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Commissioners authorize $842,486 payment for landfill closure fund; county notes $11M shortfall to estimated closure cost
Summary
The board approved a required $842,486 payment to the Hancock County Sanitary Landfill Financial Assurance Trust Fund and heard staff say the fund balance of $15 million falls short of the estimated $26 million closure cost, noting additional volume due to gas collection.
Hancock County Commissioners on April 7 approved Resolution #225-26, authorizing the county's 2026 annual payment to the Financial Assurance Trust Fund for the Hancock County Sanitary Landfill.
Cindy Land presented the resolution and told the board the payment amount is $842,486.00. The resolution passed 3-0 after a motion by Commissioner William Bateson and a second by Commissioner Timothy Bechtol.
During staff reports, Steve Wilson said the balance in the Financial Assurance Trust Fund is $15 million while the estimated cost to close the landfill is $26 million, creating a funding gap of roughly $11 million. Wilson also said that due to gas collection there is an additional five to ten feet of fill capacity required on the first hill, which factors into future closure costs.
Commissioners did not vote on additional funding at the meeting. Auditor Charity Rauschenberg asked questions about timing for related invoices from Norfolk Southern and flagged broader cash-flow planning concerns for the county's second half of the fiscal year.
The payment resolution authorizes use of the county's designated financial assurance resources for landfill closure costs. No amendment or dissent was recorded at the April 7 meeting.
