Tuesday, members of the board discussed new legislation by Rep. Frank Hornstein that proposes to increase recycling efforts and increase revenues collected from landfilling. 

 

“Part of his bill includes adding a new $6.66 per ton fee on solid waste generated in the metro area and landfilled outside the metropolitan area,” 

Sherburne County Solid Waste Administrator Dave Lucas told the board Tuesday. “That means Elk River Landfill.”

 

Lucas said he has heard the solid waste industry has spoken out against the proposed new fee, which would be in addition to the $6.66 per ton fee that is already paid to the county for landfill abatement.

 

Lucas said there is concern that the industry would oppose an additional fee but might propose the current county fee be paid to the state instead. Haulers wouldn’t pay any additional charges, but it would be a major revenue loss for the county. Approximately 90% of current solid waste landfilled in Elk River is generated outside the county.

 

Lucas had included a resolution for the board to review that opposes the bill because of the potential for taking away fees collected by Sherburne County.

 

“The bill as drafted would not affect the fees currently collected by the county,” Lucas said. 

 

Before the board had a chance to vote on the resolution, Assistant County Attorney Tim Sime said the board should consider their strategy first.

 

“It (the bill) hasn’t been introduced yet,” he said. “As currently drafted, it’s not actually a bad bill. It would add an additional cost for metro counties to landfill up here.”

 

Sime said language as written in the bill doesn’t mention shifting the $6.66 from the county to the state, even though it might be proposed later. 

 

“It’s an awkward position. We need to be careful and have a legislative strategy. But the things we’re concerned about aren’t in the current bill,” he said.

 

“And it’s above my pay grade to determine whether doing  something anticipatory like this is a good legislative strategy. You’re objecting to something that’s not in front of the legislature right now.”

 

Lucas said he wasn’t sure how the county should approach the issue at this point. He didn’t want to plant the idea about shifting the fee by sending a resolution to the state.

 

“I’m at a loss at what the right thing to do is,” he said.

 

The board tabled a vote on the resolution, but instructed Administrator Steve Taylor to set up a meeting with Rep. Hornstein or his staff.

 

 

The board approved the collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 320, Corrections Supervisors, from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2015. The contract includes a two-percent salary increase per year. Employer contribution to benefits is unchanged for 2014.

 

 

In other action the board:

 

• Approved renewing the county’s participation in the Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program, which provides 0% interest deferred loans to owners of affordable rental properties to be used to complete needed repairs to their property.

 

• Approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Big Lake Lions Club to be used at Big Lake Fire Hall April 25;

 

• Passed a resolution proclaiming March as Professional Social Work Month in Sherburne County;

 

• Approved advertising for bids for bituminous sealcoating on various county, Becker Twp. and Clear Lake Twp. roads;

 

• Approved advertising for bids for turn lane construction and culvert replacement, and bituminous overlay projects on County Roads 6, 24, 35, 48, 50 and 73;

• Approved advertising for bids for the reconditioning and bituminous paving project on Co. Rd. 11 between Hwy. 10 and Co. Rd. 24;

 

• Approved the transfer of $168,931 from the recorder’s technology fund to Information Services for hardware, software and maintenance for land-related projects;

 

• Approved the final contract payment of $25,213.94 to North Valley, Inc. for  improvements at the intersection of Co. Rd. 19 and Co. Rd. 38, and the intersection of Co. Rd. 19 and Co. Rd. 4;

 

• Approved the final contract payment of $84,897.59 to RL Larson Excavating Inc. for reconstruction on Co. Rd. 43;

 

• Approved a consumption and display permit for Del-Tone/Luth Gun Club in Haven Twp.