The Hall County Commission gave final approval Thursday for a top supporter of Gov. Nathan Deal to create a landfill next to an auto salvage yard co-owned by the governor.
DOJI Properties asked the county to rezone about 51 acres next to Gainesville Salvage & Disposal, the business owned by Deal and Ken Cronan. DOJI Properties lists James Walters as its registered agent and his business as its address, according to state records.
Walters and his company were major contributors to Deal’s 2010 bid for governor and leased office space to the campaign. Deal later appointed Walters to the Georgia Ports Authority board.
The commission voted 3-1 to rezone Walters’ property so it would have the same allowable uses as another landfill owned by Cronan directly south of Gainesville Salvage & Disposal that is also adjacent to Walters’ land. About 50 local residents objected to the project Thursday, saying Cronan’s landfill creates foul odors that damage their quality of life.
County Commissioner Ashley Bell, who represents the area, moved to kill the project, but that motion failed. During the meeting, questions were raised over whether Cronan’s landfill has the appropriate county zoning to allow food waste, which local residents say is responsible for the bad odors.
An engineer for the project told the county in October that the DOJI landfill would be an expansion of the salvage yard and Cronan’s landfill.
Deal put his assets in a blind trust and has no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the business. Jimmy Allen, an accountant who oversees Deal’s investments, said Thursday the engineer was mistaken.
“It’s something the adjoining property owners are doing and it’s got nothing to do with Gainesville Salvage & Disposal,” Allen said.
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