The Baldwin County Commission voted Tuesday to withdraw an application to reopen Red Hill Landfill after passionate protests from residents of Bay Minette. However, the future of the property and the county’s plan for a new landfill remains unknown.

“Thank you for listening to us, and thank you for hearing us,” said Emily Ryan, a resident who organized a petition in the community that would have been impacted by the project.

Under a proposal the Baldwin County Commission was considering, the Red Hill Landfill, which has been closed for 30 years, would reopen for construction waste, and the county would also open a trash transfer station next to it.

Bay Minette community members said the project’s proximity to homes and schools could drag down property values and create safety issues.

In a public comment document that is over 300 pages, the Baldwin County School District included a map warning the commission of the danger the landfill and transfer station would cause to Bay Minette Middle School and Baldwin County High School.

Michael W. Malm, the school district’s geographer, told AL.com that he was concerned about the local schools, airport and environment. These properties would hold construction waste, he said, which would mean some trash could be flammable, such as lithium ion batteries.

“My main objection to it was that when this trash catches fire, all those chemicals and toxic fumes are going to go right to our schools,” Malm said. “It’s less than 8,000 feet to either school.”

Tuesday’s vote came after months of back and forth between the county and Bay Minette residents who live on or near Red Hill Road. The vote was delayed from the commission’s Oct. 3 meeting in order to allow commissioners more time to deliberate.

All four commissioners voted to withdraw the permit application from the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County to build at the old landfill. This action allows the agency to continue the project and resume its search for a new property for construction waste.

“Red Hill made good sense for a lot of different reasons,” said Terri Graham, CEO of the Solid Waste Disposal Authority. “The people obviously were very much against the project, so we have our work cut out for us to find a new location, and that is going to take some time.”

Emily’s husband, Joe Ryan, proposed to the commission that the Red Hill Landfill site be closed in perpetuity in order to prevent another attempt at reopening it. The county said his idea would not be effective in preventing the landfill from eventually being reopened by a future commission.

“Joe, just please trust us,” said Vice Chairman Billie Jo Underwood.

Tim Murray is currently building a home that would have shared a property line with the updated landfill. He said he is confident in the commission’s ability to keep the property clear.

“I’m confident that they’re gonna hold what they’ve said, for the duration of their place on this commission anyway,” Murray said. “I feel confident that it will continue to get better.”