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Officials and residents debate long-running shingle-pile cleanup, DNR role and costs
Summary
Public commenters and county officials described a decade-old shingle pile estimated at roughly 10,000 to 12,000 tons, discussed grant-funded hauling limits, high grinding costs that hinder reuse, and evolving verbal approvals from the Department of Natural Resources; the commission said it will continue seeking grants and compliance with DNR rules.
Residents and county officials spent a lengthy public-comment period on Monday addressing a longstanding pile of shingles at a site the meeting referred to as Richwoods, discussing hauling, testing, costs and the county's interaction with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
A public commenter described a small grant that allowed the county to haul shingles to the registered landfill at Richwoods under a construction-and-demolition ticketing process and said the county has been reimbursed for some hauling costs. County staff and speakers estimated the pile at roughly "10 to 12,000" tons and said annual hauling capacity under available grants is limited, which could leave cleanup taking many years without additional funding.
Speakers described two main disposal options that were considered and why each has been challenging: (1) grinding the shingles on-site to reuse in local projects was technically possible but prohibitively expensive because tub grinders would require special teeth and frequent rebuilds given the asphalt's abrasive content; (2) hauling to a registered landfill is legal and feasible but depends on grant funding and transportation costs. One speaker summarized the grinding costs as potentially in the tens of thousands of dollars for equipment rental and maintenance and noted trucks' weights were lighter than expected, which reduced per-load disposal charges but left transportation and labor as significant expenses.
Speakers also said DNR staff have "verbally" opened options that were previously interpreted more narrowly, enabling hauling to a permitted facility; county staff said that change was not provided in writing and that DNR's evolving position had complicated planning. A commenter characterized some responsibility as falling on the agency, saying DNR had initially written the dump site rules and then was "backing off," a claim not contested by any DNR representative in the hearing. Commissioners and staff said they are pursuing available grants and will continue hauling as money permits; they noted that once the cleaned property is released the county plans to donate the parcel for a fire department training facility.
Those speaking at the meeting also discussed prior tests of the shingles for potential use in asphalt blending; because shingles ranged in age (10—20+ years) and oil content, prospective buyers withdrew after testing found inconsistent quality. County staff said they keep a clear record of each load with C&D tickets for the landfill and that hauling has proceeded under the landfill's registration.
Next steps: county staff said they will continue to seek grants, track hauling with C&D tickets and coordinate with DNR to clarify written guidance; commissioners encouraged public input and asked staff to keep the board informed of additional grant opportunities and tonnage estimates.
