Curtis Meador, director of public works, updated the commission that a recent storm refilled leachate ponds at the county landfill and forced pumps to be turned off, requiring emergency hauling. "This last storm filled it all back," Meador said, and he reported the county is currently hauling leachate to the top of the hill and working to regain target pond levels before winter.

The operational update: Meador said he had aimed to reach 4 feet below the top going into winter but the storm set the project backwards. He said evaporation this year has been low because of high humidity, reducing natural drying, and that he will convene a work session the following week to consider alternative technologies and treatment options, including exploring outside vendors and technologies not known in-state.

Payment approved: A motion was made and approved to issue a check for $20,007.36 to El Dorado for leachate hauling and associated disposal costs. The commission voted to approve the payment during the meeting.

Why it matters: Meador said the county has limited surface area for temporary storage and is constrained by weather and pump capacity. He also noted broader operational pressures, including cited increases in disposal costs from partner municipalities and the challenge of implementing an in-county treatment route.

Next steps: Public works will hold a work session next week to review proposed alternative leachate-management technologies and to develop recommendation(s) for the commission. Meador said he has reached out to KDHE and other vendors to identify feasible solutions and will continue to pursue options outside the state if needed.

Ending: The county approved the immediate payment to keep operations moving and scheduled the follow-up work session to identify longer-term treatment or infrastructure options.