Caledonia Argus

EIS wanted for Heartland plant

Posted: 4/6/04

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

The Houston County board in conjunction with the Fillmore-Houston Joint Board of Health adopted a resolution reaffirming its request of October 7, 2003 that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provide an environmental impact statement (EIS) regarding the proposed Heartland Tire burning facility in Fillmore County.

The board adopted the resolution at its Tuesday, March 30 meeting.

Commissioner Kevin Kelleher reported to board members that the Olmsted District Court Judge Joseph F. Wieners recently requested that the commentary period be re-opened so that citizens have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

ìIt is the opinion of the Houston/ Fillmore County Joint Board of Health, that there should be an EIS to see how it affects the citizens,î said Commissioner Kelleher.

Commissioner Dave Corcoran commented, ìThere isnít hardly any bigger business around that is not supposed to have one. Why they waived this...î

ìLook what they have to do for a septic system (to get it installed),î noted Commissioner Larry Graf.

Maintenance rock up 20%

Houston County will be spending 20 percent more this year on crushed rock compared to last year.

The Houston County board awarded a contract to Bonanza Grain for the purpose of laying maintenance rock on all the roads with the exception of Co. Ro. 6, which will be taken care of by Roverud Construction

The county is spending $27,000 more than the budgeted $80,000 for maintenance rock. County Engineer Allen Henke said, ìWe skimped last year and now weíre paying for it.î

He added that the increase also reflects an increase in price for the costs of maintenance.

Kelleher said, ìYou can cut back, but it will cost you more in the long run.î

ìYou can delay only so long and then thereís a day of reckoning,î added Graf.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of 90,000 gallons of calcium chloride from Sicalco Ltd. The price is down by $.18 a gallon from the previous year. Henke said, ìItís more in line with historical prices. Last year was a spike.î

Henke reported on an informational meeting held in La Crescent regarding construction projects. Houston County will be working on North Elm St. and Co. Rd. 29, which is 1.15 miles in length. Crews will be laying aggregate base, grading, paving and constructing curb and gutter. ìIt was a good turnout by the citizens,î said Henke.

ìI thought it was well done,î said Graf.

Personnel matters

The board approved reclassifying a position in the recording office from deputy recorder to chief deputy recorder. Beverly Bauer currently holds the supervisory position of county recorder. This new position will have the additional duties of lead worker.

Personnel director Tim Comstock noted, ìThey will provide direction, training, designate work load and fill in for other employees. Right now all the deputy recorders are equals.î

Deputy recorders are currently banded at B21 and a chief deputy recorder would receive a higher banding at B23 because of the added responsibilities.

The position will be posted internally.

In other matters, the board approved hiring David Oitzman as drop site supervisor to be used at all drop sites.

Hilltoppers receive contract

The board approved a contract with Onalaska Hilltoppers Refuse and Recycling to provide 30 yard containers for scrap metal to be hauled at $70 a pull to Alter Metals in La Crosse.

Those costs are reimbursed when the metals are sold to Alter Metals.

On March 5, Alter Metals informed that board that it would no longer be providing the hauling service.

Houston County Environmental Services Supervisor Rick Frank said Hilltoppers had the lowest bid.

Gary and Larry Hougom, co-owners of Hilltoppers, were also at the meeting.

In a matter relating to the scrap metals located in containers at the drop sites, Kelleher questioned, ìWhat is the current policy? What are they (the drop site supervisors) being told to do (with the scrap metal)?î

Frank responded that they are being told to keep everything in the containers. ìWe donít want to see the public in them.î

ìItís a hell of a liability,î noted Corcoran.

ìThey shouldnít be scavenging in ferrous metal. Itís always been a problem,î said Kelleher.

ìIf they do take anything out, itís scrap aluminum,î said Frank.

Commissioners also discussed the possibility of soliciting new bids for hauling landfill and garbage from its drop sites to La Crosse after its contract with Richardís Sanitation runs out in December 2006.

In other matters, Frank noted that La Crosse County would like to have a meeting on April 7 for the purpose of putting together a solid waste advisory board. The meeting will address setting up the ground rules for the nine-member board, which would affect all the users. The board would include five La Crosse County supervisors and four elected officials, such as commissioners from outlying counties.

ìIf you have a contract with them,î said Corcoran referring to his belief that only those counties who have contracts with La Crosse County would be on the board.

ìIt still blurs the owner versus the client. I still have issues with that,î said Kelleher.

The board gave its approval Frank to sell equipment from the recycling center.

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