County Landfill Meeting Briefs

Landfill Minutes Approved: The landfill committee unanimously approved minutes from its February 11, 2025 meeting. All committee members were present, including Hickey, Brooks, Bulock, Logan, Newquest, Pretzel, and Dean Schlotman.

Storm Water Management to be Reviewed for Expansion: The existing storm water management system at Prairie View Landfill will require modeling to ensure it can accommodate proposed expansion plans. The current design includes four retention basins located on the north, west, and south sides of the facility that capture rain water and slowly release it off-site.

Leachate Handling Explained: Water that percolates through landfill waste is collected by a network of pipes at the bottom of the facility and pumped to a treatment plant. Committee member Bulock received confirmation during Wednesday’s meeting that this “leachate” is processed at a Public Works Authority treatment plant before discharge.

Visual Impact Expected to be Minimal: Line-of-sight renderings presented to the landfill committee suggest that the proposed expansion, despite adding up to 170 feet in height, would remain largely obscured from nearby roadways. Existing tree lines along Route 53 and Arsenal Road provide visual screening for the facility.

No Timeline Set for Soil Relocation Decision: Officials have not finalized plans for relocating 1.4 million cubic yards of stockpiled soil that would need to be moved for the horizontal expansion option. Finding a nearby location would be preferable to minimize transportation costs, according to consultant Marty Fallon.

Committee Member Raises Roadside Debris Concerns: Committee member Butler urged the landfill committee to address complaints from the farming community about garbage debris along routes used by trucks accessing the facility. A community member during public comment noted persistent litter problems along the county highway connecting I-55 to Route 53.