A group of 14 parcels covering 91 acres will be sought for expansion of the county landfill, the Flathead County commissioners have decided.

The commissioners unanimously voted last week to proceed with buying 14 properties near the southwest corner of the landfill and authorized county staff to start putting together sale contracts. The property collectively is appraised at about $3.3 million.

The multiparcel site was one of two options determined by the Solid Waste Board for long-term expansion of the landfill.

The other parcel was a 523-acre site west of the landfill owned by Hank and Lacy Galpin of Sky-Air Enterprises. That property also was appraised at about $3.3 million and was the preferred alternative in a 2009 strategic plan. However, it would have cost about $1.6 million more to expand to the Galpins’ property.

County Public Works Director Dave Prunty said he has been in contact with 12 of the 14 property owners and they all are interested in selling. Two property owners have not responded to the county’s correspondence.

Property owners will have the option of having a second appraisal done on their homes and acreage, Prunty said.

Once the county purchases a property, the property owner will be able to continue to live in the home for up to 20 years.

“We’ll own the property,” Prunty said. “They’ll utilize it as long as they want up to 20 years. We stay out of their way and they stay out of our way.”

Homeowners would continue to pay for utilities and some property insurance, but otherwise will have no other financial obligations to the property.

Current capacity at the landfill is about 50 years, so expansion is still several decades away.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.