent with the crowd. SWA board members also reiterated that the SWA has not decided what to do with the convenience centers, noting that the BOC has come to a consensus on charging $50 for their use through January, before closing them in February, in order to balance the recently passed budget for fiscal year 2017.

“I think it is important at this time that the Solid Waste Authority be completely transparent, and we have to be honest,” Johnston, Covington Mayor, said. “I think it’s a bit aggressive for us to start making any decisions as to what we’re going to do with anything before we get experts and get us educated and the community educated to the point of what is best for this entire community.”

The SWA, which previously agreed on the intergovernmental agreement with the BOC that was approved by that board Tuesday, voted on one item Thursday — its attorney.

Megan Martin, who also serves as Newton County’s attorney, resigned from serving the SWA.

The authority unanimously approved to put out a request for proposals on finding legal counsel.