Wapello County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-08-27
Meeting: Board of Supervisors Meeting
Date: August 27, 2026
The packet centers on the August 27 Ottumwa/Wapello County Solid Waste Commission agenda, including landfill and recycling finances, environmental monitoring, operating policies, staffing support, and a proposed demolition at the landfill. The agenda states that its items are subject to discussion and/or action.
Key Items on the Agenda
Landfill Engineering and Environmental Update
The commission is scheduled to receive an update from SCS Engineers and discuss or take action as needed. The packet reports several ongoing environmental and facility-management matters:
- The Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan Update was submitted May 1, 2026, but resolutions from some planning-area members remain pending.
- A groundwater retest was conducted after zinc in monitoring well MW-40 initially showed a statistically significant increase above background. The retest was below background, so the increase was not confirmed and sampling is expected to continue unchanged.
- Methane monitoring conducted July 29 detected methane only at expected locations: the passive trench outlet and gas vents.
- Leachate-line cleaning and inspection are due during 2026.
- Two groundwater monitoring wells near the southeast corner of the site were struck by a vehicle and are described as not repairable. SCS indicates they will need to be abandoned because they are within the future footprint of the East unit.
- The packet notes that abandoning additional wells in the area while a drill rig is on-site may be advantageous.
- Monitoring well MW-75 is kinked approximately four feet below ground and will need repair if possible.
City/County Solid Waste Rate Eligibility
The commission is scheduled to clarify which entities qualify for the lower city/county solid waste rate. Staff recommends limiting that rate to City- and County-owned departments.
The issue is being presented because the packet says some businesses have previously received the lower rate even though staff believes they should not have been included. Ottumwa Housing and 10-15 Transit are specifically identified as entities affected by the clarification.
Take-Home Vehicle Permission
The agenda includes a request to allow the Solid Waste Superintendent to be placed on the list of city employees permitted to take a city vehicle home.
Staff recommends granting the request. The packet explains that the superintendent typically begins the workday at either the Recycling Center or Landfill and finishes at the other location, prompting questions about taking a city vehicle home overnight.
Temporary Training Help at the Landfill
Staff is requesting permission to bring back a retired landfill employee temporarily to help train two new operators.
The recommendation is to authorize the additional help for one month. According to the packet, both new operators had no landfill experience until a few months ago, and staff wants an experienced former employee to help teach them landfill operations and the reasons behind established procedures.
Compost Building Demolition
The commission is scheduled to consider permission to tear down the compost building at the landfill. Staff recommends demolition.
The packet describes the building as being in poor condition. A contractor who inspected it in spring 2026 estimated that repairs would cost more than the building is worth and recommended demolition. Staff also reports that some metal siding has blown off because the boards holding it were rotted and that the structure contains numerous deteriorated areas.
Third Landfill Operator
The agenda lists a third operator for the landfill under other information/discussion. The packet does not provide enough additional detail to identify a specific proposal or recommended action.
Major Financial Items
Landfill Finances
The commission is scheduled to review financial information for the landfill. The report covers the month ending July 31, 2026, with information listed as of August 14, 2026.
- Landfill fund cash is reported at $1,968,360.70.
- FY2027 budgeted revenues total $4,455,205, including $2.4 million in landfill fees and $2 million in bond or loan proceeds.
- FY2027 budgeted expenditures total $2,602,510.
- The FY2027 budget shows a projected $1,852,695 surplus.
- Through July 31, FY2027 year-to-date landfill revenues are $243,622, while expenditures are $90,451, producing a reported year-to-date surplus of $153,171.
The packet also provides historical and budget comparisons across FY2024 through FY2027, including personnel, maintenance, engineering, contractual services, commodities, capital costs, and transfers.
Recycling Center Finances
The packet separately presents Recycling Center finances through July 31.
- Recycling Center fund cash is reported at $456,229.69.
- FY2027 budgeted revenues total $651,100.
- FY2027 budgeted expenditures total $778,985, producing a budgeted $127,885 deficit.
- Through July 31, FY2027 year-to-date revenues are $10,209 and expenditures are $29,846, for a reported year-to-date deficit of $19,638.
- The FY2027 budget includes $450,000 in transfers from other funds and $125,000 for capital improvement.
The packet also includes detailed 2026 recycling material revenues. Monthly totals shown are $10,471.49 in January, $10,554.80 in February, $19,061.39 in March, $12,772.37 in April, $14,347.65 in May, $14,059.27 in June, and $11,453.00 in July.
Previously Completed Actions and Background
The packet includes minutes from the Solid Waste Commission's July 23, 2026 regular meeting. Those minutes document several prior actions and provide context for the August agenda.
- The commission previously approved its June 25 and June 29 meeting minutes.
- July financial reports for the Landfill and Recycling Center were presented and approved. Staff reported at that meeting that both operations were doing well.
- The commission heard an evaluation of moving the Recycling Center to single-stream recycling. Presenters cited aging trucks and bins, difficulty obtaining trucks designed for sorted recycling, and the potential for single-stream collection to increase material received by the center.
- The commission previously approved a one-week beta test in which curbside loads collected as single-stream recycling would be brought to the Recycling Center.
- The prior engineering update noted a need to reserve some clay for review associated with the new landfill cell, with a September deadline.
These actions are documented as outcomes of the July 23 meeting and should not be interpreted as outcomes of the August 27 agenda.
What to Watch at the Meeting
Several agenda items could directly affect landfill operations. The commission is being asked to determine whether the lower city/county rate should be restricted to government-owned departments, whether the Solid Waste Superintendent should receive take-home vehicle authorization, whether a retired employee should return for one month to train new operators, and whether the deteriorated compost building should be demolished.
The engineering update also raises longer-term infrastructure issues, particularly the abandonment or repair of damaged groundwater monitoring wells and environmental work due during 2026. Financial reports provide a broader view of the landfill and Recycling Center as the commission considers these operational decisions.
