Some landowners in Minot are warning against the city's proposed landfill expansion out of concern it will invade or devalue their property.

The Minot City Council approved a decision in April to spend $4 million to acquire about two quarters of land next to the city's landfill. Minot is in the permitting stage to rezone and make use of the acquired land. A city consultant is also working on a renewal application for the existing landfill that includes the new acres.

Minot resident LaVerne Mikkelson owns land abutting the proposed expansion. Mikkelson told the Minot Daily News that the city is opening itself to a lawsuit.

"It's just an inappropriate place," he said. "It's just poor planning."

Mikkelson suggested investing in a compactor station instead and transporting the waste to another landfill.

Jason Sorenson, the city's assistant public works director, said Minot is the logical community to operate a landfill, since it creates a large share of regional waste. Sorenson said there isn't another landfill within a reasonable distance to take Minot's waste if the city wanted to contract it out.

The city is running out of room for municipal solid waste.

The Minot Planning Commission tabled the issue regarding moving the landfill closer to residences in November, until buffering requirements are decided. The issue could be added to the agenda during the Jan. 29 meeting.