Waste commission notifies Mille Lacs of withdrawal terms

Posted 6/22/01

Waste commission notifies Mille Lacs of withdrawal terms

By Danielle Strenke

Mille Lacs County has been notified of the terms under which is must adhere, should a withdrawal from the five-county joint powers solid waste commission take place.

At its June 14 meeting, the East Central Solid Waste Commission approved a two-page letter outlining the major terms of a possible withdrawal by Mille Lacs County.

Although the commission does not state a firm opinion about the withdrawal, the letter does show the commissionís commitment that all five counties remain together.

ěWe believe that the underlined purposes of the Commission are best served by all five counties remaining active in the organization,î the letter states. ěBut we feel compelled to respond to the proposed withdrawal.î

The Commission had authorized a committee consisting of Executive Director Allen Bonini, attorney Dave Oberstar, and Marion Heemsbergen of Chisago County, to conduct a detailed analysis into the financial and legal implications of a withdrawal.

Bonini brought the analysis to the commission at its May meeting; the commission then asked for it to be summarized in letter form to be mailed to the Mille Lacs County Chairman Frank Courteau.

The letter also states that prior to withdrawal, Mille Lacs would be required to make full payment on two outstanding bonds, according to the Joint Powers Agreement.

ěThe Commission is willing to consider a plan which will allow Mille Lacs County to satisfy itís bond obligation by continuing to make its proportional share of annual payments on both bonds,î the letter states.
The letter also addresses Mille Lacsí responsibility to repay its portion of two state grants, should the state required repayment, and states Mille Lacs would not receive credit for any Commission assets.
Bonini said the commissioners havenít really stated their views on the withdrawal. ěThey just wanted to review the Joint Powers very matter-of-factly, give the facts to Mille Lacs and ask them what theyíre going to do,î Bonini said.

In other business, the board approved the creation of an operations foreman position for the Mora landfill, and hired two heavy equipment operators.

In other preparations for its takeover of landfill operations, the commission received a new compactor last week.

The commission also approved acquiring an alternative daily cover system, which is approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and ultimately will save air space and life of the landfill. The new system will be in place sometime this summer.

Bonini said the transition into taking over operations at the landfill should be a smooth one. ěWe donít anticipate any problems,î he said. The takeover is scheduled to begin July 1.

The Commission set its July meeting for Monday, July 9 at 9 a.m. at the Mora facility.