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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Marion OKs exploration of new landfill governance structure
City officials agree ‘doing nothing is not an option’ when it comes to landfill planning, push for governance shuffle at solid waste agency.
Feb. 6, 2026 12:49 pm, Updated: Feb. 6, 2026 1:55 pm
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MARION — When it comes to future planning for the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency landfill, Marion leaders are in agreement that “doing nothing is not an option.”
Marion City Council members discussed the matter Thursday and approved a memorandum of agreement to kick-start an exploration of alternate landfill governance models to increase regional representation and efficiency.
“If we don’t take action here, we are continuing to kick the can down the road,” said Ward 1 Council member Gage Miskimen. “Passing this memorandum allows us to have these conversations, study and come up with recommendations.”
The matter now heads to the Cedar Rapids City Council and Linn County Board of Supervisors, who each will need to approve the agreement before it can take effect.
As proposed, the Linn County Board of Supervisors would appoint between seven and nine members to a working group to research and recommend a new governance structure for the solid waste agency.
That recommendation would then return to the two cities and the county for consideration. All three would need to approve the proposal for the new governance structure to take effect.
Agreement calls for more regional representation
The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency is currently governed by a nine-member board made up of local elected and appointed officials who work in tandem with agency staff to guide waste management operations.
The board includes one representative from the city of Marion, two from Linn County and six from the city of Cedar Rapids who provide oversight of both the landfill and resource recovery building at 1954 County Home Rd. in Marion and the compost/yard waste facility at 2250 A St. SW in Cedar Rapids.
That would shift under the recommendation of the working group given the memorandum’s underpinning that any future governance structure must ensure that “no single entity shall constitute a majority or a controlling voting interest.”
Marion City Council members on Thursday expressed hope that the change would better ensure regional representation on the waste agency board and improve future operations.
“What do you do with a professional sports team that’s underperforming? You change the coach. In my opinion, that’s exactly what this (agreement) is doing,” said member Steve Jensen.
Per the memorandum, the working group’s final recommendation shall outline a new governance structure that is rooted in best national practices for waste management. It will establish expectations of governing members, any proposed term limits and rules for meeting attendance and participation.
It also will be expected to establish planning and operational metrics for the landfill with measurable, future-facing performance targets around waste management and diversion.
Officials stress an ‘only if’ landfill expansion
The landfill has been filling up faster than anticipated — in part due to natural disasters such as the 2008 flood and 2020 derecho — and is currently on track to reach capacity by 2036.
Should a new governance model be implemented in line with the working group’s recommendations, however, the city of Marion has agreed to consider a limited expansion of the landfill through the reduction of its required setback.
The new memorandum states the city is open to reducing the landfill’s required 1,800-foot setback by 450 feet should certain criteria be fulfilled. That would effectively return the landfill’s capacity to its original 2044 projection.
“This is not adding to the life of the landfill. It’s taking it back to where it was supposed to be” at the onset, said Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. “We all have to deal with the consequence of the landfill closing if there is no plan in place of what comes next.”
The Marion City Council will only consider changing the setback if a new governance model is implemented at the waste agency in alignment with the working group’s recommendations. Marion would also receive a host fee to “ease the direct environmental, infrastructural and economic burden” of an expanded landfill.
The initial fee — which would go into effect July 1 should an expansion be approved — is proposed at $250,000 plus a per tonnage rate of $1.75 per ton of residential waste and $2.25 per ton of commercial/industrial waste managed by the landfill.
The city and the waste agency would then work together to establish an ongoing annual fee for implementation in future years. That topic will be discussed more in depth at a future meeting.
The city of Cedar Rapids will consider the agreement at its upcoming meeting Tuesday, and the Linn County Board of Supervisors will vote on the issue Monday.
The agreement also will require approval from the Solid Waste Agency governing board, which will hold a special meeting on the matter soon. No exact date has been set.
Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com
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