A landfill in Perry County has a number of supporters. If people speaking against the landfill at Monday’s public hearing are any indication, though, supporters are in the minority.

Close to 20 people took to the microphone in the R.C. Hatch High School gymnasium to speak for or against the proposed landfill. According to Perry County Commission President Johnny Flowers, the hearing’s purpose was to give people a chance to have their comments on the landfill’s plan heard. Each speaker had five minutes to voice his opinion. Most took full advantage of their allotted time.

Flowers previously said the commissioners basically supported the landfill. The commission is expected to vote on adopting the plan at its 9 a.m. meeting today.

One speaker, Charles Holmes, read a letter written by a group of concerned citizens. He also handed Flowers a petition signed by 1,200 people opposed to the landfill. &uot;They want their voices and their strong opposition heard,&uot; Holmes said.

James Williams spoke briefly about his opposition to the landfill. Williams said the commissioners represented their constituents, but added that the landfill was a bad idea. &uot;There’s places in Alabama with 20 or 30 miles of nobody,&uot; Williams said. &uot;Why not put it there? It’s a bad plan. They want to discuss the plan? It’s all about money.&uot;

Sherry Hopper echoed those sentiments. &uot;There’s so much more than this than I think our commissioners realize,&uot; she said. &uot;They think somebody’s going to get some money, or somebody’s already gotten some money.&uot;

Detractors weren’t the only voices heard Monday night. A Marion resident, Lucius Rayfield, said he believed Perry County needed a landfill. &uot;I’m just telling you what I see that we need,&uot; he said. &uot;Politicians tell you what you want to hear.&uot;

Rayfield added that he wasn’t talking about a landfill that would serve several states, but only one that would serve Perry County.

The proposed landfill would hold garbage from 16 states, including New York.