Council gives SKB Environmental OK to expand

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Getting approval from the Rosemount City Council to expands its facility was a big accomplishment for SKB Environmental. But it’s only a third of what it has to do.

The company wants to increase its landfill capacity by 73 percent. But before that can happen it has to get Minnesota Pollution Control and Dakota County support as well.

“It’s a very large expansion so getting the council’s approval was significant,” said SKB president John Domke. “I think we’ve been an excellent corporate citizen and the council decision shows that they agree.”

The council approved the expansion Oct. 10 after an intense review of the project that included two public hearings and numerous planning commission and council meetings.

If SKB receives approval from all the required agencies it will expand its facility on 13425 Courthouse Blvd. The expansion will increase the disposal area to 151 acres and increase the height of the fill by 40 feet.

The expansion will occur in the southwest portion of the property near a wetland. To create the additional space SKB will fill a 0.5-acre wetland and 0.3 acres of a 9.3-acre wetland. To make up for the filled land, the company will create 1.6-acres of new wetland.

The MPCA should review the proposal before the end of the year. Domke said the agency will look mostly at the engineering aspects of the project. He said they don’t anticipate a decision until early 2009. If the MPCA gives it a go, then the county will consider it.

While actual construction will not begin for some time, some work on the project could begin in early 2009. Domke said the wetland mitigation will begin in the spring.

The council approval included revisions to the SKB trust fund. The company contributes money to the fund on behalf of the city and its residents. The fund will be capped at $1.5 million which will likely be reached in three years said community development director Kim Lindquist.

When the cap is reached, rather than splitting SKB donations between the city and the trust, all payments will go to the city’s general fund. Interest revenue up to $62,000 from the trust fund will be distributed to charitable area organizations in Rosemount. The rest will go to the city.

Under the current agreement trust will give about $50,000 to local organizations in 2009.

The board of trustees will decide how the charitable funds will be distributed. The board will consist of three members chosen by the Rosemount City Council and two by SKB. Of the three chosen by the council only one can be a city council or city staff member

Tags: news, skb, environmental, landfill, expansion