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Venice approves $85,000 budget amendment and geosciences contract to begin closure of inactive FM 85 landfill
Summary
The commission approved an $85,000 FY2026 sanitation-fund appropriation to procure professional services to begin final closure of the inactive FM 85 landfill and later authorized a geosciences contract not to exceed $84,637 to support permit revocation and closure work.
The Venice City Commission voted June 16 to amend the FY2026 sanitation fund to appropriate $85,000 for professional services to initiate the final closure of the inactive FM 85 landfill and later approved a separate resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a contract with Salutant Geosciences Inc. for geosciences services not to exceed $84,637.
Public Works Director Doug Taylor explained the request, saying the landfill opened in 1980, operated for about six years and was closed in 1986. Taylor told commissioners ongoing annual testing and minor repairs have cost the city roughly $10,000 a year, and the requested $85,000 would fund initial services — including sampling, documentation and public-notice work — required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to move toward final closure.
Taylor summarized the site: "We had that in — 112 acres. 123 acres. Sorry. The 30 acres was the only part that was used for the dump," clarifying that only about 30 acres were actively landfilled while the larger tract includes buffers. He said closing the landfill is a multiyear process that may take about five years, requires a cap to control runoff and monitoring of gas and groundwater after closure. He also warned that if inspections reveal significant sloughing or contamination, additional remediation costs could follow.
Staff explained the $85,000 appropriation will be funded from the sanitation fund reserve and will not materially deplete the fund balance. The commission then approved the budget amendment and the separate geosciences contract by voice votes with no recorded opposition.
What the contracts cover: The geosciences firm will perform testing, prepare closure documents for TCEQ, assist with public notices and provide initial recommendations; the $84,637 cap is the not-to-exceed sum in the approved resolution.
Next steps: Staff will contract the geosciences firm, begin required testing and reporting, and return to the commission if additional remediation or funding is required.
