Dry solid waste that has been removed from effluent at the Enterprise Sewage Treatment Plant goes into a dumpster that is taken to the landfill. The city is discussing having Cornerstone Farms Joint Venture accept the waste.

ENTERPRISE — Cornerstone Farms Joint Venture will discuss an agreement for placement of biosolids from the Enterprise waste treatment facility during the Enterprise City Council meeting Monday.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 108 NE First St. The public is welcome to attend in person or via Zoom by logging into tinyurl.com/EntCncl1209. The meeting ID is 839 6960 4062 and the passcode is 932603.

The city has been looking for farmers willing to accept the biosolids — the dry matter gleaned from human waste at the sewage treatment plant — since last year when Public Works foreman Spencer Shelton said that he had been informed that the county’s Ant Flat Landfill is running out of room for the biosolids. The landfill still has some room, but the city is being urged to find another solution.

County Commissioner Susan Roberts, who most closely deals with waste matters, said at the time she had not been informed the landfill was running out of room, although she’s aware that at some point the county will have to close it and find a new site.

Kurt Melville, who with his family owns and operates Cornerstone Farms — one of the largest farms in the county — said the farm can probably take as much waste as the city produces.

He said the farm can accept differing amounts of waste for the nitrogen-based fertilizer it contains. The amount that will be applied depends on the crop, whether the land is irrigated or dry-farmed and any state or federal regulations that must be complied with.

“The city’s going to pay us a little bit because we have to do all the management,” he said. “This is just a better situation than going to the landfill.”

While human waste from the treatment plant is not as high quality as that from ruminants — animals with multiple stomachs that chew their cud — the city treats the waste to make it suitable.

“This material’s gone through a digester system that controls it and makes it safe,” he said. “I’ve seen all the studies from the city and they’ve got a very safe system. They’re doing a really good job.”

Melville said when a farmer applies cow manure, there are no restrictions. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Environmental Quality both have regulations to keep fertilizer applications under control, such as when it can be applied relative to the time of harvest.

He said the state has approved between 800 and 1,000 acres of Cornerstone land for application of city waste. He said it’s usually about 50 pounds per acre, which means just a little per square foot.

“It’s very, very little, and that’s how the state wants it,” he said.

Other business

In other business Monday, the council will:

• Consider an event permit for the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Races veterinarian checks, for which a street closure is needed. The vet checks will start at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, on Main Street. Vet checks also will be on Main Street in Joseph starting at 1 p.m. The races start and end at the Ferguson Ridge Ski Area east of Joseph from Jan. 23-25.

• Fill a vacancy. There are three individuals who have submitted applications of interest. The council will be given an opportunity to ask questions of each of them, and possibly consider a motion to appoint. 

• Consider the appointment of an engineer of record. Anderson Perry, the current engineer, is the only one who responded to a request for a statement of qualifications.

• Consider a liquor license request by the Bookloft.

• Hear an update on a Wallowa County zoning application.

• Hear department reports.

• Schedule councilor training for Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m.