December Board Meeting Approved Minutes

East Central Solid Waste Commission

Commission’s Office, Mora MN

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

December 13, 2021

 

The regular meeting of the East Central Solid Waste Commission was held on December   13, 2021 at East Central Solid Waste Commission Main Office, Mora, MN.  Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 9:00am.

 

Members present at the meeting included: Chisago County Commissioner Richard Greene, Isanti County Commissioner Dave Oslund, Kanabec County Commissioner Dennis McNally, Mille Lacs County Commissioner Phil Peterson, and Pine County Commissioner Steve Hallan.

 

Advisory Member Present – Executive Director Janelle Troupe.

 

Others also present at the meeting included: V.J. Polkus, Ziegler Inc, Lisa Thibodeau, Chisago County, Bruce Rehwaldt, Foth, Tracy Emerson from ECSWC.

 

Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 9 AM.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

All present said the Pledge of Allegiance

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

Commissioner Hallan moved to approved the Agenda, second by Commissioner Oslund. All in favor, motion carried (5-0)

 

MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARD MEETING September 13, 2021

 

Commissioner Oslund moved to approve the Meeting Minutes November 8, 2021 second by Commissioner Peterson, all in favor, motion carried (5-0)

 

CLAIMS

 

New claims added, MN Valley Testing $21,558.20, MPCA training for 2 employees $750.00, and Cintas eye wash station in Mora $236.74.

 

Commissioner McNally asked what the Financial Assurance Fund is, Executive Director Troupe explained that it is money set aside to use for the closure and post-closure of the landfill, the MPCA sets the minimums deposits by the annual report.

 

 

Commissioner McNally moved to approve the Claims List, Paid Claims List, the Additional Claims List, second by Commissioner Hallan all in favor of paying the Claims List 56 items ($281,724.88), the Paid Claims List 5 items ($15,314.58), Payroll 13 items ($109,422.54), all in favor, motion carried (5-0)

 

2022 BUDGET

The budget is based on 110,000 tons of MSW disposal.   We have many more employees in this budget since ECSWC has taken on hauling items to proper disposal spot.

We were approved to purchase a new International Semi-Tractor but it appears that we will not get it until 2023.  If we locate a good used truck, we will purchase it.

We are seeing about a 10% increase in electronics cost for 2022.  It appears that we have been budgeting sufficiently to cover the increased cost.  In July we will increase disposal rate of MSW: it would be good to look at rates on other items closer at that time.

Director Troupe reported that she increased our deposit to financial assurance to $200,000 from previous budget provided.  Since interest rates are low, we need additional deposit.

Looking at 2021 budget through October, we are within budget with everything except two items, #6745, that is the company that comes to Mora instead of a transfer station with a 20-ton load, #6130, includes expenses that are due to the fire in Cambridge and we will be reimbursed for those expenses. Commissioner Hallan asked if we are paying that company forever, and would another hauler benefit by doing it this way.  Director Troupe replied as long as this company is in business, we will be paying, as far as another company doing this, no. This company hauls using semi with 20 ton loads.

 

Capital Expenses, the CAT compactor will be out of warranty at the end of 2022.  We need to get quotes and prices on compactors.

 

We are looking for used Semi, they are hard to find because we need a truck with a day cab, not a sleeper that adds weight.

 

Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the 2022 Budget, second by Commissioner Oslund, all in favor of the 2022 Budget, all in favor, motion carried (5-0)

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

V.J. Polkus from Ziegler Inc. was here to talk about the delay in fixing our current compactor and gave us a price quote on a new compactor.  Ordering a new compactor, the lead time is 40 weeks. It has been decided to get quotes from other dealers as well, and have it ready for the January meeting.

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENT

 

Director Troupe reported for the month ended October, 2021 ECSWC realized a net income on an accrual basis of $120,634.51. On a cash flow basis, for the month of October, there is an increase in cash of $287,541.70. Un-obligated cash less upcoming cash outlays at the end of the month was $3,980,930.88.

 

Reserve accounts for landfill expansion, hauler rebate, operating contingency, and host facility fund total $5,573,293.

 

The funds in October are invested as follows:

 

The money market checking account at First Citizens National Bank earns .10%, the CDs through July 2022 at 2.25%.  The Magic Fund rate is .02% and Unity Bank current interest rate is .25%

 

2020        2021         Nov. 17  Nov. 18           Nov. 19           Nov. 20           Nov. 21

105,733   106,945    9,307      9,075               9,081               9,288               9,885

 

Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the October 2021 Financial Statement, second by Commissioner Oslund all in favor, motion carried (5-0)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Letter of Warning

 

MPCA sent out a Letter of Warning stating that the 2020 Annual Report discussion about water quality was not to their satisfaction.  Foth did send a letter to respond but MPCA is still requiring additional information by December 10.  Bruce has stated they are working on getting this rescinded.

 

Juneteenth

 

June 19, celebrated June 20th next year; I think the Board needs to adopt this as a Holiday for pay if that is the wish.  I don’t know if this new Federal Holiday is required to be recognized as a paid day off for employees.  The board decided this will not be a paid holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 State Audit

 

The person that was assigned ECSWC Audit is out on maternity leave.  We thought we were close to completion but now it probably will not get completed this year.

 

Certificate of Need

 

We may need to apply for another Certificate of Need.  Bruce and I will work on getting the information for this, would like approval to send in once it is completed.

 

 

JANUARY MEETING DATE

 

The January Meeting is scheduled for Monday January 10, 2022 at 9:00 am at the ECSWC Main Office.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Chairman Greene asked for a motion to adjourn.  Commissioner Hallan moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:15, second by Commissioner Peterson, all in favor, motion carried (5-0)

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Tracy Emerson

 

Posted in Minutes.