East Central Solid Waste Commission
Commission’s Office, Mora, MN
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
April 14, 2025
The regular meeting of the East Central Solid Waste Commission was held on April 14, 2025, at East Central Solid Waste Commission Main Office, Mora, MN. Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 9:30 am.
Members present at the meeting included: Chisago County Commissioner Richard Greene, Isanti County Commissioner Bill Berg, Kanabec County Commissioner Tom Roeschlein, Mille Lacs County Commissioner Dan Whitcomb, and Pine County Commissioner Steve Hallan.
Advisory Member Present – Executive Director Janelle Troupe.
Others present at the meeting included: Assistant Director John Kellas, ECSWC, Cami Van Able, Foth, Gene Kramer, Arthur Township, Doug Host, CLA, Tracy Emerson, ECSWC.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present said the Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA APPROVAL
Addition to the agenda, 1. Director Troupe has a bill from Nuss from the fire in the off road, 2. Commissioner Berg would like to talk about the garbage along the highway by the Cambridge Transfer Station, 3. Commissioner Whitcomb would like to move the Executive Director Job Description and Posting to a closed session.
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve the agenda with all additions second by Commissioner Roeschlein, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARD MEETING March 10,2025 and Special Meeting March 31, 2025
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Meeting Minutes March 10, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes March 31, 2025, 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 Whitcomb all in favor of paying the Claims List 52 items ($322,519.94), the additional claims 7 items ($22,160.66), the Paid Claims List 11 items ($137,323.28), Payroll 12 items ($139,876.20), all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Director Troupe stated we received the bill from Nuss for the fire damage repair to the Off-Road Vehicle, the total is $8,396.94, does the Commission want to make an insurance claim for this amount?
Commissioner Hallan moved to file an insurance claim, second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
OLD BUISINESS
2024 Audit Exit Presentation
Doug Host from CLA gave the audit exit presentation. The audit went well, Summary of financial results: Net position increased primarily due to changes in engineer estimates for closure/post-closure care costs, GASB #101 implemented for December 31, 2024, with minimal impact on the Commission, Charges for services revenues continue to be primary source.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gene Kramer, Arthur Township announced he will be retiring from the Planning Commission on the 1st of May.
Assistant Director Kellas stated he is working with Belair to get them out to get things done while we are waiting for the clay testing. There are concerns they will not meet the deadline.
JANUARY 2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For the month ending February 28, 2025, the ECSWC realized a net income on an accrual basis of $54,253.77. On a cash flow basis for the month of January there is a decrease in cash of $174,278. Unobligated cash, less upcoming cash outlays at the end of the month were $5,274,717.
Reserve accounts for landfill expansion, hauler rebate, operating contingency and host facility fund total $5,855,865.
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve February 28, 2025, Financial Statements second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Capital Assistance Program Grant
This grant opportunity has the objective of recovering materials and energy from waste and to minimize land disposal of MSW through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting source-separated compostable materials or yard waste, resource recovery, waste separation, and waste processing.
Staff propose completing interest form with the project being a new transfer building at Cambridge Transfer Station that includes more capacity along with an area for separation of waste. CAP projects have four years upon award to complete the construction of a facility. CAP projects could cover a significant portion of a building because we are a Joint Powers Entity. Availability of CAP funding is subject to appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature.
The current permit application does include a new building on the adjacent property in the upcoming years.
We request Board approval to submit interest form. The Board also needs to commit to providing matching funds, which would likely be 25 percent of the project. There is a need for a new Cambridge transfer building, and it has been discussed in past years.
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the submittal interest form with the amount of $7,000,000, second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Commissioner Berg asked if we could get the garbage cleaned up along Highway 95 by the Cambridge Transfer Station. The Board agreed to be good neighbors and clean up our property along the highway.
MAY MEETING DATE
The May Meeting is scheduled for Monday May 12, 2025, at 9:00 am at the ECSWC main office in Mora.
CLOSED MEETING – To discuss reorganization.
Minutes from Director Troupe
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to enter closed session, second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0)
Commissioner Hallan motioned to return to open meeting, second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (5-0)
The Commission decided to make John Kellas the Executive Director as of July 1, 2025, and Janelle Troupe will be the CFO on July 1, 2025
Commissioner Berg moved to adjourn at 1:00 pm, Commissioner Whitcomb seconded, all in favor (5-0)
Respectfully Submitted,
Tracy Emerson, Recording Secretary