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Commissioners consider landfill study

NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners will consider approving a study to determine if and how far PFCs (Perflourinated Chemicals) have spread from the Brown County Landfill spray field July 25.

The Brown County Solid Waste Department and GEI Consultants, Inc. have been in communication with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff regarding PFCs in ground water. PFCs are found in fire extinguisher powder, fire foam, fast food bags and Teflon pans.

The Minnesota Department of Health and MPCA have scrutinized monitoring and drinking water wells near landfills after the substances were found in wells near a closed landfill in the metro area. The parameters for these substances in drinking water have been lowered significantly.

GEI is available to help Brown County evaluate leachate and landfill management options. They will participate in meetings and conference calls with MPCA staff to determine what the MPCA needs. A project engineer, hydrologist and chemist will be provided if needed.

The firm can also assist in evaluating feasibility and costs associated with leachate management including trucking leachate to off-site treatment plans, pre and full-treatment onsite.

Estimated cost of a study and report is $22,000 to $30,000.

Commissioners will also consider:

• The Brown County Human Services Chemical Dependency Annual Report.

• The 2018 Heartland Express Grant Application budget and resolution. The $738,175 proposed 2018 budget is a 5.5 percent increase. Heartland Express is scheduled to replace a bus at a cost of $81,000 in 2018.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will continue to cover 85 percent of approved operating expenses. The remaining 15 percent local share is generated from fare boxes and system revenues. The 20 percent local share of the bus purchase will come from earmarked transit reserves that currently stand at $63.800.

• Semi-Independent Living Skills (SILS) contracts with Habilitative Services, Inc. and MBW Company. The firms provide services to developmentally disabled adults who require some support to live on their own in the community.

• Planning Commission recommendations.

• A resolution to extend the Brown County Comprehensive Water Management Plan update deadline to Dec. 31, 2020. The local plan is due to expire Aug. 28, 2018.

• Hiring ISG Engineering of Mankato to prepare a feasibility study for County Ditch (CD) 33 landowners. Requests for clean out, repairs and intake issues have been identified in the large ditch system. There are differing views on how the system can best be serviced.

ISG would prepare a feasibility report including process description, proposed improvement concepts and discuss public options. Potential storage areas and cost estimates of each option would be presented at a cost of about $2,000.

• Authorizing the Auditor-Treasurer to hire an additional full-time staff person effective April 2018. The proposed cost is $49,272 including benefits.

The meeting starts at 2 p.m. July 25 in the courthouse commissioner’s room.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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