BEATRICE – One of the bigger projects that will be happening in 2025 is the construction of a new solid waste landfill just southwest of Beatrice. The agency that governs the facility along with the Beatrice City Council this week approved a revenue bond proposal of up to $16 million to construct it…just south of the present facility.


Mayor Bob Morgan says the currrent Beatrice Area Solid Waste Agency landfill is down to its last amount of space.


"It has lasted quite a while. It's as decision we had to make probably four years ago. We knew we were gonna run out of space....and you have two options.....you can either building a transfer station and pay someone to haul it off...probably to Milford, which is a bigger landfill...or you can build your own landfill. We studied both very, very long and hard....and it was probably unanimous with the council, at that time, that we wanted to control our own destiny."


Years ago, the city acquired property along the south side of West Lilac Road and Morgan feels it was the right decision to move forward on a new facility.  "It's more than digging a hole. We talked about how complicated they are to build...and that's why you have up to $16 million cost to get it going. But also, there's not a lot of landfills. and so it does take a sizable amount of garbage to be profitable for a landfill. We sit in a position where we can actually bring in garbage from the city, the county and a couple other communities that will bring their garbage to us, so it does provide a revenue stream that will pay for the bonds."


The plans for the issuance of bonds would be backed up by general taxing authority of the city.
"The last time we backed bonds, was for the fire station. It's paid by sales tax, so it's revenue generation to pay for the fire station.  We knew that we were going to be able to generate enough tax. But, as you look at rating for bonds, the companies that sell the bonds are really asking, if something drastically happened, how are you going to make sure you meet your financial obligation. All that this is...is nothing more than saying, if something really bad would happen and the revenue would slide off, then you'd have a guarantee from the city and the county to pay those."


The Beatrice Area Solid Waste Agency Board consists of the mayor, city council members and two representatives from the Gage County Board.


Separate from BASWA is Midwest Area Refuse Solutions…MARS…which does the hauling for Beatrice and surrounding areas and communities.


With newly elected members coming on board, Morgan says city officials hope to hold a work session soon to review the separate operations


"I think it will clear up a little bit some of the concerns people have had about MARS going out into some other communities. We've had some conversations at the city council when we've had new contracts....the last one was Crab Orchard....but I think it will also show that the increase in business from MARS will drive more garbage to the landfill, and MARS will pay the landfill....so it will help ultimately to keep the price down for all of us, as far as the rates from the landfill side or BASWA."


Bids are being taken for the earthwork on the new landfill….and for construction of a new building and scale. The facility is expected to have a lifespan of some 60-to-70 years.