HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.21.90 Special Council Minutes
MINUTES
JOINT COUNCIL/RESOURCE RECOVERY CITIZENS TASK FORCE
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 21, 1990
1. Acting Mayor Sprute called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. at the Dakota
County Extension Service Building.
Councilmembers Present: Sprute, Mayer, McKnight, Galler.
Councilmembers Absent: Kuchera.
Task Force Members Present: Blaha, Novitzki, Harms, Schlawin.
Task Force Members Absent: Iwerks.
Also Present: Administrator Thompson, Attorney Grannis, Solid Waste Coordinator
Williamson.
2. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a town meeting on the Citizen's Task
Force Resource Recovery Report.
3. Administrator Thompson gave a brief history of the solid waste system, the
factors which have caused the Council to change its operations, and future changes.
Task Force Chairman Blaha presented an overview of the report noting that the Resource
Recovery Facility appeared feasible. Chairman Blaha presented an outline of the
concerns addressed by the Committee and the following testimony was given:
Emily Rahn: I hope everyone understands that if we have a compost
plant, we shouldn't have to pay for the County incinerator.
I'm glad the Council has taken leadership on this issue and shows its sincerity
in opposing the burner.
Dave Engelsmeyer: I've gone to heavy recycling, and with that I only put
my 90 gallon container out once every 6 weeks. Will my
bill be adjusted for this.
Robert Williamson:
Rudy Schaeffer:
Chairman Blaha:
Rudy Schaeffer:
Chairman Blaha:
Pat Akin:
sale be G.O.
Adm. Thompson:
Pat Akin:
Adm. Thompson:
25 tons per day.
Pat Akin:
Adm. Thompson:
Farmington's waste.
If we go to a weight based system. (Mr. Williamson gave
an overview of the weight based system.)
I am also recycling and have reduced my garbage considerably.
What is the Task Force's opinion on the incinerator.
We just considered co-composting.
Will we still have to separate recyclables or will it be mixed?
We will still have to presort.
I feel co-composting is a necessary part of our solid waste
system, but cost must be looked at closely. Will the bond
G.O. Revenue Bonds.
Can the County delegate its responsibility for processing
garbage?
The solid waste designation plan that was approved by the
Metropolitan Council allows Farmington to process at least
Does that release the County of its responsibility?
I don't believe so, because if Farmington, per the designation
plan, doesn't operate a plant, Dakota County must accept
Joint Meeting - 2/21/90 - page 2
Pat Akin:
Adm. Thompson:
Pat Akin:
What agencies will regulate the plant?
Probably the MPCA and Department of Health.
Has a contingency been included in the event the PCA
or Department of Health changes its rules or finds
pollution?
Adm. Thompson: The operations include a $21,000 contingency in operations,
but it does not safeguard against everything. Reasonable
expectations were made in the report.
Pat Akin:
Craig Schlawin:
Pat Akin:
Jim Harms:
Pat Akin:
Bob Williamson:
Dave Engelsmeyer:
Chairman Blaha:
Dave Engelsmeyer:
Chairman Blaha:
Shelly Cummins:
Chairman Blaha:
Shelly Cummins:
Chairman Blaha:
Shelly Cummins:
Chairman Blaha:
Shelly Cummins:
Adm. Thompson:
Steve Finden:
Chairman Blaha:
Steve- Finden:
Chairman Blaha:
Cheryl:
Adm. Thompson:
Cheryl:
Adm. Thompson:
Who pays the quarterly rate for the extra packer truck?
The hauler pays the City directly. Whatever he charges the
customer is up to him.
How does the City prevent a hauler from dumping unacceptable
waste?
If it is discovered, the City refuses to allow the hauler to
dump.
Will an EIS be required?
No compost plant has been required to perform an EIS yet.
Is any trash going to the incinerator?
The rejects will be incinerated or landfilled, whichever is
most economical.
Do we have to pay the County?
Only if we use their facility.
How many trailers will be used for recycling?
Separate ones for cardboard, glass and aluminum and an extra
for miscellaneous.
What is the percentage of rejects?
25% of the total waste stream.
Do we have to pay the County to dispose of our ash if we
incinerate rejects.
Indirectly, through tip fees at the burn plant.
How far are the quarterly rates figured out?
1993.
What is included in site preparation?
Landscaping, berms, blacktop, building pad. This is not
figured on the entire 5 acres though.
Are the recycling trailers figured in the capital cost?
No. They will be provided by vendors.
How were recycling revenues figured?
On a 5 year average.
Has revenue been figured for the sale of compost?
No.
Joint Meeting - 2/21/90 - page 3
Owen Pool:
What if we become so successful in recycling that we don't
have enough MSW to make the plant work?
Bob Williamson: The minimum capacity of the plant is based on total throughput
which includes MSW and recyclables. If MSW tonnage goes down,
it will be offset by higher recyclable revenue and lower reject cost.
April Chell: I would like to thank the committee for all the time spent
studying the issue and the Council for continuing with the
project. How many jobs would be created?
Chairman Blaha:
April Chell:
Chairman Blaha:
April Chell:
Adm. Thompson:
April Chell:
outside of the City.
Ron Mickelson:
Chairman Blaha:
Tom Berg:
Chairman Blaha:
Emily Rahn:
Chairman Blaha:
Emily Rahn:
Chairman Blaha:
Pat Akin:
Chairman Blaha:
for composting.
Pat Akin:
Chairman Blaha:
Dave Engelsmeyer:
Bob Williamson:
5.26. (.26 is part time)
How many at the incinerator?
I don't know.
Will the City have to pay for part of the upgrading of the
road to the incinerator?
If it is included in the County's Road and Bridge CIP, the
City will have to pay its share.
I would like to point out that several permits will be required
before the plant is built, so there will be significant review
There has been no firm figure on the drum. What if the cost
goes up greatly?
We rechecked the estimate and feel comfortable with it. There
is no way to get a firm price until the project is bid.
What happens if hazardous waste is in the garbage. Will it
be monitored?
It could happen. It would be hard to prevent. We will monitor
the compost.
Where will the sludge come from? .
From MWCC Empire Treatment Plant. It's fairly "clean" sludge
because mostly residential waste is discharged into it.
Does the sludge affect the compost designation?
If sludge is used, it is designated Class B, which requires
a permit for its use.
Is the cost for the destoner reasonable? Has the destoner
been used for composting?
I got the information through Don Feely. The cost is at the
high end of the range. The vendor says that it is being used
The purpose of the destoner is for higher quality compost.
Yes. We were concerned with glass in the Preston compost.
Even with the destoner we will not get "pure" compost.
What is the capacity of the plant?
25 to 40 tons per day.
Joint Meeting - 2/21/90 - page 4
Jeff Thelen:
Bob Williamson:
Owen Pool:
The County has designated only 25 tons.
25 tons or all of the City's garbage, whichever is greater.
Why aren't other County cities using composting?
Adm. Thompson: The process of selecting a vendor, securing the permits
and constructing the plant takes several years. When the
County selected its vendor, the County felt composting was not a proven technology
for its volume of garbage.
Bob Williamson: It is largely due to economics. When landfills were only
charging $4.50 per ton tip fees, composting plants were not
economically feasible. As tip fees have risen to the present $55/ton, it becomes
more attractive and technology is improving.
Pat Akin:
April Chell:
Pat Akin:
Adm. Thompson:
Ron Mickelson:
Adm. Thompson:
Bob Sayers:
Bernie Schneider:
Chairman Blaha:
Bernie Schneider:
Chairman Blaha:
Report shows 9.27 personnel in solid waste. That would make
it the largest City department. It would be a large cost.
But the salaries would be paid through user fees, not taxes.
Some will be paid by property taxes.
It is not anticipated to use taxes.
What happened to the labor savings on the automated truck?
Most went to recycling.
There is a market for compost and it will continue to grow.
The City is going in the right direction.
How do you expect to get rid of compost when no one else
can do it?
Preston and St. Cloud are getting rid of theirs. St. Cloud
is selling some of it.
Will the destoner work?
Yes.
Bob Williamson: Preston and St. Cloud operations have been an albatross to
other proposed facilities. They key is processing and testing,
which we intend to do. The technology continues to improve.
Bernie Schneider:
Bob Williamson:
Dave Engelsmeyer:
Adm. Thompson:
reduced once it is
Craig Schlawin:
What happens if you have a batch go bad?
You can reprocess it.
Recycling should take out a lot of heavy metals. What is the
odor?
That is
100' .
processed.
a matter of opinion. I didn't smell anything beyond
On the tip floor there is a strong odor, but it is
The compost has a musty smell.
The odor doesn't carry.
Shelly Cummins: I am very proud of Farmington. Even if the incinerator is
"built in my backyard", I still support the compost plant.
Environmentally it is the best process. I hope the Council does not drop the
issue and continues to go through the process.
Joint Minutes - 2/21/90 - page 5
Jim Sayers:
Chairman Blaha:
Who is going to market the compost and recyclables?
Probably the plant manager.
(Thanks the committee.)
Emily Rahn:
4. MOTION by Galler, second by Mayer to adjourn at 9:20 P.M. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
;Y~ Y:Z--
City Administrator
Approved