The Vilas County Board of Superviors will get a second try to petition DNR for withdrawl of 72 acres from the county forest for expansion of the Highway G landfill after falling short last month of the 14 votes required due to six supervisors absent and three voting against.
Vilas County Forest Administrator John Gagnon presented a slightly modified resolution to the Forestry Committee for approval by including specific language that identifies the needed vote for DNR consideration.
According to DNR administrative code, it requires a two-thirds vote of the 21 supervisors, not a simple majority. At the February board meeting, the vote was 12-3 with six supervisors absent. It requires at least 14 votes for passage.
Supervisor Vern Wiggenhauser asked about delaying the withdrawal request with committee chairman Steve Doyen responding that the county “presently has the needed lands to enter into the county forest, 82 acres, to replace the withdrawal and we may not have that in the future” which could necessitate purchasing properties.
Gagnon indicated Highway G Landfill Venture Group is looking at an investment of $3.85 million for a new compactor, new cell development, new driveway, and new scale in anticipation of needed expansion.
The second vote on the petition to withdraw lands for expansion of the landfill will be March 26.