Title issues set landfill project back

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The Weston County Solid Waste District was well on its way to having a county landfill operational at about the same time as the 2022 closing date for the Newcastle landfill, according to the district’s board chairman, Ed Wagoner. 
This, is not the case anymore, Wagoner said, after issues with the land the board had selected arose shortly before the surveying process began. 
The board originally advertised for any interested parties to submit land proposals to the board. Five proposals were submitted and all would have been appropriate for a landfill, according to Wagoner. 
One tract of land, down Wyoming Highway 450, was known to the board as the Mush Creek Tract and the board retained the engineering firm TriHydro, of Casper, to finalize the process to begin surveying the property. 
 “We have hit a road block. When we advertised for land, we had a 160-acre plot on (Highway) 450 come up and everything looked good,” Wagoner said. That plot would have been perfect for a landfill, and it would likely outlive his kids and even grandkids, Wagoner said. 
The timeline for the landfill would have put a county operation on track to be ready by 2022 or 2023, but this was no longer the case once inspection of the title for the land began. 
“There are lots of proof of ownership and dead people owning the land on the title,” Wagoner said. 
The ownership issues have now set the project back because the board must again search for land for a county landfill. 
“We are not back to square one. We gave TriHydro the go ahead to do a GIS survey in their mapping system to show any tract of land in the county that is not encumbered by airports, roads and other things,” Wagoner said. “We are back to square one looking for land, though.” 
The biggest focus for the board now is finding land, according to Wagoner. 
“There are so many restrictions on it, you have to be so far away from houses, wells and other things. There are just so many restrictions we have to meet,” Wagoner said. 
But all hope is not lost, Wagoner said. If the board can locate a new piece of land that meets all the criteria, it could quickly get the process started and potentially only be six months behind where it was. 
Anyone interested in selling land is encouraged to send inquires to PO Box 158. Newcastle, WY 82701.