Landfill siting uncertain as Sioux County extends moratorium; city purchase agreement nears expiration
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Summary
Staff reported Sioux County extended its landfill moratorium through April, complicating the city's purchase agreement with landowner David Lochimer (agreement expires 2026-01-21); staff said they hired HDR for representation and will explore other sites, transfer-station permitting and tipping fees after preliminary estimates returned above $72 per ton.
Staff told the council the city engaged HDR (an Omaha-based engineering firm) to represent Scottsbluff before the Sioux County planning commission on landfill matters. Sioux County previously adopted a moratorium on new landfills that ran through October but later extended it for another six months; the extension means the moratorium now runs through April (next year).
The city holds a purchase agreement with landowner David Lochimer that expires on Jan. 21, 2026. Staff said Lochimer is reluctant to extend the agreement, which may force the city to identify alternative sites or pursue other options. Staff said they will meet with HDR and the county attorney to explore conditional-use permits and to formulate a plan.
Staff also reported working on a transfer-station permit with the Nebraska Department of Environment and plans to solicit bids for hauling/tipping logistics; a preliminary tipping-fee analysis returned a projected cost of over $72 per ton compared with the current roughly $50 per ton. Council members expressed concern about the economic feasibility and said staff should keep rates low for residents.
Staff will continue site research, pricing, and legal engagement and report back to council after further meetings with HDR and attorneys.