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Commissioners press for local oversight after complaints about biosolids storage in Matheson
Summary
County public health staff briefed the board on complaints about a biosolids storage site near Matheson that was approved at the state level; commissioners and staff agreed to pursue a work study, invite the company (TeraGenesis) and complainants, and consider a county permitting process modeled on Weld County.
Public health staff told Elbert County commissioners at a Feb. 11 work study that the county has received complaints about a biosolids storage site near Matheson and that the site had been approved through state biosolids channels without county approval.
"I'm not very happy with the state," Commissioner Byron McDaniel said during the discussion, describing community concerns about odors, runoff, runoff into neighboring properties, and potential health effects. McDaniel mentioned alarms about long‑term contaminants and described anecdotal reports such as livestock deaths tied by some residents to the material on site.
Sarah McIntosh and her staff said the Matheson storage site was approved by the state's biosolids team and that Elbert County had limited authority over what was already permitted. McIntosh recommended the county consider whether future storage sites should require a local permitting process, public notice and hearings, and county inspections—similar to Weld County’s model, which she described as including annual applications, fees, public hearings and periodic inspections.
"Weld County's process for applications is much more robust," McIntosh said, noting Weld does not allow storage sites and requires public notice and inspection contracts. Commissioners discussed options including local permitting, setbacks, odor limits, and requiring the landowner to live on the property as a deterrent to non‑resident operators.
McIntosh proposed arranging a work study that would bring TeraGenesis (the company identified as owning many of the subject properties) before the board and also meet separately with complainants. That study would let the company explain its process and let the board hear residents’ concerns.
Ending: Staff will coordinate a work study meeting that includes the biosolids company and complainants, research Weld County’s regulations and enforcement practices, and return to the board with recommended county approaches to prevent future storage sites from being established without local input.
