Vernon County board votes to seek facilitated talks with DNR over landfill expansion

The Vernon County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve an amended resolution asking for facilitated discussions between county consultants and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources over outstanding questions in the agency’s second notice of incompleteness for the Vernon County Landfill expansion.

The resolution, introduced as Resolution 2025-21 and amended on the floor to remove language urging state officials to “support expansion,” directs county representatives to seek mediation or facilitation so SEH (the county’s engineering consultant) and DNR staff can clarify the DNR’s remaining technical requests. Chair (speaker 2) framed the vote as an effort to avoid a third incompleteness letter that could compel an environmental impact statement and additional multiyear expense.

Why it matters: residents and scientists urged the board to halt spending and insist on more testing, citing karst topography, sinkholes, and a risk of groundwater contamination. KJ (speaker 15), who presented an unaudited accounting review during public comment, warned of operating losses and substantial pre‑expansion expenditures, saying: "Department totals are a cash loss of $33,652 and loss after depreciation of a $179,216." Others, including retired geologist Kelvin Rodolfo (speaker 17), described field evidence for rapid groundwater flow and karst risk, while landfill manager Stacy (speaker 21) read an email from DNR hydrogeologist Mark Peters noting the site’s monitoring and design protections.

Board members debated three core options: (1) withdraw the expansion, (2) proceed with additional field work and risk a third DNR incompleteness (which could lead to an environmental impact statement), or (3) seek facilitated clarification to avoid escalating requirements. The board adopted the mediation route and approved the amendment to clarify the county’s request.

Practical outcome and next steps: the vote was unanimous (19–0). Previously approved, limited expenditures — including two monitoring wells that the board had authorized — were described during the meeting as proceeding; the resolution focuses on facilitating technical dialogue with the DNR so the county can determine whether further field work or an EIS is necessary. Stacy told the board the landfill’s closure and long‑term care funds currently hold “over $4,000,000” earmarked for post‑closure monitoring and that the department has removed roughly 2.6 million gallons of leachate a year as part of its monitoring program.

The board did not adopt a moratorium on further study but several supervisors urged prudence about additional spending until mediation clarifies DNR expectations. The county’s consultants and DNR staff will be asked to work through outstanding items and report back to the board.