Sherburne County is looking to amend its solid waste management ordinance to require more stringent guidelines to protect groundwater.
Last week at a workshop before the board of commissioners, Solid Waste Officer Dave Lucas and Environmental Specialist Gabrielle Holman presented a proposed amendment that would require landfills to perform leak detection testing of base liner construction prior to the placement of waste.
“This would require landfills to follow a standardized method that most landfills in the county are already using during construction to ensure than base liners in the cell don’t have any punctures or holes,” said Holman.
She said most new cells in landfills are nine acres or more, and they use heavy equipment on top of that membrane liner.
“They test the seams of the liners that are placed, but after the seams are tested and the liner is placed they use really heavy equipment to place the granular drainage layer,” she said, “so there isn’t any reassurance that after that equipment has been on there that there aren’t any tears or holes.”
Lucas said there isn’t any written requirement in Minnesota state rules or the Sherburne County Solid Waste Ordinance that requires landfills to test their base liners prior to any placement of waste.
“The state only requires that you test the seams for constructibility. There’s no requirement to test for leakage,” he said. “Some are already using it because they realize it’s to their advantage, because ultimately, they’re responsible. They pay financial assurance.”
The amendment language was presented to the solid waste advisory committee Feb. 6. They recommended the board move forward with the proposed changes.
Draft language was also sent to all landfills seeking input, and comments received have been incorporated into the final draft. Contingent upon the outcome of the workshop, staff intends to bring the proposed amendment before the county board during a scheduled public hearing for final approval.
Members of the board had no objections to the proposed amendment.
Other Business
In other action the board:
* Approved the expenditure of $60,000 for two S7 Trimble Robotic Total Stations for the surveying department. The equipment will allow existing personnel to be more productive and will enhance capabilities for road construction and land boundary locations;
* Awarded the contract for road surface improvements on sections of Co. Rd. 6, Co. Rd. 16 and 108th Ave. in Clear Lake Twp. to Knife River Corp. at $1,465,766.20, contingent on approval from Clear Lake Twp. for their portion of the project;
* Approved the final contract payment for 2018 overlays on four county roads and four township roads to Knife River Corp. in the amount of $83,959.65;
* Awarded the contract for the reclaim and overlay project on Co. Rd. 19 from Hwy. 169 to 104th Street to Minnesota Paving & Materials at $884,019.16;
* Approved a request by public works to ask MnDOT to complete a speed zone study for Co. Rd. 4 from Co. Rd. 46 to Co. Rd. 45 in Zimmerman;
* Accepted a $1,400 donation from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) for the Family Home Visiting Program to be used towards educational toys to use as teaching tools that address home safety and fine motor skill development;
* Accepted 20 income-eligible car seats from the Dept. of Public Safety;
* Proclaimed the week of May 5-11 as Correctional Officers Week in Sherburne County.
