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Board approves $12–$15 million bonding to design and finance PFAS treatment at county landfills
Summary
The Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 48 to allow bonding for PFAS treatment systems at county landfills; the Department of Public Works will complete a 75% design and seek a guaranteed maximum price before returning for final financing. Commissioners discussed communitywide options for PFAS destruction and long‑term rate impacts.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners on a 20‑0 roll call vote approved Resolution 48, authorizing the county to proceed with design and future bond financing for PFAS treatment at multiple Kent County landfill sites.
Commissioner Steck moved the resolution; Commissioner Pacla provided the second. The motion passed on a roll call recorded as 20 yeas, 0 nays.
Department of Public Works staff told commissioners the initial work will fund the 75% design phase so the contractor can provide a guaranteed maximum price. The systems under design will be sited at South Kent Landfill (operating), Kentwood Landfill (closed legacy facility), and North Kent Landfill, and will treat groundwater, contact water and leachate per permit requirements.
The department estimated total borrowing to complete, purchase and install the treatment systems at between $12 million and $15 million. The resolution authorizes the county to include the design‑phase costs in the eventual bond issue so those early expenditures are refunded by the bond proceeds.
Commissioners discussed whether the county could broaden the project into a communitywide solution by leasing destruction equipment so treated PFAS could be destroyed locally after capture. The Department of Public Works said the proposal in the procurement included an option to lease destruction equipment and that officials are open to pursuing a broader community service if funding and logistics allow.
On budget impacts, the department estimated an added annual cost for debt service and operations of roughly $800,000 to $900,000; the department said the disposal system is an enterprise activity funded through facility fees and that the rate structure would be adjusted to cover new costs. The department indicated the bond authorization and detailed financing would return to the board later in the year for formal approval, with construction expected to start in 2026 if financing is approved.
Ending: Commissioners approved the resolution to fund final design and to allow those design costs to be reimbursed from future bonds. The county will return with a firm cost and bond request once the guaranteed maximum price is available.
