Task force favors continuing waste commission beyond 2007

By Danielle Strenke
The Chisago County Board has to make a decision soon about its waste management options. On Sept. 30, the East Central Solid Waste Commission (ECSWC) held a meeting of stakeholders and task force members to review findings of an 18-month strategic planning process.
All five county commissioners attended the meeting.
Phil Kowalski and Devin Moose of Envirogen, the firm hired to conduct research, interviews and meetings with stakeholders and a task force, opened the meeting with findings from the 18-month process.
Envirogen was charged with coming up with options for the ECSWC beyond 2007.
Based on findings, Kowalski presented three options to the commission: closing the landfill in 2006 and turning the Mora facility into a transfer station only, investing an estimated $5 million to get the compost facility up and running, or expanding the landfill and extending the commissionís charter.
With the compost option, the landfill would still have to be expanded to handle the bypass material.
With the 20-year charter set to expire in 2007, some members of the five county boards questioned whether their respective counties should remain in the partnership beyond that date.
Several factors led to the decision to complete the strategic plan this year, including planning for beyond the charter and the reality that the landfill will need to be expanded in 2007 or possibly earlier to handle an ever-increasing waste stream.
The five counties are currently paying around $142,000 total in bond payments each month for outstanding debt levied against the Mora facility. The debt includes paying for the compost facility, which has never officially been operated.
Each county has paid a portion of the monthly bond paymentsfor seven months in 2003.
The task force favored landfill expansion and continuing the commission beyond 2007.
Kowalski said the commission would have to make decisions soon. ìIf they concur with the task force then they should implement steps immediately,î he said.
The first step toward continuing the ECSWC charter would be to renew the joint powers agreement between the five counties.
Commissioner Montzka wondered if Chisago County should stay in the ECSWC, after discussion that some of the waste from the southern part of the county is going elsewhere.
ìIf that is happening already, what would be the benefit of Chisago staying in?î he asked.
Some said some waste from Chisago and Isanti counties was going to Elk River and Wisconsin because of cost savings.
If any of the five counties choose to dissolve the agreement, they would be required by state law to develop individual waste management strategies.
Loren Jennings, of East Central Sanitation, said the ECSWC is not competitive with other landfills. He said he has already seen other companies taking some waste to Elk River.
Waste haulers within the five counties with contracts with ECSWC receive a $5 per ton rebate off the $52 per ton tipping fee, under the stipulation that 100 percent of their waste comes to the Mora landfill.
Jennings said if he ever sold his business, the new owner would most likely not bring the waste to Mora.
ìMost people donít care where the garbage goes,î he said. ìThe first thing they care about is how cheap can I get my garbage picked up. You havenít addressed competitiveness enough and you need to go a step further.î
Former commission director Allan Bonini said the commission must charge at a certain level to keep it running in the black and have the ability to pay off its debts. ìOnce the debt is paid off in the next three years, pricing will be more flexible,î he said. ìThe commission is asking haulers to persevere through it.î
Jennings said Arthur Township and Kanabec County have voiced concerns that the ECSWC has never fully explored alternatives to landfilling. Kramer said the commission is addressing those concerns.
On Monday, Kramer said an amendment to the joint powers agreement has been drafted and was to be brought to the ECSWC Oct. 7.
The amendment eliminates a sunset date. ìThey would never have to do this again, and could continue as long as they wish,î Kramer said.

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