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Dirt will be used to fill former landfill site

Closing Marion County landfill continues with Marion County Commission deciding Monday to use fill dirt instead of construction and demolition materials.

Engineer Jack Chappelle met with the commission via telephone to report his findings since the area was mowed and surveyed and discuss closure options.

Most of the area will be relatively easy to cover requiring one to two feet of dirt. One area, however, will require more dirt fill due to contours.

Chappelle said he was concerned about using primarily dirt and proposed other options.

Options were to use clean construction and demolition (or C&D) materials instead of dirt to fill the former landfill, use the north end of the landfill which has easier access for the final cover, or use the area north of the landfill that was excavated for daily use as a C&D disposal site with KDHE approval. The result would be a permanent C&D landfill.

The commission was told it had to decide before moving forward.

David Brazil, county transfer station manager, said the county only collects 50 to 55 tons of C&D waste during the busy time of year; otherwise it's 20 tons. The material comes in mixed which would require time to separate.

Regionally, 21,000 tons of C&D waste could be collected but would be costly for the county to acquire.

Chappelle said only specific C&D waste would be allowed. He agreed it could take up to eight years to fill the trash pit if only Marion County C&D waste was used. He thought regional C&D would take about six months.

Commissioner Howard Collett said he was concerned about the lawsuit settlement which he remembered stating the land could not be used for a landfill.

Chappelle said he was not aware of that information.

Commissioner Bob Hein said the county should use dirt and be done with it.

Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said he was concerned about the liability of a C&D waste site. Brazil said there would be added expense for personnel to operate the facility.

Wetta instructed Chappelle to forget the C&D angle and fill it with dirt.

"Expedite the process," Wetta said.

Timing and expense were discussed by Chappelle and commission. Chappelle said leasing equipment could cost up to $80,000 for six months, which was the time frame determined if county personnel were used as available.

Wetta asked what a contractor would charge to use his own equipment. Chappelle responded approximately $1-$1.10 per cubic yard was common. Chappelle added the county might get a better price during the winter if the contractor needs work.

Engineer's fees will be approximately $30,000 with a total estimate of $250,000 for the work.

Brazil reminded the commission water wells would need to be monitored. It was determined that cost would not be figured in the closure costs.

It was determined sufficient funds were available for the closure.

End use of the land also was discussed. Options were park, trail, golf course, grass space, crops, or any other approved use.

Collett said Quail Unlimited had inquired about the property. The organization would be willing to reseed the grass and use it as a walk-in hunting area.

Chappelle said the only end-use that might affect the next step would be a use that would require water, such as a golf course. The commission determined that was not a factor.

Reseeding was required by KDHE, with the county being able to do it in-house if needed.

Chappelle will report at 1 p.m. Tuesday to the commission regarding contractors and equipment.

In other business, Brazil distributed monthly budget reports.

Planning and zoning has spent 60 percent of its total budget, environmental health has spent 79 percent, and transfer station has spent 80 percent.

Brazil reported he replaced rims and foam-filled tires on the old skid steer loader. He was informed the item should have been brought before the commission for approval since it was more than the amount department heads are authorized to spend.

In October, 648 tons of waste was collected at the station, making the total to date, 6,255 tons.

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