Edinburg city council moves to finance landfill expansion, approves notice of intent and related resolutions

Edinburg city officials authorized publication of a notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation and approved a reimbursement resolution to fund infrastructure needed for a landfill expansion tied to Permit 956C.

City Solid Waste Director Ramiro Gomez told the Edinburg City Council that Permit 956C, issued in October 2019, added long-term life to the regional landfill but requires staged construction and additional infrastructure before the city may place waste in the new Unit 7 cells. Gomez said the permit’s development schedule sets specific trigger points: the city must complete certain cell-construction components and receive state inspections before moving into the next operational sequence and allowing waste placement in Unit 7, Cell 1.

The council approved a resolution authorizing publication of a notice of intent to issue “combination tax and limited pledge revenue” certificates of obligation (CEOs) and later approved a reimbursement resolution that would let the city reimburse prior qualifying expenditures from bond proceeds. The council also authorized the city manager to negotiate an interim interlocal agreement with the city of Far, Texas, to accept nonhazardous solid waste at the Edinburg Regional Landfill.

Why it matters: The landfill is an enterprise that supplies disposal capacity to Edinburg and surrounding cities under contract. Gomez and the city’s advisors said additional cell construction is needed to deliver the airspace promised to outside customers and to keep the landfill operating year-round. Council action sets the legal steps for…