WINNEMUCCA — The committee working to put the issue of a second landfill on the ballot in November changed their tack – slightly.  The group announced on Monday (Feb. 22) they’ve filed a second affidavit with the Humboldt County Clerk’s Office – but this one will not amend existing ordinance. Instead, it will create a new one.

In short, the Referendum Committee has become the Initiative Committee.

If ultimately successful the ordinance would limit the amount of trash disposed at secondary landfills within the county to 150 percent above what is currently accepted at the Humboldt Regional Landfill, which is about 10,000 tons/year.

In order to move forward with the process the committee must collect approximately 852 signatures, which represents15 percent of the voter turnout in the last election. That’s slightly more signatures than needed for a referendum.

There is one similarity between a ballot and initiative petition: if the group obtains the amount of signatures required, and is certified by the Clerk’s Office, it still must go before the Humboldt County Commission.

The commissioners may either adopt the petition – making it a county ordinance – or they may do nothing, in which case the issue goes on the ballot in November.

In reference to the commission accepting the initiative, committee member Marlene Brissenden said, “It would be lovely, but I don’t believe that’s going to happen.”

“I would love to have the issue on the ballot,” she added. “Then citizens have a chance to say we want it or not.”

The referendum affidavit filed on Feb. 11 was not withdrawn.

For more information:

Page 2: Initiative Committee's Press Release

Previous stories on this topic:

Committee attempting to get landfill issue on the ballot