Solid Waste & Recycling

Solid Waste & Recycling Committee August 23, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Chairman Jim Gebauer called the meeting to order at 9:00am. Members Present: Jim Gebauer, Rollie Thums, Myron Brooks, Sue Swiantek, Mike Bub, Larry Ziembo Members Absent: Joe Harris, Dan Hoffman (excused) and Barb Kallenbach (excused) Other Attendees: Michelle Grimm, Kyle Noonan, Sue Noland Approve Minutes: Ziembo moved to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2022 meeting; Seconded by Swiantek. Motion carried. Approve Agenda: Thums moved to approve the agenda with 10 items as posted; Seconded by Brooks. Motion carried. 2023 Tonnages Thru July: Tonnages thru July comparing 2022 vs. 2023 were reviewed. Overall, volumes are down slightly with 330 tons of recyclables collected through July. The estimated weights are provided by GFL. 2023 Expenses To-Date: Administrator reported there was a carry -over of $70,728 from 2022. The expenses through mid -August are $37,681. Grant dollars of $88,373 have been received and distributed to joint municipalities. Joint Rib Lake received $18,550 and City of Medford was $25,977. The balance available is approximately $82,747. Future expenses will be the tire collection and advertising, monthly office expenses and 3 more months of container billings. 2023 Appliance/Electronic collection and Clean Sweep collection: The 2023 appliance and electronic collection was held on May 13 in Medford and Gilman. Approximately 48,111 pounds of misc. electronics were collected along with 356 old appliances, and 704 TVs and monitors. The electronics filled 3 – 50’ semis. There were 448 participants in the electronics and 248 with appliances. The Clean Sweep was held on the same day in Medford with 222 participants of which 53 had never been to a clean sweep collection before. Participants were mostly from residents with a few farms and businesses. Accepted were chemicals, oil -based paint, cleaners, fluorescent tubes, and much more. There were 11,990 pounds of chemicals, along with 3,567 fluorescent tubes, 259 pounds of ballasts, 235 pounds of household batteries, and 55 gallons of antifreeze collected. Our volumes were higher than in 2022 possibly because event was on a weekend rather than a weekday. Tire collection: The first collection was held in Gilman and Medford on August 12. There were 459 tires collected in Gilman and 775 at the Medford site. The second/final collection will be August 26 at the Holway site. 2024 Budgets: The proposed 2024 budgets for Solid Waste Disposal, Recycling Act 335, all Clean Sweeps, and grant revenues were reviewed. There is 0% increase as requested and some carry-over dollars will be utilized. The operating expenses for all budgets total $24,639. Bub moved to approve the proposed budgets as presented; Seconded by Ziembo. Motion carried. Any Other Business: Administrator reported our Administrative Support position is currently vacant as Karyn took a position within a different department. We are currently conducting interviews to fill the position. Next Committee Meeting: The next meeting of the Solid Waste & Recycling Committee will be at the call of the Chairman. Adjournment: With no further business, Swiantek moved to adjourn the meeting; Seconded by Brooks. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 AM. Secretary: Kyle Noonan