SAFFORD — The Safford City Council received an update on the steps the city is taking to ensure there is no interruption when it comes to trash service.
During a budget work session Monday, Deputy Finance Director Matt Hoshal explained to the council that the city is in talks with the Bureau of Land Management to secure use of land to serve as a new landfill when the existing landfill has to close in the next 15 to 18 years.
Public Works Director Lance Henrie said the parcel in question is just to the east of the existing landfill.
“That is in BLM’s hands; it’s under environmental assessment right now,” Henrie said. “We just had a meeting in the last few weeks and it’s going to be a process. It’s probably a year out from getting that all finalized.”
Henrie said once the lease is secured, the city will initiate design and put a lining in place. That will allow for trash service to continue uninterrupted while the current landfill is decommissioned.
Hoshal also explained that the city must maintain funds for the landfill even after closure, to take care of any environmental issue that occur after it is decommissioned.
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the city is budgeting $2.3 million in revenue and $1.9 million in operating expenses, plus $1.3 million in savings for the landfill closure.
