BAY MINETTE — Baldwin County has withdrawn an application for a transfer station to the Red Hill Landfill.

Baldwin County Commission, in their role as the Waste Citing Board, voted unanimously to approve the Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority's request to withdraw the application to permit and locate a transfer station adjacent to the Red Hill Landfill, located in Bay Minette.

Over the course of several weeks, numerous residents in the vicinity of the landfill expressed apprehension and provided feedback during BCC meetings. Among the concerns raised were heightened truck traffic, environmental ramifications and property value considerations.

During the commission's regular session on Oct. 17, commissioners additionally voted to approve the request to withdraw the application for the construction and demolition disposal landfill at Red Hill Landfill.

Billie Jo Underwood, District 3 commissioner, indicated the process was valuable with the citizen participation.

"I think that there was a lot of information that was brought before us, and I think that the right thing is to allow this application to be withdrawn," Underwood said. "The reason you want to withdraw it versus deny it is that we do have a need for facilities such as this, just not in this particular location. The withdrawal gives us the opportunity to look for other opportunities, but not in this area."

Underwood added this area's zoning includes a clause prohibits no landfills.

"I think it is very important that we adhere to that," she said.

Commissioner Matthew McKenzie said his concern was safety.

"It was closed in 1990. That community grew a little bit in that time, so I just want to say safety with the schools and everything there," McKenzie said.

By withdrawing the application for permit, the Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority will have an opportunity to look at other options for a construction and demolition disposal landfill for a growing North Baldwin County without serving a mandatory suspension.

"We are going to look for other options, and then I can still re-apply to the citing board when that area is determined," Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority CEO Terri Graham said.

BCSWA will begin looking at ways to make upgrades to the existing transfer station in Bay Minette to meet current and future needs.