East Central Solid Waste Commission
Commission’s Office, Mora, MN
APPROVED MINUTES
May 8, 2023, 2023
The regular meeting of the East Central Solid Waste Commission was held on May 8, 2023 at East Central Solid Waste Commission Main Office, Mora, MN. Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Members present at the meeting included: Chisago County Commissioner Richard Greene, Isanti County Commissioner Bill Berg, Kanabec County Commissioner Alison Holland, Mille Lacs County Commissioner Phil Peterson and Pine County Commissioner Steve Hallan.
Advisory Member Present – Executive Director Janelle Troupe.
Others present at the meeting included: Assistant Director John Kellas, ECSWC, Bruce Rehwaldt, Foth, Cami Van Able, Foth, Lisa Thibodeau, Chisago County, Gene Kramer, Arthur Township, Tracy Emerson, ECSWC.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present said the Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA APPROVAL
Addition to the Agenda – Blaine Brothers Invoices received Monday May 8, 2023 totaling $2,633.86, will be due before next meeting, permission to pay before the next board meeting.
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Agenda with the addition, second by Commissioner Holland, all if favor, motion carried (5-0).
MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARD MEETING April 10, 2023
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the Meeting Minutes April 10, 2023 second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
CLAIMS
Commissioner Berg moved to approve the Claims List, Paid Claims List, the Additional Claims List, second by Commissioner Hallan all in favor of paying the Claims List 40 items ($172,385.69), the additional claims 10 items ($4,641.90), the Paid Claims List 9 items ($31,866.13), Payroll 12 items ($129,494.43), all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS
Certificate of Need
Please approve CON letter requesting 1,213,917 tons of MSW to be delivered to SW-17 in the upcoming ten years. Our current goal/volume tables run through 2025 and our tonnage was greater than projected from years 2016 to current.
Commissioner Holland moved to approve the CON letter second by Commissioner Hallan, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Solid Waste Agreement
ECSWC used Hauler Contracts to secure our waste. MSW haulers are provided with a rebate for all garbage that they deliver to our facilities and they are required to bring all garbage from member counties to ECSWC.
The Board should decide the duration of the Agreement, it has been two years and five years in the past. Please provide us with any needed changes to the Agreement. I would like to get this out to our haulers soon for them to review.
The existing Agreement ends December 31, 2023
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Solid Waste Agreement duration for three years, second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
MARCH 2023 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For month ended March 31, 2023 the ECSWC realized a net income on an accrual basis of $133,818. On a cash flow basis for the month of March there is a decrease in cash of $201,546. Un-obligated cash less upcoming cash outlays at the end of the month was $3,190,362.
Reserve accounts for landfill expansion, hauler rebate, operating contingency and host facility fund total $7,428,323.
Commissioner Berg moved to approve the March 31, 2023 Financial Statements second by Commissioner Peterson, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Odor Complaint
There was one odor complaint since the last meeting.
2022 Audit
Auditors from CLA are in the office Monday to do their onsite fieldwork.
SMMPA Engine
Here is an update on the status of the SMMPA Engine. The transformer is almost a year out if ordered and the engine has much other costly maintenance coming up. We believe they are just going to stop, not do the maintenance and repairs.
There are other opportunities to inquire about. Bruce from Foth knows of a company, Vespene, that this is what they do, gather the energy for Electric Car companies. Since we have most everything they need for their plug and play system they use, it shouldn’t take long for them to set up.
Assistant Director Kellas mentioned looking into a leachate evaporation system.
Commissioner Hallan suggested looking into reverse osmosis.
CAPITAL PURCHASES
Tanker Trailer – A new tanker trailer is available. We had to do repairs to our existing trailer prior to hauling leachate this year. This is not in the budget but we would like to replace the walking floor trailer that is in the budget $115K with a Tank Trailer around $110K. There is not a walking floor available to us from our normal vendor until December.
Tractor for mowing grounds – This item is in the budget – $75K. With the information that was provided, Commissioner Peterson would like Assistant Director Kellas to find more options for the mowing. Assistant Director Kellas agreed to have more options for the next meeting.
Shop – We have been discussing fixing up the old recycling building to be a maintenance shop for several years. The budget has $100K in for building repairs. We need permission to post a Request for Quotes for a few items.
- Roof, we are also looking into some insurable damage that happened to roof from snow load besides just closing the roof up so there are no leaks.
- Concrete work, tearing out some pillars, some concrete pouring.
We will come back to the Board to discuss doors, insulation, heat.
Director Troupe is asking the Board to pass on decision making to Director Troupe and Assistant Director Kellas so we can get these shop projects going.
Commissioner Berg moved to approve the purchase of a new Tank Trailer, shop work with decision making being passed to Director Troupe and Assistant Director Kellas second by Commissioner Holland, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
JUNE MEETING DATE
The June Meeting is scheduled for Monday June 12, 2023 at 9:00 am at the ECSWC main office in Mora.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greene asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Holland moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 am second by Commissioner Hallan all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Respectfully Submitted,
Tracy Emerson