East Central Solid Waste Commission
Commission’s Office, Mora, MN
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
September 14, 2026
The regular meeting of the East Central Solid Waste Commission was held on September 14, 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 at 9:10 am, Kanabec County Commissioner Tom Roeschlein, Mille Lacs County Commissioner Dan Whitcomb, and Pine County Commissioner Steve Hallan.
Advisory Member Present – Executive Director John Kellas.
Others present at the meeting included: Cami Van Able, Foth, Tracy Emerson, ECSWC, Karina Michelson, ECSWC.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present said the Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA APPROVAL
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the agenda second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (4-0).
MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARD MEETING August 10, 2026
Commissioner Hallan moved to approve the Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026, second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (4-0).
CLAIMS
Commissioner Whitcomb 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 60 items ($630,070.08), the additional claims 7 items ($1,522.17), the Paid Claims 6 items ($25,971.77), Payroll 13 items ($161,293.32), all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Roeschlein asked if we are selling the rock? Director Kellas has stated not yet that we are going to use the rock for future projects.
Ms. Van Able from Foth stated we will be using the rock in the second half of the new cell when we move the temporary pond for operations.
Commissioner Roeschlein asked if we are going to screen the rest of the dirt pile? Director Kellas said yes, we can if the board chooses to.
JULY 2026 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For month ending July 31, 2026, the ECSWC realized a net increase on an accrual basis of $150,118. On a cash flow basis for the month of July there is an increase in cash of $265,824. Unobligated cash less upcoming cash outlays at the end of the month were $5,809,566.
Reserve accounts for landfill expansion, hauler rebate, operating contingency, and host facility fund total $6,522,062.
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve July 31, 2026, Financial Statements second by Commissioner Berg, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Change of work week and payroll schedule
Fiscal and Human Resource Director Emerson requested approval to change the current work week, Thursday to Wednesday, to a Sunday to Saturday work week effective November 2026. To do this, the current pay day of Wednesday’s will need to be moved to Fridays. Employees will be notified well in advance of the change to prepare.
Commissioner Berg moved to approve the change of work week and payroll schedule second by Commissioner Whitcomb, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Changing from Vacation, Sick and Personal Time off to a grouped Paid Time Off (PTO) system.
The change would start on January 1, 2027. Accrual rates would stay the same, maximum carryover for PTO would be 480 hours. Current employees with maximum carryover above the new maximum would either be paid out, or have a separate banked hours amount for when they retire or leave employment. Fiscal and Human Resource Director Emerson recommend paying out over the current maximum to create a clean transition, eliminates tracking errors of separate legacy banks, simplifies annual audits, all employees begin with the same structure.
Commissioner Hallan asked Fiscal & HR Director Emerson to contact Jackie from Pine County and discuss what they did when Pine County switched over to PTO.
This item is tabled until next meeting.
Garrison Disposal has broken contract with ECSWC. They are bringing their MSW to another landfill. They stopped coming here in the middle of July of 2026. Under the contract, we can charge them $2 per ton on average for the remainder of the contract. We are asking the board if they choose to execute this option of the contract.
Commissioner Whitcomb moved to charge Garrison Disposal for the remainder of the contract second by Commissioner Berg, all if favor, motion carried (5-0)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Mora
EIS review continues, air modeling is currently being developed. We are attempting to come to agreement with what the MPCA expectations are for the air modeling review.
Landfill Closure and gas system expansion is proceeding well with the dry weather we have been experiencing. All new gas wells (11) have been drilled, we were able to utilize on site rock for the collection system. By making this change we have received a $10,000.00 deduction on the gas collection project. Contractor will begin piping work to connect all the new wells to the gas collection system.
We are reconfiguring some perimeter fencing on the East Side of the landfill. Some of the fencing was in disrepair, and some of the fencing was causing access problems for our monitoring and maintenance crews.
We have ordered new track pads for the John Deere 950K dozer.
We are aluminum lining a Wilkens Transfer Trailer to lengthen the trailer life the single walled trailers are wearing thin and have developed gaps in the sidewalls. These will be a little thicker than factory at ¼ inch.
The MPCA has not responded back regarding our permitting coordination yet.
Cambridge
We have completed pouring the concrete base for the truck scale and are completing the paving and electrical/lighting work for the scale. Tracy is working with our scale and software vendors to allow a two-scale system that will accommodate in and outbound traffic.
The reuse Store remains highly active, and we believe we are close to being a paint drop-off and recycling location.
ECSWC trucks and tare weight third party customers are using the new exit from the facility. This is helping with site congestion and assists with entering HWY 95.
Commissioner Roeschlein moved to approve the Executive Directors report second by Commissioner Hallan, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Public Comment
Commissioner Hallan brought Director Kellas to tour the Recycling Center in Pine County, the biggest problem in Pine County is Brush. Commissioner Hallan is wondering if ECSWC can purchase a grinder to share with all five counties.
Director Kellas stated he would bring information about the Grinders to the next meeting.
The October Meeting is scheduled for Monday October 12, 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 second by Commissioner Hallan, all in favor, motion carried (5-0).
Respectfully Submitted,
Tracy Emerson, Recording Secretary