Residents press Yuma County for public meeting and answers on EVelution Cobalt project, biosolids impacts

Several residents used the Board’s public-comment period on June 1 to press Yuma County for more information and local engagement on two environmental and community-health concerns.

Velma Limmeroth, a Wellton-area property owner, asked the Board to hold a dedicated informational session (with remote participation) on the proposed EVelution Cobalt processing facility and to clarify project details including water use estimates, groundwater sources, how non-recycled water would be handled, traffic and transportation impacts, emergency response planning, power-supply needs, environmental and wildlife effects, and proposed community benefits and accountability measures.

"We need a dedicated public informational meeting so people in the east county can participate and get clear answers on water and other impacts," Limmeroth said as she read a detailed letter into the record.

Separately, Tyler Woodman of County 12th Street asked the Board to continue updates on a long-running dispute over biosolids application on state trust lands associated with AgTech. Woodman read into the record a December 1, 2025 letter the Board previously sent to the Arizona State Land Department requesting termination of the land lease tied to biosolids application and described reported community impacts including persistent odors, fly infestations, dust, and alleged crop losses by date growers. He said some residents have received legal demands related to speaking about the issue.

Chairman Martin Porchas asked County Administrator Ian McGaughey to follow up on the EVelution request, and Supervisor Darren Simmons committed to arranging a public meeting in the east-county area. The Board did not take formal action at the meeting beyond directing staff follow-up and service of public-requested information.