The Morrison town hall meeting Thursday night concerning the convenience center proved divisive as many residents and officials were not on the same page. 

Nearly 100 people attended the town hall to voice their opinion on keeping the center where it is and closing half of the road. The center has TDEC violations and either needs to relocate or expand to fix the problems. The plan to keep the center where it is involves making Railroad St. a one-way road and moving the compactors. 

County Executive Terry Bell attended the meeting and offered a new solution by suggesting moving the center to Ballpark Road. Residents questioned why they were not doing that and Bell said it was up to Morrison. Morrison Mayor Sue Anderson did not understand why the residents wanted to move the site. 

“I don’t understand why you want to move it. The Laxsons knew it was there when they built. And you knew it was there when you bought the place,” said Anderson.

“Sue, my family has been on the property for 80 years. That has been our property for 80 years, so yes if it stayed right where it was I wouldn’t open my mouth. I don’t mean to interrupt you, but 80 years. That hasn’t been there 80 years. If it stayed where it was I wouldn’t even be here. I tried to stay away because I thought cooler heads would understand that is not a good location dead center of Morrison for a dump. Ridiculous,” said LouAnn Laxson, who lives very close to the center.

Anderson also mentioned she had a petition with 50 signatures of people in favor of keeping the site where it is, but who were unable to come to the meeting.  

“I’ve got some petitions here that were signed by the citizens who can’t be here. There were 50 people who signed who say they want it to stay where it is at. They are concerned about it moving and think it is good for the community to be here. A lot of people couldn’t be here and a lot of elderly people don’t want it moved,” said Anderson.

“It doesn’t affect their property,” said Morrison resident Bill Hall.

“I understand that Mr. Bill,” said Anderson.

“They do not care because it doesn’t affect their pocket book,” said Hall.

“I understand sir, but I’ve got to speak for the majority of the people. That is my job and that is why they elected me,” Anderson.

Morrison Alderman Donald Miller also voiced his disapproval for the plan and cleared up a previous statement made by Sanitation Department director Josh Roberts. 

“This is a copy right here of the Southern Standard on Sunday, Sept. 11. That is Ms. Porter right over there, she is the one that wrote this,” said Miller. “This is a direct quote from Josh Roberts, ‘This would leave half the road open. So it would be a one-way street. The mayor of Morrison is all for this and the aldermen are all for it.’ That is not so. I am an alderman and I have never been for the street being closed. When we do our monthly meeting, we casually talked about this. We have never, ever talked about it other than just casual. We have not voted on it, so as of right now the town of Morrison, as far as I’m concerned, is not for it. I’m not for it.”

Miller said the article made it sound like everybody is for this plan which he says is wrong.

“I might be a minority, but I want you to know that this paper article makes it sound like everybody is for it. Everybody is not for it,” said Miller. “You don’t take care of 50 and there are 300 or more people wanting it somewhere else. This thing about the aldermen wanting it, if the other aldermen want it then they have been talked to personally, which is a violation. It has not been talked about at our town meeting.”

“It has been discussed. It has not been voted on, but yes sir it has been discussed,” said Anderson.

“I was giving the Health and Welfare committee an update and I had talked with Sue and I had not talked with any aldermen,” explained Roberts. “From my understanding from Sue, Morrison, including herself and the aldermen, were for this. Sue said she told me the majority was for it, so Ms. Bethany quoted exactly what I said at Health and Welfare. That is on me. I should have called the five aldermen from Morrison before I quoted you in the paper, but I was going off of what Sue told me.”

A solution was not reached at the meeting. Morrison is having a meeting Monday, Oct. 3 to decide what to do.