The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners at its May 4 meeting unanimously approved a purchase of land that will allow the expansion of the county landfill

The Environmental Management Department sought approval to buy 8 acres of undeveloped property at 5124 U.S. 421 North, next to the landfill, from Tidewater Transit Company Inc. for $780,000, according to the agenda.

“This property will be used to expand the footprint of the landfill at the southwest corner, with frontage along Highway 421,” an agenda document stated. “This real estate purchase will provide the land necessary to relocate the administrative and maintenance facilities, thereby opening up the land where the existing structures are currently situated so as to allow the construction of future landfill cells for solid waste disposal.”

The asking price was $879,000, but the selling price was negotiated down to $780,000.

“Funds in the amount of $750,000 were included in the adopted budget for fiscal year 2020 for the purchase of real estate,” county officials stated.

The funds were originally budgeted to buy land at the southeast corner of the site, according to the agenda documents, but due diligence showed contaminated soils present on the property.

“The remaining $30,000 in additional funds required are also available in the Environmental Management Fund’s current adopted FY 2020 expenditure budget,” officials stated in the agenda documents.