Celebration of Haverhill Township cleanup project following major environmental milestone
On Friday, June 12, 2026, Olmsted County officials, local leaders, and project partners gathered in Haverhill Township to celebrate the completion of a significant environmental cleanup effort at a former tax-forfeited property.
The project addressed decades of environmental concerns at the site, including an accumulation of approximately 80,000 abandoned tires along with deteriorating structures as well as solid waste concerns. Over time, the property also posed fire hazard, mosquito breeding, and potential contamination risks.
Since acquiring the site through tax forfeiture in 2017, the county has led a phased remediation effort that included environmental assessments, asbestos abatement, petroleum contamination response, demolition of unsafe buildings, and large-scale waste removal. The final and most visible milestone was the successful removal and recycling of roughly 80,000 tires from the property.
The effort was a collaboration between multiple partners, including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Legislature, and local leaders. State funding support included $550,000 championed by Sen. Liz Boldon and Rep. Kim Hicks.
Commissioner Dave Senjem highlighted the long-term coordination required to bring the project to completion and recognized the contributions of contractors and staff. Work on the site was completed by firms including Big Wolf Siteworks, which led tire removal and recycling, and ICON, which handled solid waste removal and structure demolition, along with county staff across multiple departments.
Officials noted that while there are currently no finalized redevelopment plans for the property, the site is now significantly improved and in a stable condition, creating future opportunities for reuse and community benefit.
County leaders emphasized how the project demonstrates the impact of sustained partnerships between local government, state agencies, contractors, and community partners in addressing long-standing environmental challenges and improving public health and safety.