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New landfill now open

The new Kenmare landfill is open and ready to accept a variety of inert waste products, including tree branches and clean wood, sheet rock, shingles, cement, bricks and rock.

5/13/09 (Wed)

By Caroline Downs

 

 

The new Kenmare landfill is open and ready to accept a variety of inert waste products, including tree branches and clean wood, sheet rock, shingles, cement, bricks and rock.

 

So there’s no longer any reason to delay tearing down that old house or shed that’s an eyesore on your property. And the city of Kenmare won’t even charge you for dumping, if you live in town.

 

With the improved spring weather, the new Kenmare landfill opened for business last week, with hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The gate will be open on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, and on Saturdays between 11 am and 1 pm.

 

Mayor Roger Ness was pleased to see the new site, located north of town on the gravel road past the Rosehill Cemetery, ready to accept waste. He emphasized the fact that city residents could dump for free. “This is paid through taxes,” he said. “We’re asking people to haul anything out there that fits the guidelines with the hope of getting more old buildings torn down and beautification projects done. We’re really trying to clean up as much as possible.”

 

Non-residents may use the inert landfill at a cost of $50 per pickup load or $100 per load hauled by single-axle trucks.

 

Ness and city council members Butch Norrie, Todd Ankenbauer and Cameron Bartuska met with city engineer Ryan Ackerman on Friday to finalize procedures at the new landfill. The group talked with city employees Dale Hanson, Mike Thompson and Cliff Emmel about landfill operations, with Kirk Harris and Tim Harris of Harris Construction also present.

 

The group agreed persons with loads to dump should follow the directions of the attendant on duty. “Our main concern is maintaining drainage,” Ackerman said. “That means you start filling the landfill from the high side and fill it up as high as you can.”

 

The old Kenmare landfill will remain open to accept household garbage, white goods (appliances) for a $10 fee, and vehicles for a $25 fee. Those hours have changed, however, with the gate open between 3 and 4:30 pm on Wednesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 pm other weeknights, and 9 to 11 am on Saturdays.

 

Tires cannot be accepted at either location. Neither can items containing lead, and persons who dump such items or other hazardous materials illegally will be subject to fines.

 

Items taken to the new landfill that can be burned, such as wood products, should be placed in a location designated for that purpose.

 

The city of Kenmare purchased 10 acres from Mike Zimmer for use as a landfill last September at a cost of $20,000. Engineering for the site was provided by Ackerman-Estvold Engineering and Management of Minot, and dirt work was completed by Harris Construction. Currently five acres is in use by the city.

 

“We’ve got an agreement with Mike to farm the other five acres,” Ness said, adding that Zimmer’s work provides weed control at the landfill.

 

Ness toured the site with an inspector from the North Dakota Department of Health last fall, who was impressed with size and design of the new dumping site. “He said it was done right,” Ness said. “For a small town, he called this state-of-the-art.”

 

The hours of operation may change at the new landfill, depending on demand. “We’re going to be flexible,” Ness said, “and figure out if there’s more need at one place than the other.” Any changes will be posted for the public.

 

Ness also encouraged persons with special demolition or building projects to make arrangements for dumping if hours at the new landfill were inconvenient.

 

The city auditor can be contacted at 385-4232 if access is needed at the new landfill during daytime hours other than those posted or if persons have questions about the types of materials accepted at either landfill.