East Central Solid Waste Commission
Commission’s Office, Mora, MN
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
February 9, 2026
The regular meeting of the East Central Solid Waste Commission was held on February 9, 2026, at East Central Solid Waste Commission Main Office, Mora, MN. Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Members present at the meeting included: Chisago County Commissioner Richard Greene, Isanti County Commissioner Bill Berg, Kanabec County Commissioner Tom Roeschlein, Mille Lacs County Commissioner Dan Whitcomb, and Pine County Commissioner Steve Hallan via Teams from Florida
Advisory Member Present – Executive Director John Kellas.
Others present at the meeting included: Cami Van Able, Foth, Lisa Thibodeau, Chisago County, Tracy Emerson, ECSWC.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present said the Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA APPROVAL
Director Kellas asked to move the Belair discussion to Old Business.
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve the agenda with the addition/change second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARD MEETING January 12, 2026
Commissioner Berg moved to approve the Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026, second by Commissioner Roeschlein, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
CLAIMS
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Claims List, Paid Claims List, the Additional Claims List, Hauler Rebate, second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor of paying the Claims List 50 items ($205,484.24), the additional claims 10 items ($18,185.08), the Paid Claims 7 items ($22,309.13), Payroll 17 items ($164,006.73), Hauler Rebate ($110,751.80), all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS
Bank Signatures – Please sign in the space provided for the bank
Fiscal & HR Director – Director Kellas stated we have a good number of resumes, asked if the board wants a full board interview. Commissioner Hallan stated he does not need to be part of the panel but offered assistance from Pine County for initial interviews. Commissioner Whitcomb stated to have Director Kellas do the 1st round of interviews, with outside help from a couple counties, then do a closed meeting on March 9 with the Board, discuss and make offer to the right candidate.
Commissioner Roeschlein thought the salary range was a little high for the area.
Belair Builders – Director Kellas stated he has a meeting with the President of Belair Builders to discuss final payment.
DECEMBER 2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For month ended December 31, 2025, the ECSWC realized a net decrease on an accrual basis of $559,276. On a cash flow basis for the month of December there is an increase in cash of $198,263. Un-obligated cash less upcoming cash outlays at the end of the month were $5,725,434.
Reserve accounts for landfill expansion, hauler rebate, operating contingency and host facility fund total $6,464,348.
Magic Fund CDs are coming due in the next couple of months, when it is closer, Director Kellas will check on rates at Magic Fund and other places.
Commissioner Hallan stated he would like to see it stay in the Magic Fund.
Commissioner Berg moved to approve December 31, 2025, Financial Statements second by Commissioner Roeschlein, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
2026 Truck & Equipment Purchases
Request for purchase approval of equipment for 2026
Bid/Quotes for equipment recommendations:
Wheel Loader Cambridge Transfer
Volvo L60 H (Nuss Equipment) $ 250,245.00 Including fire suppression
Caterpillar 926 (Ziegler Cat) $ 265,823.66 No fire suppression
John Deere 544P (RDO Equipment) $ 300,922.85 Including fire suppression
2026 Budget amount $280,000
Semi Tractor
International LT 625 (N. Central Inter.) $ 142,500.00 Not Including Hydraulics
Mack Anthem Gen 2 (Nuss Truck ) $ 159,965.52 Not Including Hydraulics
2026 Budget Amount $150,000
Transfer Trailer
Wilkens ( Wilkens Industries) $ 123,442.07 Including tarping system
MAC (N. American Trailer) $ 121,198.89 Not Including tarp
2026 Budgeted Amount $ 110,000
Skid Steer
Caterpillar 250 (Ziegler Cat) $ 61,037.91 2 Year Premier Warranty
John Deere 324G (RDO Equipment) $ 68,147.44 60 months/3k hrs War.
2026 Budgeted Amount $60,000
Director Kellas has provided quotes from different vendors for some of the equipment we will be purchasing in 2026. Recommendations are as follows: Wheel Loader – Volvo, Semi Truck – International, Transfer Trailer – Mac, Skid Steer – CAT. CAT did state they have used skid steer’s that are worth looking at.
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve the equipment purchases as recommended. Skid Steer can be new or used not to exceed the new price, second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Mora
Gas system issues are still present; we are continuing to try to locate problem areas in the collection system. The flare control panel recently failed due to a frozen backup power supply. We notified the MPCA Air Division of the issue and had vendors come in to perform needed repairs and the methane flare was brought back online. No methane was released during this outage.
The extremely cold weather has affected many areas of our operations, such as our leachate pumping system, as well as our transportation and heavy equipment fleet. We have been able to keep everything operating as required during this period.
Belair Site Work Services sent a request that we remove the liquidated damages from the project completion calculation for the Cell 7A project, and they would agree to the remaining changes and terms for completion. The general reasoning provided by Belair was that we could not demonstrate damages to enforce penalties. I have responded to Belair.
A discussion took place with MPCA Division Leadership regarding CON capacity for ECSWC and after exploring various solutions to resolve the issue a decision was made to submit a new CON Application to the MPCA for review. This will require a new CON letter from each county board.
Commissioner Roeschlein asked Director Kellas if he could go to Kanabec County Board meeting and explain why and what the county needs to do for the CON letter, Director Kellas agreed to go.
Ms. Van Able from FOTH, and Director Kellas requested these letters be completed by May of this year.
Annual report submissions continue, as well as data to the CLA Auditing firm.
Cambridge
The MPCA has notified ECSWC that they will be publishing a draft permit notice for the Cambridge Transfer Station. This new permit will include the 39.61 acres of our adjacent property, as well change our approved volume limit to 90,000 TPY.
This public notice was also sent to local officials and neighbors of the facility with instructions on commenting on the draft permit if so desired.
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Executive Director Report second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Commissioner Whitcomb stated they have made an offer for a new County Administrator.
The March Meeting is scheduled for Monday March 9, 2026, at 9:00 am at the ECSWC main office in Mora.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greene asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Whitcomb moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 am second by Commissioner Hallan all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Respectfully Submitted,
Tracy Emerson, Recording Secretary