Valdosta council amends budget $25,000 to comply with EPD order closing city mulch yard

Valdosta’s City Council approved a $25,000 amendment to the FY2026 budget to comply with an EPD (Georgia Environmental Protection Division) violation order requiring closure and capping of the Valdosta Mulch Yard.

Tarquita, a city staff member, told the council the EPD had ordered the city to condense and bury waste materials currently on-site and outlined estimated costs: a 30-day excavator rental at $12,480, a 30-day bulldozer rental at $6,420, a $3,000 monetary settlement to EPD, and $3,100 to purchase grass—totaling roughly $25,000. “The EPD has issued the city a violation order requiring the closure of Valdosta Mulch Yard,” Tarquita said in presenting the request.

Council members questioned staff about the size of the site and the scope of the work. The chair initially said the mulch yard covers about 4 acres; staff later described the active laydown area as possibly up to about 6 acres and said the city will use dirt relocated from other city sites (for example, from the Cypress field) where possible to create a required two‑foot dirt cap. Staff cautioned the council that, depending on how much imported soil is required, an additional budget amendment could be necessary.

Council members also asked whether the public free-mulch program would be suspended; staff confirmed the program will pause while the EPD closure work proceeds and said the city has posted signage and will coordinate public information through its PIO. Staff noted the original EPD letter dated to inspections beginning in December and said the city paid the $3,000 settlement; officials said they are acting to meet a 120-day compliance deadline to limit further fines.

A council member moved to approve the amendment and the chair seconded; the council approved the $25,000 amendment by show-of-hands. The motion record did not include a roll-call tally in the transcript.