IRON MOUNTAIN — A proposal that allows a private landfill in Breitung Township to continue to accept waste sludge from a Menominee pulp mill will be presented to state regulators for approval, the final step in a process that began several months ago.

Dickinson County Board confirmed Monday that at least 67% of the county’s municipalities have approved an amendment to the Solid Waste Management Plan to accommodate the request, which will be decided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Under an agreement with EGLE, Resolute Forest Products has relied since 2019 on the Niagara Development landfill off Kimberly Road for sludge disposal as needed. The company mainly uses agricultural land spreading to divert the waste and there are limited commercial uses, such as cat litter. When there is an excess, EGLE has permitted mixing the sludge with foundry sand to fill Niagara Development lagoons.

The plan amendment approved by the county will allow that use to continue, along with direct landfilling when foundry sand is unavailable.

“I’m glad it went through,” Commissioner Joe Stevens said. “I think it’s a great move for the community.”

Stevens says the landfill is important to Grede Foundries in Kingsford, as well as Resolute, so it makes sense to keep the facility viable if EGLE allows it.

The county board had a public hearing on the amendment in April, with no objections. The proposal was then sent to the county’s seven townships and three cities, with approval needed from seven of the 10 units. Both Norway Township and the city of Norway said no.

“I think there were two that voted against it,” Commissioner Barbara Kramer said. The county has been told the change doesn’t alter the amount of materials or change the number of trucks coming into the landfill, she said.

The amendment introduced by the county’s Solid Waste Management Planning Committee will allow the facility to accept low-hazardous industrial waste sludges from Menominee County. No daily or annual limit is stated.

The county contracted with the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission to administer the amendment process.

In 2011, Niagara Development acquired the former NewPage paper mill in Niagara, Wis., and other assets, including the mill’s landfill property in Breitung Township. The current plan allows Type III wastes, or low-hazard industrial and demolition materials at the landfill. While there are no limits on traffic, wastes can come only from within Dickinson County.

In other action Monday, the board:

— Received an update from County Clerk-Register of Deeds Carol Bronzyk on the administration of early voting in 2024. Under requirements added to the state constitution by Michigan voters last November, all jurisdictions must offer at least nine days of early voting for the presidential primary, the August primary and the November general election. In Dickinson County, the 10 municipalities plan to offer early voting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the nine-day periods at one location to be determined. Bronzyk suggested using Bay College West in Iron Mountain, but Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. said the fairgrounds building in Norway could be a cheaper alternative. The state will provide funding for extra equipment needed for early voting, at least initially, Bronzyk said. Absentee and Election Day voting can be conducted the same as in the past.

— Agreed to contract with Escanaba-based Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development, or CUPPAD, to rewrite the county’s Master Plan at a cost of $23,175, based on time and materials, including travel at 334 hours. “This is way overdue,” said Stevens, adding the plan was last updated in 1999. The project will take an estimated year to 18 months to complete.

— Authorized Lois Ellis, director of the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, to submit a letter of intent to apply for a Michigan Rural Readiness Grant. The Michigan Department of Agriculture Rural Development program provides up to $50,000 to support collaborative planning and capacity initiatives for local needs such as housing, broadband, energy, transportation and health.