Vernon County board adopts amended resolution seeking facilitation after WDNR deems landfill expansion study incomplete

Vernon County Board of Supervisors on April 15 unanimously adopted an amended resolution asking state officials to help facilitate talks between the county’s engineering team and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after the WDNR issued a second determination of incompleteness on the county’s landfill expansion feasibility study.

Solid Waste Director Stacy Sanborn told the board the WDNR’s outstanding concerns focus on karst geology, bedrock coring and geophysical testing. Sanborn said the county’s consultant team at SEH, Inc. — including Melanie, a professional geologist and hydrologist — believes the project has been through prior approvals and that the current review has reached an impasse. Sanborn also said operations have been covered by department revenues since 2019 and that the expansion is projected to generate “over $23 million dollars in revenue.”

The county accepted public comments both in-person and in writing. Local residents raised technical, financial and community-host issues: KJ Jakobson said she had audited landfill financials and “disagrees with the financial reports that are being presented to the Board.” Retired geology professor Kelvin Rodalfo warned the expansion sits on karst geology. Supporters, including Daniel Arnold (Town of Webster supervisor) and Dan Helgerson (Mayor of Westby), said a regulated local landfill prevents unregulated dumping and supports local self-reliance.

Board members debated next steps, including whether to proceed with additional approved drilling intended to address one of the WDNR’s items and whether bringing elected state leaders into discussions would be productive. Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Hanan warned that a third incompleteness letter could force an environmental impact study costing an estimated $300,000–$400,000 and add about a year to the timeline.

Supervisor Jacobson successfully moved to amend the resolution to remove language committing elected officials to “support this expansion project,” and the board then voted 19–0 to adopt the amended resolution. The final motion asks for assistance from State Senator Brad Pfaff, State Representative Tara Johnson, and Governor Tony Evers to facilitate talks between the county’s engineers and the WDNR.

The resolution and discussion distinguished technical review (WDNR’s incompleteness letter and required data) from policy choices about whether the county should continue to invest funds in the expansion. The board did not adopt a new drilling authorization during the meeting; members continued to debate whether to proceed pending clearer guidance from the WDNR.