On their list of final 2024 new business, Macon County Commissioners had two versions of waste product to deal with at their Dec. 10 meeting: a pornography restriction policy on government networks and a solid waste ordinance revision.
Effective Oct. 1, 2024, North Carolina enacted a new law that prohibits governmental agencies from allowing pornography to be viewed on networks or devices. In addition to having a deadline for pornography to be removed, the law also creates reporting requirements for unauthorized viewing or attempts to do so and requires public agencies – including public schools as well as municipal, judicial, and legislative branches of government, to adopt policies governing network and device usage.
The deadline for having a policy in place to enforce the new law is Jan. 1, 2025. At the meeting, commissioners discussed the policy background and implementation before voting to approve it.
County Attorney Eric Ridenour informed commissioners that an existing policy – Acceptable Use – is in place for “use of technology, devices, and networks.” Ridenour further explained the last time the policy was approved by the board of commissioners was in 2015. Following Ridenour’s input, commissioners voted on implementing the new policy, which was approved unanimously.
Also on the evening’s agenda was a revised solid waste disposal ordinance. Macon County Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl briefed commissioners on some broader aspects of the revised policy.
Use and availability fees, bulky waste, disposal of hazardous and dangerous waste, prohibition of businesses using convenience centers, and source separation and recycling were some of the areas of focus within the numerous revisions.
Stahl reported that changes have been made to the existing policy that “included one real fix with everything else just being out of date.” He added that in some cases, “… we brought ordinances in line with state laws that have existed since the early ‘90s.”
One consumer-oriented change that Stahl advised the board on was a change that states solid waste disposal locations within the county will close at 4 p.m. That is a change from the previous window of 4:30 p.m. Applicable stations will still open at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturdays, closing at 1:30 p.m.
Following Stahl’s delivery, Commissioner Danny Antoine motioned to approve the revised policy, which was seconded by Commissioner Gary Shields and approved by the board unanimously.
The next Macon County Commissioner meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025 at the Macon County Courthouse.