Journal file photo A dump truck unloads trash at the Brown County Landfill. Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a 2026 and 2027 landfill operating contracts with 2.5% cost increases per year Tuesday.

NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a two-year landfill operating contract with Mathiowetz Enterprises Inc. Tuesday.

The contracts include a 2.5% cost increases each year, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The 2026 contract cost is $531,065 and $544,341 for 2027.

Brown County Planning and Zoning Director Robert Santaella said the contract includes 2.75 full-time staff and landfill equipment at the landfill. It also has a fuel stop loss provision.

If the fuel price is above $3.90 a gallon in 2026 and 2027, the county would reimburse Mathiowetz Enterprises any costs above $3.90. If fuel costs drop below $3.00, Mathiowetz Enterprises will reimburse the county any costs below $3.00.

Mathiowetz Enterprises will be paid $15/ton to cover the cost of time and equipment for the special handling of asbestos.

Santaella said trash collected in landfill litter fences is covered by Sentencing to Service (STS-selected non-violent offenders). If STS offenders are unable to pick it up, the cost would be billed out by the Mathiowetz Enterprises.

The landfill is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

“Mathiowetz Enterprises work is always top notch with good customer service whenever I’ve been to the land fill to use it,” said Commissioner Brian Braun.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp.

Prior to landfill operating contract approval, commissioners unanimously approved a Brown County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) request to public a request for bids to rent 50 acres of tillable land north of the sanitary landfill.

A sanitary landfill is designed for the safe disposal of municipal solid waste, (trash or waste consisting of everyday items commonly discarded by the public). Sanitary landfills isolate waste from the environment to minimize health risks and environmental impact.

Liners and leachate collection systems prevent contamination of soil and groundwater. Regular checks ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Santaella said Brown County previously had two contracts, one for a tillable land and one to hay a spray field. He said the spray field has not produced good hay in recent years and rather than incur costs for re-establishment of the land, the committee recommendation was to have one contract just for tillable land.

Santaella said the cost of re-establishing the tillable land to produce a viable crop has about a 10-year payback.

“I think it would more sense to have one contract and till the whole 50 acres,” he said.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp, seconded by Tony Berg.