Public Works staff updated the board that the county landfill reopened after recent work to construct a new disposal cell, but the county is still working to obtain final certification from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD).

A staff member identified in the meeting as Kenny said surveyors inspected the site and returned with corrective items; he said the contractor had brought in roughly 12 to 15 feet of fill in places before the site could be permitted and receive trash. "Surveyors came twice already. Once to give us what we needed to correct. And then 2, they checked it today," the staff member said. He said slopes on part of the pad still needed to be corrected and that EPD would issue certification after review; the county expected EPD to visit in some cases.

Kenny said the county reopened the landfill while finishing certification work and that the county will need to design and permit two additional cells ahead of capacity shortfalls. "We're on the short end of the cell," he said, noting smaller numbered cells (8 West/8 East) were smaller and that the county plans to build additional cells sequentially to avoid another shutdown.

Officials said the landfill closed earlier because it was near capacity and due to wet weather that made access unsafe; reopening followed grading, vegetation/tree clearing and bringing in enough fill to create the liner subgrade. Kenny said the county had hauled significant fill and adjusted grading to meet targets for certification.

Why this matters: The landfill's certification status affects where residents and contractors may legally bring trash and how quickly the county must construct additional permitted cells to avoid repeat disruptions.

The transcript records this as an informational report; there was no formal board action recorded in the provided excerpt specifically tied to the landfill report.