(*Clarification)

Cass County Landfill Director Brandi Mericle today (Wednesday) spoke about the issues concerning long-term financing the facility is working to resolve. In speaking with KJAN’s Jim Field during our “Heartbeat Today” program, Mericle said the tipping fees are insufficient to meet their needs if they are to remain a viable. She said they’re about to construct a slightly less than one-acre cell with a liner to protect the groundwater, for about $400,000. That doesn’t take into account the regulations and rules coming down the road from the DNR and EPA.

All of the communities in Cass County and the unincorporated areas are part of a 28-E cost sharing agreement to support the landfill as necessary. *The Landfill’s Board set the fee at $12 per person per year. The City of Atlantic will assess 38-cents per thousand dollars of valuation to pay its share. Not all cities in the County are using property taxes.

The tipping fees themselves will remain unchanged at $10 minimum depending on the size of the pickup load, or $100 per ton. She said that they “Are always evaluating our operations to make the landfill as efficient as possible and keep it viable for the future.”

Atlantic City Administrator John Lund said last week, people should notice the change on the property tax bill in January, 2019. Mayor Jones said the City of Atlantic will contribute about $85,000, rural county $42,000. Atlantic will receive its first bill and the end of the 1st Quarter, which is in Sept., 2018.

(Listen to the full interview with Brandi Mericle on our podcasts page found under Heartbeat Today, at kjan.com)