×

Wrong place to build a dump

Daryl Somerville

Minot

The City of Minot has proposed to build a new landfill – a landfill that will be closer to the city of Minot, encroaching on residential areas, commercial areas, and the new hospital. The new site would be within visual distance of all these properties. I cannot think of one city that has expanded or built their landfill by moving it closer to the city.

There was a gentleman at the public meeting that stated it very well. He said this is not a matter of whether you live in the area or own a business in the area. This plan makes no sense. There are many issues that arise with landfills and to place a new one in the one area that does show growth in our community is just unthinkable. I have to wonder if our leaders are trying to grow our community or stop it in its tracks.

I have driven by the new hospital in Fargo and the amount of development that is going up around that new hospital is amazing. Right now, we are very fortunate to be getting a new hospital, which will be creating a lot of jobs that we are in desperate need of. That is the type of opportunity we will have here if we don’t mess it up by building a landfill next to the new hospital.

The city purchased the land in Sept. of 2017. The land had an appraised value of 1.25 million dollars, our city purchased the land for four million dollars. The city purchased the land without an option or due diligence period which would have given them time to research, find out if they could change the zoning, and hold public input meetings. The land that the city purchased is not zoned to have a landfill on it. I do not know of any developer or contractor that would ever close on a piece of property that is not zoned for the use they have intended for it.

The city decides to have public input meetings, of course, after the land has already been purchased. The public input meeting has not had one person that was in support of the city proposed new landfill. There were only two city council members present at the meeting.

Our landfill is used 50 percent by the city of Minot and 50 percent by the surrounding communities. Which makes me think maybe some of the surrounding communities should be at the table both financially and maybe finding a location at least 10 miles outside the city of Minot, but also makes sense for the surrounding communities.

In 2015, the city hired a company to do an assessment of which areas of Minot showed the most potential for growth, both commercially and residentially. The area that was tagged was the SW portion of Minot. Now the city wants to build a landfill in that area. This simply does not make sense.

The last thing Minot needs right now is another Downtown parking ramp situation or another 55th Street Bypass situation. This is a very big deal and must be done right and with vision for Minot’s future. We do not need another project completed and be regretting it day one after completion.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today