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Council approves $40,000 landfill flow monitor after contentious debate over odor control and responsibility
Summary
After extended discussion about landfill leachate odors and who should cover treatment costs, Eskanaba council approved purchasing a permanent flow monitor (FL1500) for up to $40,000 to meter landfill discharges and improve billing and chemical treatment accuracy.
The Eskanaba City Council voted May 21 to purchase a permanent flow monitor (FL1500) for landfill leachate monitoring at a cost not to exceed $40,000, approving a motion after a lengthy debate about responsibility for odors and pre-treatment costs.
Staff (Jeff Lampy) told council the meter would provide an independent, highly accurate measurement of leachate flow to the city’s system and would be used both to pace year‑round chemical injection for odor control and to support billing negotiations with the landfill. Lampy said the city currently relies on the landfill’s self‑reported leachate figures and that a city meter would remove that uncertainty.
Several councilors objected to using city funds on what they characterized as a county (or authority) problem; others warned that doing nothing risks a much larger cost if the city must remove or truck leachate elsewhere. Staff said the meter is a necessary negotiating tool and could yield a return on investment by enabling accurate billing and optimized chemical dosing. Installation timelines discussed included a six‑week lead time for the meter and a separate building and chemical‑feed system the city might later seek funding for (estimated $60,000–$85,000 for a building and year‑round chemical feed infrastructure).
Council approved the purchase on a roll call after staff said the meter could be used as a standalone tool for better planning and billing even before full pre‑treatment infrastructure is in place.
