By Danielle Strenke

ìIf the purpose of selling is to pay off the bonds and get out of the garbage business it would satisfy me immensely.î

Those are the words Isanti County Commissioner George Larson used Monday to describe his feelings toward the future of the East Central Solid Waste Commission (ECSWC).

Larson spoke immediately following a 4-1 vote from the board to cease all negotiations with Kanabec County over a proposed host fee agreement. After months of negotiations, the Kanabec County Board and the ECSWC were unable to agree on terms for a host agreement.
Chisago County Commissioner Bob Gustafson and Pine County Commissioner Alan Hancock represented the commission in negotiations with Kanabec County.

The ECSWC offered a $4.55 per ton fee to start for all waste coming into the Mora landfill, with the exception of Kanabec County waste. Kanabec County wanted its own waste included in the host fee agreement, and also added a stipulation that all waste coming into the Mora facility come only from the five counties in the cooperative.

Kanabec County Commissioner cast the only vote against ceasing negotiations regarding the host fee.

Without a host fee agreement, Kanabec County has refused to sign an amendment to the joint powers agreement as well. The amendment continues the ECSWC and operations beyond the current sunset date of Dec. 31, 2007.

Following the vote, Larson asked to amend the commissionís agenda. ìI would like the executive director to cease investigation of a hydrogeologic survey and look into selling this facility or using it as a transfer station only,î Larson said. ìThere is no use spending more money on improvements if weíre not going to be here.î

Larsonís original motion included putting everything on hold at the facility except for continuing daily operations. It included stopping the landfill expansion process.

ìMy recommendation is to leave the application for the landfill expansion in place,î Executive Director Gene Kramer said. ìYouíre going to run out of air space soon whether itís sold or not.î

Kramer said if the commission enters into a process to sell the facility, its only real asset is the landfill. ìThese buildings have been vacant for years. If you run out of space in the landfill, thereís no asset left.î

Larsonís original motion failed. He then proposed a similar motion, with the change that the landfill expansion process should continue, while all other projects excluding daily operations should be halted while Kramer can investigate the sale or turning the landfill into a transfer station only. The second motion passed 4-1, with McNally voting against it.

ìIf we can sell and get a good price, great,î Larson said. ìShould the counties be in the garbage business, I donít know.î

Larson said the sale of the commissionís facilities or option of turning the Mora site into a transfer station could take place anytime the commission decides, even before the 2007 sunset date. He will be sending out letters of interest to commercial haulers and companies in the landfill business to find any parties interested in purchasing the facilities.

Paying for legal fees

McNally questioned why all five counties in the commission should be paying legal fees related to a solid waste management fee.
ìSeems to me that Chisago and Isanti counties want to wear the pants at this landfill, so why should Pine, Kanabec and Mille Lacs be paying legal fees for Chisago and Isanti to go forward with this,î he said.

The proposed solid waste management fee system is targeted to only residents of Isanti and Chisago counties as a user-pay system.
ìIt was the agreement of this board to do this, it wasnít just Chisago and Isanti,î Gustafson said. ìWe went into it with the option of all the counties to be a part of it.î

Mille Lacs County Commissioner Robert Hoefert said Mille Lacs never wanted it and now it appears as though two other counties donít want the fee either.

Kramer said the only reason the commissionís attorney has been involved in the process is because of proprietary information being shared by commercial haulers. ìWe wanted them to know itís confidential,î Kramer said.

Hancock said he thinks Pine County would be in favor of the fee.

A motion from McNally to have Chisago and Isanti counties foot the bill for legal fees failed on a 2-3 vote, with McNally and Hoefert voting for the motion.

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