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Resident urges board to halt landfill expansion over geologic, financial concerns
Summary
At the Vernon County Board meeting, resident Tom Lukens urged supervisors to delay the planned landfill expansion, citing karst geology, inconsistent groundwater flows and a revenue shortfall — current tipping is roughly 10,000 tons versus a budget built on 23,000 tons, he said.
Tom Lukens, a Webster Township resident, told the Vernon County Board of Supervisors that the proposed landfill expansion should be re-evaluated using independent financial and geophysical data. He warned the project rests on optimistic revenue assumptions and poses environmental risks because of local karst geology. “Our county is not a business, let alone an industry,” Lukens said, arguing the county should not proceed on the current assumptions.
Lukens told supervisors the expansion budget assumes 23,000 tons of annual tipping fees but the facility is currently receiving about 10,000 tons, creating what he described as a “huge shortfall.” He also raised concerns about the landfill accepting increasing quantities of “special waste” — including coal bottom ash, petroleum-contaminated soil and dredge sand — saying such materials are “more toxic than standard solid waste” and could increase public-health and monitoring risks given variable groundwater flow in nearby wells. The board did not take action on the issue during the meeting; Lukens’ remarks were recorded during the public-comment period.
