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Atchison County adopts resolution to partner with KDHE on cleanup at 2411 Pacific Street
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing an agreement and reimbursement arrangement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to remediate illegal solid-waste disposal at 2411 Pacific Street; the board authorized budget allocation and the chair to sign related documents.
The Atchison County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 voted 2-0 to adopt a resolution authorizing the county to cooperate with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on remediation of the site at 2411 Pacific Street in Atchison. The board authorized the chair to execute the cleanup agreement and a reimbursement agreement and approved necessary budget allocation.
The county resolution, as read at the meeting, states that county staff, Northeast Kansas Environmental Services and KDHE investigated constituent complaints about the property and that KDHE determined the site had been used for illegal solid-waste disposal and requires corrective action under state law. The resolution cites the Kansas statutes read into the record during the meeting and says KDHE has authority to act where a release presents a threat to human health or the environment and where an owner or operator is unwilling or unable to perform corrective action.
The document presented to the board further states KDHE determined the long-term owner has not violated the Solid Waste Act rules and therefore should not be required to repay state Solid Waste Fund expenditures; KDHE recommended it is most cost-effective for the county to perform or contract for remediation work and to enter a reimbursement agreement with KDHE for costs incurred.
Commissioners moved and seconded adoption of the resolution; the motion passed on a 2-0 vote and the clerk recorded the resolution as number 20251557. The resolution text and attachments mentioned appendices including subrecipient agreements and a KDHE harassment policy form; the board authorized the chair to sign those documents in conjunction with the main agreement.
County staff did not announce a dollar amount for the county’s share during the discussion; the resolution as presented authorizes the county to allocate budget as required and to execute related paperwork so the remediation can proceed under KDHE oversight.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: the county will enter the cleanup and reimbursement agreements substantially in the form presented and the chair will sign the agreements and related documents. The board did not discuss a schedule for on-site work or a firm estimate of county costs during the public portion of the meeting.
