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Counties want to continue solid waste commissionBy Danielle Strenke Commissioners on the East Central Solid Waste Commission have taken the first step in extending the life of the ECSWC beyond 2007. The commissioners on the five-county joint powers cooperative ñ which includes Kanabec, Chisago, Pine, Mille Lacs and Isanti ñ voted Oct. 7 to adopt an amendment to the original charter for the commission, thereby extending the life of the ECSWC indefinitely beyond its 2007 sunset date. Executive Director Gene Kramer introduced the amendment and asked that the individual commissioners approve of the document and take it back to their respective counties to vote on the issue. Approval of the amendment was passed by a 3-2 vote, with Kanabec County Commissioner Dennis McNally and Mille Lacs County Commissioner Robert Hoefert voting against the proposal. Kramer said that Commissioners McNally and Hoefert had separate issues in voting against the amendment. ìCommissioner Hoefert wanted to know more about other activities relative to the future of the commission,î Kramer said. ìParticularly, he was concerned with the waste hauler fee and becoming more competitive.î Kramer said it was not that Mille Lacs would like to drop out as a member of the ECSWC, but that the county is looking for a better understanding of some of the issues before it approves of extending the charter. Hoefert is on a subcommittee of the ECSWC that is looking into waste hauler fees and remaining competitive in the waste business. Kramer said the biggest stumbling block for Kanabec County is an environmental impact fee that is paid to Kanabec County, in allowing the commission to operate its landfill facility in Mora. Former executive director Allan Bonini had discussed the issue with Kanabec County officials more than a year ago, Kramer said. Currently, the county receives $3.33 per ton under state statute, which must be used specifically for environmental issues. To date, Kanabec County has not spent a dime of the $2 million collected through the fee. In the last legislative session, the law was changed so that counties collecting environmental impact fees can spend the interest off of those fees on whatever they wish. Bonini suggested that the fee be changed to a host fee, enabling Kanabec County to free up those funds to use any way it sees fit. A subcommittee was appointed to work with Kanabec County on the issue, but an impasse was reached at that point, Kramer said. ìKanabec wanted $5.25 per ton and a 5 percent increase each year,î he said. ìThe commission canít afford that.î ìWe have had some meetings, but to date it has not been resolved,î Kramer said. He added that the county has not specified how the interest of that money, or the $2 million for that matter, would be spent by Kanabec County. Kramer said he plans to meet with Hoefert and McNally to resolve their issues. ìI want to know what we need to do to move forward,î he said. Voting for the amendment were Commissioners Bob Gustafson, Chisago County; George Larson, Isanti County and Alan Hancock, Pine County. Kramer told the commission that he would like them to take the amendment to their respective county boards and have it voted on by Dec. 1. ìThat may be pushing it, but we need to know where this is going in the future,î he said. The commissioners could bring a response back to the ECSWC as early as its Nov. 10 meeting. ©ECM Post Review |