ENTERPRISE — The Enterprise City Council at its meeting Monday, Feb. 10, heard more concerns from the public about the city plans to dispose of solid waste from its sewage treatment plant.

The city had been in the habit of drying biosolids gleaned from the sewage treatment plant and taking them to the county’s Ant Flat Landfill. But the county informed the city that it was running out of room and the city would have to find another way to dispose of the biosolids.

The solution the city came up with was to find farms in the county willing to accept the material to put on their fields as fertilizer.

Late in 2024, the city and Cornerstone Farms Joint Venture, one of the largest farms in the county and owned by the Melville family, made a deal for the city to pay Cornerstone $2,250 to take biosolids for the first half of 2025 and $4,500 per fiscal year thereafter.

Dave Wilkie, wastewater plant operator, said that expense was new to the city, as Enterprise previously only had to pay Wallowa County the cost of diesel fuel for its trucks to haul the waste to the landfill. Wilkie said the city now will haul the waste to Cornerstone and spread it under the farm’s supervision.

Three members of the Hanna family questioned the council about the biosolids, concerned that groundwater from Cornerstone Farms would carry contaminants downhill to their property on Highway 82 between Enterprise and Joseph.

Kathleen Hanna expressed concerns about monitoring the potential contaminants and the effect it could have on their property. Her daughter, Jeanette Hanna, expressed similar concerns. Both read lengthy letters about the possibility of contaminants.

Lucas Stangel, with Anderson Perry Engineers, the city’s engineering firm, explained the DEQ’s requirements for soil testing and public notification. The Hannas were urged to submit their concerns to DEQ via the online comment portal.

City Administrator Lacey McQuead urged the Hannas to view the city’s Biosolids Management Plan available through the DEQ website. Council President Jeffery Yanke recommended the Hannas speak to the Melvilles about their concerns.

Biosolids now in storage

Wilkie said on Feb. 11 the city had applied biosolids to farmland in years previous to taking them to the landfill and now is returning to that practice. But it must be done under the permission of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

At present, he said, the city is keeping the biosolids on drying beds in a warehouse for about six months. The DEQ permit process should be completed by that time.

Carl Makepeace, DEQ’s eastern region land application specialist, said he welcomes any public comments and will attempt to address issues brought to him.

He said he is not aware of anything that would stop the city and Cornerstone Farms from completing their agreement. He said he has visited Cornerstone to see where and what they plan to do.

“We typically don’t send it out for public comment until they have addressed all of DEQ’s concerns,” he said.

The DEQ is taking public comment on the issue until 5 p.m. March 13. The public may comment at tinyurl.com/DEQcornerstone or tinyurl.com/DEQnotice.

Dog control

In another matter, Leita Barlow asked the city to take part in obtaining a public safety officer to control aggressive dogs.

“I am here representing 138 people who have signed a petition because they are concerned about public safety regarding the aggressive, loose dogs,” Barlow said. “I spoke to the (county) commissioners last week, and of course, they said they have no money to deal with this problem, so they sent me to the city council(s), since most of the attacks have been within city limits.”

Barlow said she has not visited with officials with any of the other incorporated cities in the county but plans to.

“I’m just here to ask one of you to step up and be on the committee to see everybody’s perspective, everybody’s point of view, and possibly we can solve this problem,” she said. So one of the commissioners has stepped forward. I’m in conversation with the sheriff’s department. I would like a police officer of Enterprise to step forward, and possibly a city council member. … I just want to get this solved.”

Mayor Cody Lathrop said the council would take the issue “under advisement.”

Other business

In other business, the council:

• Approved up to $10,000 in Downtown Improvement Grants for projects that will help beautify the city’s downtown area. There is a 10% match on the grants the city is prepared to award annually. The amount of each grant will depend on the number of applications received. The council agreed this would be of more substantial assistance than the $2,000 motel tax grants the city often awards.

• Discussed with Adrian Hargues, a loan officer, and Cammie Hale, of operations, both with Community Bank, a recommendation from city staff to close its accounts at Community Bank and open accounts at the Bank of Eastern Oregon. The primary reasons are a higher interest rate at BOE and the fact the Spokane Teachers Credit Union will be assuming Community Bank. There are details to work out between the STCU and the state before STCU has approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The council tabled the issue until its March meeting to allow more information to be obtained.

• Approved Hanford and Associates of Tri-Cities, Washington, as the city’s auditor for the coming fiscal year.

• Set the next council meeting for Monday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m.

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, biosolids are the solid, semisolid or liquid residues generated during treatment of domestic sanitary sewage that has undergone additional treatment to reduce disease-causing organisms and attractiveness to vectors (flies, mosquitos, rodents). Frequently called sludge or sewage sludge, only that portion of sewage sludge that has undergone adequate treatment to meet regulatory standards are considered biosolids.

Biosolids are nutrient-rich and can be used as a soil amendment or fertilizer and a sustainable alternative to commonly used chemical fertilizers. Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron are present in most biosolids. Organic matter also is a major component of biosolids. Properly applied they improve soil structure and water-holding capacity, which improves growing conditions for crops, forests, landscaping, lawns, and vegetation on reclaimed lands.