Posted: 3/22/05
Garbage contract decision likely this week
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County commissioners once again debated whether to sign a garbage contract extension with La Crosse County at their March 15 meeting.
For the second week in a row, they discussed the pros and cons for the majority of their county board session.
Last week, the conversation seemed to be moving toward not signing a 15-year contract extension beyond 2008, when the current contract expires. A vote is expected at the March 22 county board meeting. La Crosse County officials want an answer by the end of this month.
Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher has expressed concerns through the debate about the countyís liability with the Xcel incinerator in French Island, where Houston Countyís burnable trash is burned. He also disagrees with a $240,000 levy that the county is paying for upgrades that Xcel was required make on the incinerator in 2002.
Fifth district commissioner Tom Bjerke noted that it would be cheaper for haulers if they didnít have to take their landfill materials to the La Crosse County landfill, which charges $63 per ton. Most landfills are about half that cost, environmental services director Rick Frank said.
The county would not be locked in for another 15 years, Bjerke added, and the county would not have to pay for any more upgrades at the incinerator.
The biggest reason to stick with La Crosse County seemed to be that it gives smaller-sized haulers a level playing field with big haulers. These sentiments were expressed by some haulers at a meeting with commissioners and Frank on March 14, Frank told the board. Small haulers said it would be unfair because they donít have their own landfills like larger haulers do.
Fourth district commissioner Dave Corcoran said there is some worry that without the contract, big haulers will move into the county, squeeze out the smaller haulers, and eventually drive up garbage prices.
Corcoran also noted that other programs are shared with the La Crosse area. ìYouíre basically working at it as a regional (approach),î he said.
Not signing the extension would be closing the door on any future small haulers, first district commissioner Larry Graf said.
Personnel matters
The board approved the hiring of two county employees.
Kelli Tornstrom will as a public health nurse at .8 time at step six in the salary range, which is $18.37 per hour. She will work on family health issues.
Gina Gran was hired as administrative secretary in court services at step three of a four step salary range. Her wage will be $11.17 an hour. She will start on March 28.
Other business
The board voted to accept a $4,820 grant for boat and water safety from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The grant amount has been steadily declining, Kelleher said. Last year the grant was for $5,584. Kelleher called it another example of the state pulling back its funding.
The board did not take action on a request from Sheriff Mike Lee to authorize hiring of a deputy. Lee said in a letter that deputy Robert Schuldt was going to leave to take a job as Hokah Police Chief. Board members said they wanted to have Schuldtís resignation in writing before they took any action.
The board approve transferring the Valley High liquor license to Coulee Region Property Management, Inc.
The board approved a request from zoning administrator Bob Scanlan to apply for a $27,300 grant that would be used for designing feedlot improvements under the countyís Open Lot Agreement (OLA). There are 434 producers in the county with OLAs. Scanlan estimates that 225 of these will need some technical assistance in the next three years. The grant will cover the designs for about 25 feedlots per year. They will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis.
At the end of the meeting, third district commissioner Ann Thompson said that the jail project was not moving forward well. She said she wanted the jail committee to come up with names of people to interview for the ìprogrammerî position, which would look at needs and do a site analysis. She will bring this up at the next jail committee meeting on April 5.
About the contract
Houston County signed a 20 year garbage contract with La Crosse County in 1988. Under the agreement, garbage is sent to an Xcel Energy garbage burning facility on French Island. Landfill and demolition material goes to a landfill in La Crosse County.
The current Solid Waste Disposal Agreement lasts until 2008. La Crosse and Houston Counties have have been meeting for more than a year to negotiate an amendment to extend the agreement to June 30, 2023.
The amendment is needed because Xcel Energy had to retrofit its incinerator two years ago due to new federal air quality standards. The cost of the retrofit was $10.9 million. Houston County was charged $240,000 of that, which would be covered by payments of $20,000 over 20 years.
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