The Jackson Township Concerned Citizens Committee is holding a meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Jackson Center Fire Hall to discuss the creation of ordinances in local townships to help control the dumping of treated waste solids.

The meeting is open to all Mercer County residents, according to Robert Grant, moderator for the group that was created after treated waste began to get dumped in the township by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority in May.

"ALCOSAN is conveniently located an hour below I-79 and I'm concerned that Mercer County will become a major dumping ground," Grant said.

Jackson Township residents and neighboring residents have been in an uproar about solid waste spread as fertilizer on pastureland bordered by state Route 956 and U.S. Route 62 in Jackson Township.

"We're putting the supervisors' feet to the fire. What we want to do is make the folks in the county aware of the different options of ordinances there are when dealing with sludge," Grant said.

He claims that Jackson Township supervisors are unwilling to create an ordinance limiting the dumping of sludge or the mandatory testing of sludge brought into the township.

Township supervisor chair Brian Patterson, who did not return phone calls Friday, said previously that supervisors are concerned about lawsuits against the township if they try to limit or control the dumping of the treated waste.

"We've invited two people from Clarion County who have been instrumental in getting ordinances passed in their townships that charge for sludge testing to make sure its safe," said Grant. "If it doesn't test within the safety parameters established in the ordinance, it has to be removed."

Licking Township Supervisor Michael Robertson and Madison Township Secretary Nancy Murray, both of Clarion County will be speaking at the meeting, along with Sandy Smith, an anti-sludge activist.

"We've inviting the public from all of Mercer County to educate them on this ordinance process. We'd like to rally the townships to consider these kind of ordinances," said Grant. "Its time to re-gather the people and update them."