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Oronoco council agrees to take 150,000 gallons of biosolids from Lewon at $0.15 per gallon
Summary
To help a neighboring wastewater utility, the council approved storing and processing roughly 150,000 gallons of biosolids at a charge of 15 cents per gallon; People’s Service (Lewon) will arrange permitted land application and cover hauling, while the fee covers city processing risk and storage costs.
The Oronoco City Council voted July 15 to accept approximately 150,000 gallons of biosolids from Lewon (delivered by People’s Service) and to charge 15 cents per gallon to cover the city’s storage and processing risk.
Joe (city staff) told the council Lewon has been unable to land-apply biosolids this year and has asked neighboring communities for temporary storage capacity. “Lewon…are essentially full and they are looking for someone to help them take bioolid away from their facility so they have enough room to get through till fall,” Joe said, and added that People’s Service will pay for shipping. Staff proposed a 15-cent-per-gallon fee to cover digestor wear, electrical costs and hauling risk; at that rate the city would collect roughly $22,500 for 150,000 gallons if all material is accepted.
Councilors asked whether Oronoco has permitted land to apply biosolids; staff said the city does not currently have land permitted for land application — that permitting and testing (MPCA process) is the responsibility of People’s Service to arrange for final land application. Councilors also discussed seasonality and coordination challenges: land-application windows are generally limited to specific crop seasons (spring and fall), and if application is delayed costs and hauling distances can increase.
Council approved the storage and processing arrangement at 15 cents per gallon and directed staff to coordinate permitting, transportation details and a future return with any required documentation. Staff said People’s Service remains responsible for identifying permitted land and that the city would consider the transaction a one‑time assistance and would work to recover costs through the fee.
Next steps: staff to document the agreement, confirm permit status and hauling logistics with People’s Service, and return to council if additional approvals are required for repeated or long-term storage.
