[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6253336,"mediaKeyId","3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52","parentId",3181730,"title","Residents press county over Smith Creek landfill bioreactor, demand limits on septage and outside waste","audioSeconds",453,"startMs",6615000,"endMs",7068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52&start=6615&end=7068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52/thumbnail_6615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253336/St-Clair-County/Michigan/Residents-press-county-over-Smith-Creek-landfill-bioreactor-demand-limits-on-septage-and-outside-waste","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253336-f7c0f9a94de430a997abfefa37e8caee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145165&Signature=YH9mBheVqsRsvA4jGkZ67CcoFuuj~nf4Ycv0Idvo-YhDe3l5il32y-8xrcfFQxVy08xmrSy5PEfaulkpIzCgiyrkp~bzRzt3ZRlqkikp2yVeHh0JAfvu09kv0eo8RL961vtgccBYvYuBV5uBDwgdEM68kT6nN8VztfVIXxbii7Ua6-tGu2XS0d8IBI5xp3m8GD53CpwPAWUZt9DGL8M0ivAdRegl5JO7W5G8PlaoE4u8nZmjIdMTvC7VJ92~HiW9b0eYmbGBN7bNmX8tjTxU5wg7ID3QycTFRr6BNFBpsnxmzFXFLCVu7OQs7hr91ePoz70nMGXq6cyOLxxakGB6jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-02T19:51:49.73Z","article","Residents from townships near the Smith Creek landfill pressed the county for stronger action after years of odors and health complaints linked to the landfill’s experimental bioreactor operations and the recent EGLE enforcement process.

Several residents and named plaintiffs in ongoing litigation told the board they had suffered health effects, lost property value, and persistent nuisance impacts that began when the landfill accepted septage and other organic wastes as part of a research-and-development bioreactor program. “Not one of these green energy projects is safe for the people, environment, or community,” one commenter said during public comment, and another asked the board to “put a permanent end to the septage.”

Speakers described a pattern of repeated complaints and corrective work. County staff told residents that EGLE reviewed the enforcement matter and that EGLE staff said the agency could not definitively endorse or oppose the septage-in-bioreactor concept with the resources and information available during the enforcement review. The EGLE field supervisor told county staff that the landfill’s RDDP (research and development demonstration project) permit for the cell in question expires at year-end and will be carefully evaluated by EGLE.

Multiple residents urged the board to use outside experts to provide a peer review of landfill operations and CTI’s performance. Commissioner discussion confirmed the board has met in closed session on litigation matters; commissioners said the closed session limits what they can disclose publicly about the lawsuit and legal strategy. Several commissioners and residents proposed commissioning an independent technical review or consultant to evaluate landfill design, operations and monitoring, and to recommend changes or alternatives.

Public commenters also cited the possibility of a supplemental environmental project (SEP) if the consent order is finalized; an EGLE representative suggested a SEP could direct a portion of a penalty into local projects such as pollution prevention, restoration, monitoring or a community green space, but some monitoring tasks are considered part of regular landfill operations and may not be SEP-eligible.

Commissioners said they would coordinate with EGLE on upcoming public meetings: EGLE scheduled an in-person meeting to answer community questions about the consent order and an earlier virtual session. County administrators said they will notify townships and residents when dates, times and places are finalized.

Several residents and plaintiffs urged more immediate county action, including permanently stopping septic acceptance, expanding monitoring and considering a formal peer review of the county’s landfill contract with CTI. Commissioners discussed directing staff to develop a scope of work for an independent technical peer review and to consider rebidding or requiring competitive quotes when the current contract term is nearing its end.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 1, 2025 St Clair County Board of Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and plaintiffs pressed commissioners to stop accepting septage at the county’s Smith Creek bioreactor and to order an independent technical review after years of odors, health complaints and an EGLE enforcement action.","taxTitle","St. Clair County, Michigan","taxId",4310,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253331,"County moves court software change order — $64,400 requested as courts push to finish million-dollar system",1007,4917000,5924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52&start=4917&end=5924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52/thumbnail_4917000.jpg","/articles/6253331/St-Clair-County/Michigan/County-moves-court-software-change-order-64400-requested-as-courts-push-to-finish-million-dollar-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253331-6de1df37a5d98f7289c87417313d988d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145165&Signature=iogKmTNuPSrxo8KEMzgI-TuescHzpdb34A-tAywwR7DvGguMh2Ron9FWyXQWHTVKzbWxd2egGAA8FLqwQce~ujE7cZLylhnKIUvxDS4S2Fnb5acposEUQ~GDsyDwxzAYlV-wAdNvotSA-ZbCwF7bU4WsfPjOHWRFfED8jGEil6jHNKTI3IKbK-jdWtPKgTGmyvlm3EjUPy0SWyk~mP9aVlJOGzEzAELqfNgt4wzFvTfSLiOdsF0pv7qcI3FzRHgb6qcMZRrQ6GZJ2y6ahJ-FQDs1QIRIAERHhzXe400kpcIiqH6ROGLBLMz7E7SV5GaPNkEiqcAZZETN-7R3dnj7Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Clair County judiciary officials asked the Ways and Means Committee to forward a $64,400 contract change order to the full board to fund additional work on a countywide court-records software implementation.

The county contracted with a vendor to build an online filing and document system for circuit, district and probate courts; the total contract value if the project reaches go-live is about $1.1 million (figures discussed at the meeting). Over the last five years the project experienced repeated delays and technical problems, court administrators and judges told commissioners.

Court leadership explained the requested $64,400 would pay for corrective work and redoing portions of the system that were previously accepted in error; county counsel and administrators described it as a one-time payment so the vendor can finish specific items. The courts said they will not release final payment beyond the change order until the system is fully functional and accepted.

Commissioners expressed skepticism because the vendor has been working on the project for several years and the county previously declined milestone payments in favor of final-deliverable acceptance. Chief Judge West and other court leaders support the payment as a sign of good faith to finish the work, while several commissioners asked for more detailed warranty and testing language before final approval.

Committee members asked court staff to bring the vendor or the court administrator to a future meeting to explain the scope and testing process. Staff said the vendor is out of state and that in-person attendance would require travel; commissioners suggested a remote appearance. The committee voted to send the change order request to the full board for consideration.

The court software change order joins other county technology and modernization efforts; commissioners asked staff to confirm warranty, testing and ongoing-support commitments in writing before final board approval.","County judiciary leaders asked the board to forward a $64,400 change-order request toward completion of a $1.1 million court-records software system that has experienced repeated delays and technical issues.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253326,"MSU Extension reports 2024 participation and programs to county commissioners",151,3651000,3802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52&start=3651&end=3802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52/thumbnail_3651000.jpg","/articles/6253326/St-Clair-County/Michigan/MSU-Extension-reports-2024-participation-and-programs-to-county-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253326-0955b5816efc13cffcb8e77764325c7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145165&Signature=h0659U5tBjx3nPCN7BTDmwJ6RXWyB3zOB2qgkN067axyUhUFEuYckv-dGGcKZwDT0LmbESgUabqzqvrMhe1b6FWAig2U7AjemTqVI8jdWsWQT7hQh5hNz7CHMI~MtUjlzFU3u-lcUQ712WW9bCOXnMIxk9b5TUCyas42FIOl1eKl-ZYslwvEjy63NJzRYp8OC6n5Wpd5dVEtowbDnKaFsZ9~tdSA1BC4mOX0TKqtp7z-mNPIu7pRnT698~4~a35blcD8YXD4aNojdnZfRTnqYikAmIP0ynrN1mfj3ju1AJK0ytoUxP3blXYkzIdYw-TU8-WOQuDXMGeTwTNyLysLXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MSU Extension presented its 2024 annual report to the Board of Commissioners, highlighting program reach, partnerships and grant-funded work.

Staff reported 5,178 participants attended 134 programs held physically in St. Clair County, while 6,411 county residents took part in 495 programs across the state or online. The 4-H program enrolled 667 youth with 258 registered volunteers supporting 45 chartered clubs and school-enrichment activities. Extension staff also participated in 11 community coalitions and partnered with 42 organizations to deliver programming.

Extension educators reached residents through nutrition and health programs, food-safety and preservation outreach, and specialty work such as beef feedlot presentations and emergency response trailers for livestock accidents. Extension staff were recognized for awards and regional partnerships during 2024, and commissioners asked no questions and moved to receive the report.

The report noted recent grant awards supporting work on sleep, mental health, substance-use mitigation, and community nutrition; staff highlighted a virtual weekly growers' breakfast that drew thousands of participants statewide and hundreds of county residents.

Commissioners accepted the report and filed it for the record.","MSU Extension staff presented a 2024 annual report to commissioners highlighting 5,178 participants in 134 in-county programs, 6,411 St. Clair County residents attending 495 programs statewide or online, 667 youth enrolled in 4-H and other program metrics; commissioners had no questions and accepted the report.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253341,"St. Clair County adopts health-driven rules for solar and battery storage; ordinance takes immediate effect",820,3842000,4662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52&start=3842&end=4662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181730-91769ccae1414cc3512d3248ff043d52/thumbnail_3842000.jpg","/articles/6253341/St-Clair-County/Michigan/St-Clair-County-adopts-health-driven-rules-for-solar-and-battery-storage-ordinance-takes-immediate-effect","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253341-88d2932a3c3b8d70b14c3bf4586659f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145165&Signature=lsYlCrLXkukpHITzx-o69SBXaZ2kK6s3ohfC2hqFihIVL1VUL9uHqQhZ5AhVpsUPd9QJBdvYVD0uZFIcgnXVdhtGe0arzXD1f6Zm8AHkJ23RphuI2~N1mHDbwRemw1NvMWa71-D6ocmHI0ORzCELzNSsffvmQIfTlK3bm-z9iVl~oO6j9gsncGaJ2QI6aWFX77ghkOAuFhn1vOWQP9MXvR8Ay7dMb~hAziBQ14XGrPto2AowJewiA3vQUMq-KNrxLbCuV0H5d6QvrI3KqF7v~txSit4Z1CfGP5vP2C99p7XZ8WHMuJyM7qQM-LVEL1b255dIGdk7Q-CvB7QGKX59yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Clair County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the St. Clair County Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Facilities Regulation, a health-department–authored ordinance that sets noise, visual and decommissioning standards for large solar and battery projects, and requested it take effect immediately.

The measure, introduced for final action by county counsel and carried by a motion to approve the resolution, drew hours of public comment earlier in the meeting from residents and health professionals who urged the county to impose stricter protections on projects sited near homes and waterways.

County Health Department Director Liz King and the health department’s researcher, Dr. Nevin, drafted the regulation after public meetings and a departmental review, commissioners said. The ordinance focuses on three areas the health department identified as most likely to affect residents: sound, visual impact and site decommissioning.

\"You want a measurement when it's fully operational,\" County Controller Gary Fletcher told the commission during discussion, explaining the county engaged an independent sound engineer to guard against misleading tests. He said the ordinance requires decibel testing at the property line of nonparticipating properties when systems are running and sets a maximum of 45 decibels at those property lines.

The ordinance also bars tonal noise characteristics that residents and experts testified cause the greatest annoyance, Fletcher said, and requires operators to post bonds or other financial assurances sufficient to fully remove array supports, fencing and foundations if a site is abandoned.

Supporters at the public hearing — including physicians, township planning commissioners and residents living near proposed projects — repeatedly cited anxiety, sleep disruption and property-value concerns. Several speakers asked the board to act quickly; commissioners moved for immediate effectiveness to reduce the risk that developers could claim grandfathered status after breaking ground.

Opponents at public comment argued the health department was exceeding its jurisdiction, raised concerns about duplication with township zoning and warned about regulatory costs and legal challenges. Commissioner discussion acknowledged those legal risks but emphasized the county had framed the ordinance narrowly as a public-health review and minimum standards focused on noise, visual impacts and decommissioning.

In a roll-call vote, every commissioner present voted \"yes.\" The resolution text requests the ordinance be effective immediately so that any new filings or construction begun after adoption must meet the standards.

The ordinance directs the health department to review applications under the new rules and to require monitoring and enforcement steps if developers propose projects that could affect nonparticipating residences. Commissioners also discussed the possibility the department will need additional staff to perform noise monitoring and follow-up inspections as the ordinance is implemented.","The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a health-department–led ordinance setting noise, visual and decommissioning standards for large solar and battery energy storage facilities; the rules include a 45-decibel limit at property lines and provisions to require full removal and bonding for abandoned sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press county over Smith Creek landfill bioreactor, demand limits on septage and outside waste

County moves court software change order — $64,400 requested as courts push to finish million-dollar system

MSU Extension reports 2024 participation and programs to county commissioners

St. Clair County adopts health-driven rules for solar and battery storage; ordinance takes immediate effect