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Becker County board approves resolution to secure county landfill after years of dispute
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Summary
After months of local concern and a review with MPCA staff, the Becker County Board approved resolution 4262e directing staff to pursue fencing, signage and other measures to secure the CMD landfill; the vote passed after debate about cleanup, access and potential costs.
The Becker County Board voted to adopt resolution 4262e directing county staff to secure the CMD landfill with fencing, roll gates and signage and to solicit quotes for the work.
Staff told commissioners the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency had reviewed a proposed “minimal” fencing plan and indicated it would meet the agency’s baseline expectations, with modifications required if problems arose. As staff put it, the agency’s read of the plan was that “it meets the minimal standard.” The board’s discussion then turned to operational and legal implications, including where a fence should sit relative to a township road, who would bear tree‑clearing and turnaround costs, and how to handle illegal dumping.
John Hockett, the landfill operator, warned that opening the road could increase illegal dumping and that existing staffing (an hourly check of the site) would not catch every incident. “My biggest concern is the legal dumping,” he said, stressing that an hourly check would not be sufficient if the site were opened without other controls.
Other commissioners urged low‑cost deterrents such as signage and cameras; one commissioner argued a camera plus a clear sign would deter most would‑be dumpers. Board members agreed to pursue a package of measures rather than accepting a single vendor quote at today’s meeting: the resolution authorizes staff to finalize a scope, solicit multiple bids, and return with pricing and implementation details. The board approved the resolution in a roll‑call vote (motion carried). The resolution does not finalize contract awards; staff will return with quotes and recommended purchase actions.
The action represents a formal step to implement a security plan county staff and several commissioners said had been delayed for decades. Commissioners and staff noted there may be follow‑up work to define the exact fence alignment, any necessary easements or turnaround work with the township, and signage or monitoring systems to reduce dumping risk.
