Residents raise groundwater and financial concerns as Vernon County advances landfill expansion

Public commenters packed the audience portion of the Vernon County Board of Supervisors’ Feb. 15 meeting to express sharply divided views on the county’s planned landfill expansion. Several residents, including KJ Jakobson and Kelvin Rodolfo of Viroqua, urged the Board to pause the project, citing unanswered questions and the potential for groundwater contamination; Rodolfo emphasized ongoing worries about contamination risks. Opponents also questioned the financial viability of the expansion given recent volume declines.

Supporters — including local business owner Mike Donskey of LaFarge and Town of Whitestown Chair George Wilber — said closing the landfill would raise disposal costs for area businesses and expressed confidence the county and DNR would ensure safe operation. Director Johnson told the Board that "to date, no tax levy dollars have been used to operate the landfill," while acknowledging 2023 revenue was down 23.57% and that the 2024 budget covers roughly half of operating costs.

County staff and consultants addressed both environmental and financial questions during a technical presentation. SEH project manager Brian Kent said the feasibility study used five-year averages and DNR demographic guidance and asserted there is "no evidence that a sub-title D landfill has failed." Senior hydrogeologist Melanie Niday reviewed site geology and monitoring systems, noting the design includes a five-foot engineered clay liner and a 60 mil HDPE liner, leak-detection systems, and that "there is no leachate contamination in the leak detection systems under the liner, and there is no leachate related detection in the groundwater monitoring systems." She described the site as pseudokarst with 12–40 feet to bedrock and more than 75 feet to groundwater, and said the county will refine monitoring and consider additional wells to address DNR concerns about perched versus regional water tables.

Board members pressed staff on feasibility and funding. Director Sanborn said Vernon County maintains two escrow accounts (closure and long-term care) with a combined balance of $3,815,653.56, short of the required $3,835,696.55 by $20,042.99; she said the accounts will move to the DNR investment pool on March 1 to earn roughly 5% interest. Staff also noted that because the closure will be phased (beginning in 2027–28 for five acres), the full long-term care funding need is deferred until 2040, and staff estimate the landfill can be feasible at roughly 15,000 tons per year.

The meeting record shows no formal reversal of the Board’s previous direction to proceed with expansion; staff said they will continue to refine monitoring plans with the DNR and return with data and operational planning.