CLINTON COUNTY AREA SOLID WASTE AGENCY
March 9, 2006
11 PRESENT
Chairman Richards called the meeting to order at 6:30. Roll call was taken. Those present were:
Clinton Clinton County DeWitt Camanche
Andover Charlotte Delmar Goose Lake
Grand Mound Low Moor Wheatland
DeWitt made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2006 meeting. Delmar seconded the motion. Motion unanimously carried
AUDIENCE COMMENTS (none)
Delmar made a motion to approve the unanimous consent calendar. Grand Mound seconded the motion. Motion unanimously carried.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND EDUCATION REPORT
EDUCATION: On March 17 there will be a Backyard Composting Workshop at 6:30. We will be participating in Earth Day on April 22nd and Outdoor Living Classroom Day on April 25th.
RCC: Hands on training was held yesterday in conjunction with Clean Harbors. Jones County received a grant from the USDA for a program for awareness concerning household hazardous waste. Jones County will also be hiring an intern for the summer.
BIO-REACTOR: The trunion seal will be replaced next week so the bio-reactor is ready to start operations again on April 1st.
RECYCLING: Now accepting phone books in the recycling bins and at the drop off area of the landfill.
Iowa DNR Ch. 113 Landfill Rules: The first set of the Ch. 113 new landfill rules have been released. There will be two more sections to be released in the next month. A ICN meeting for discussion of these rules is scheduled on March 17.
ENGINEER SITE REPORT C.J. Lage of Barker Lemar reported:
A. SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN PROJECT The project was completed last week with the laying of the pipe. Only minor electrical work left. There is also some clean up that will be done when the weather is warmer. Then we will be ready for a test before we send the leachate to the city of Clinton’s waste water treatment plant.
B. SUBTITLE D CELL: Waiting for changes and comments from the DNR on the second submittal of the plan.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM ANY AGENCY MEMBERS OR THEIR CONSTITUENTS
(none)
STANDING AND SUB COMMITTEES
A. Personnel Committee met March 2, 2006. (See attached) Liegois reported that the landfill is back to almost full staff. The committee discussed benefits for the fiscal year. Right now we get our insurance through the county but the county has the insurance out for bids, for now the fees will remain the same. Clinton County noted that for budget planning to plan at least a 15% increase. Liegois gave the committee two options for wages for 2006-2007. One was a 2% increase and the other was for a 3% increase. The committee recommends the 3% wage increase. Charlotte made a motion that we accept the Personnel Committee’s recommendation for a 3% increase in wages for the fiscal year. Clinton County seconded the motion. Motion unanimously carried.
B. Finance Committee to meet April 6, 2006 at 5:45 at the main office. This meeting is for next fiscal year budget.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. RESOLUTION FOR FINANCIAL ASSURANCE MECHANISM (see attached). A resolution on what we passed last month concerning the financial assurance needs to have the chairman’s signature.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. ALLIED WASTE Bruce Thomas the general manager and Doug Collins the operations manager asked to talk to the board to see if we would be willing to sell the landfill outright to Allied Waste or if we would be interested in having Allied Waste operate the agency. Allied Waste operates 169 landfills and transfer stations across the country. Right now they are pressed for time since the DOT is taking their land in Clinton for the expansion of Route 30 and they are looking for a new place to relocate to in 1 to 2 years. Allied Waste feels that even though this is a radical move, that it would be beneficial for both them and us if we allow them to either buy the agency or operate it. One of the disadvantages to them operating or buying the landfill will be control as they will want 300 to 400 tons of garbage a day to make the waste collection feasible. Mr. Thomas assured the agency members that they know the Iowa DNR mandates and that we would not have to worry about past or future liability issues if they bought the landfill or managed it. Liegois checked with the DNR concerning liability, and found out that if we do not own, then there is no liability, but there is still liability to the board for post closure issues in the future because we are the sellers of the landfill.
Questions were asked if Allied had talked to anyone on the board before this meeting and why they had not first come to the board before talking to anyone else? The answer was yes they had talked to a couple people in some of the cities. The final say is still the city councils of the agency members, but the decision to sell is up to the board.
Delmar made a motion that we pursue the issue of looking into a commercial contract fee for waste with Allied Waste, but not to sell the landfill to them. Grand Mound seconded the motion. Roll call vote was taken
Clinton no Clinton County no DeWitt no Camanche no
Andover no Charlotte yes Delmar yes Goose Lake yes
Grand Mound no Low Moor no Wheatland no
Motion failed
We will look at Allied Waste’s numbers for buying or operating the landfill and take those figures back to the city councils of the municipalities.
EMERGENCY BUSINESS: (none)
Charlotte made a motion that we adjourn until our next regularly scheduled meeting on April 13, 2006, at the Recycling Center at 6:30. Grand Mound seconded the motion. Motion unanimously carried. Adjourned at 7:13.
