Sartell approves purchase agreement along 4th Avenue South with goal to close landfill

SARTELL — The Sartell City Council approved a purchase agreement for 167 acres along Fourth Avenue South on Monday, per a city press release.

The land is currently owned by AIM Development, LLC, which purchased the former Verso paper mill site on the east side of the Mississippi River and the 167 acres on the west side of the river from Verso in 2013. 

The city's statement said the goal is to obtain control over the former Verso landfill on Fourth Avenue South, which AIM Development LLC proposed to reopen as an industrial landfill as confirmed by MPCA permit filings.

"Given the landfill’s location in the heart of Sartell and proximity to the Mississippi River, the City has been in litigation with AIM Development LLC. since 2016 to prevent this from happening," the city said in a press release.

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Sartell plans to exhume or close the landfill in the future, plat the land and sell the property for future development to recoup the purchase costs. The property will be held by the Sartell Economic Development Authority.

The purchase agreement approved by the City Council is not a guarantee of sale. Any amendments requested by either party are subject to City Council approval. 

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If the purchase agreement is approved both parties will have 90 days to meet the proposed conditions and proceed to closing.

The old Verso paper mill site, which is also owned by AIM Development LLC, is not part of this purchase agreement. However, the proposed Fourth Avenue South purchase agreement requires that AIM Development LLC plats that property in preparation for a known sale to a private party for future development, said the press release.