County officials turn down Lamont truck stop

Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Contrary to the recommendations of staff, the planning commission and consultant planners, the Jefferson County Commission last week voted to deny the application of a California-based company that wants to build a major truck stop at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Nash Road. The 3-1 vote (Commissioner Austin Hosford abstained because of a declared conflict-of-interest) on Thursday evening, Feb. 20, followed a nearly two-hour quasi-judicial hearing that included an overview of the project by a company representative and comments by many residents opposed to the proposal. Tina M. Ekblad, a certified planner and principal of Sage Entitlements, spoke fo