Board authorizes staff to work with Renewable after tree‑debris storage found on leased property

District staff told the Warrick County Solid Waste Management District board on July 16 that Renewable has begun storing tree debris on a portion of property the district historically used for limb and tree storage, but that the area in question appears to be on Renewable’s leased portion.

Controller (speaker 5) showed maps indicating the green area the district has used for tree debris and a separate blue area Renewable is using on its leased parcel. Staff expressed concern about commingling of materials, operational oversight and safety; staff also noted there are approximately 37–39 methane-monitoring wells across the site, many on Renewable’s leased land, and emphasized the need to maintain access to those wells.

Counsel (speaker 1) recommended that he, Freddie and Reagan engage Renewable to find a workable drop location and, if necessary, ask Renewable to release a portion of its lease so the district can store tree debris in an adjacent supervised area. The board granted consensus for staff and counsel to pursue discussions with Renewable and bring back a proposed solution.

The board also requested a copy of the existing leases for review. No formal change to lease terms was recorded at the meeting; authorization was limited to negotiations and fact‑finding.