Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Agenda Item #1

Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

Minutes

Wednesday, December 4, 2002

Metro Counties Government Center

Members Present:

Commissioner Susan Haigh, Ramsey County

Commissioner John Siegfried, Carver County

Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka County

Commissioner Don Maher, Dakota County

Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County

Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington County

Commissioner Joseph Harris, Dakota County

Commissioner Randy Johnson, Hennepin County

Commissioner Jim Ische, Carver County

Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka County

Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington County

Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County

Rodney Massey, MPCA

Sherry Enzler, OEA

Others Present:

Barry Tilley, Dakota County

Barry Schade, Dakota County

Brad Fields, Anoka County

Mike Lein, Carver County

Don Chapdelaine, SKB

Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum

Judy Hunter, Washington County

Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County

Doc St. Clair, SKB Environmental

Greta Bergstrom, North Woods Advertising

Mike Bensing, Metalcasters of MN

John Derus, St. Anthony Falls Group

Zack Hansen, Ramsey County

Maureen Hickman, OEA

Bob Meier, OEA

Linda Gondringer, RRA

Peggy Aho, RRA

Mary Richardson, RRA

Jan Lucke, RRA

Kathie Doty, RRA

Fawzi Awad, Ramsey County

 

Agenda Item #1. Minutes of the October 23, 2002 Meeting.

Commissioner Stafford made a motion to approve the October 23, 2002 minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #2. Checks and Claims.

Commissioner Maher made a motion to ratify the checks and claims. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ische and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #3. Recognition of Retiring Members: Resolution 2002-02 and 2002-03.

Chair Haigh made a presentation to the SWMCB in recognition of retiring Board members Don Maher and John Siegfried. Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion that Resolution 2002-02 commending Commissioner Don Maher on his contributions to the SWMCB and waste management be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Siegfried and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Commissioner Stafford made a motion that Resolution 2002-03 commending Commissioner John Siegfried on his contributions to improving the waste management system and his hard work on the SWMCB be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #4. Coordination of Waste Management Issues of Hospital/Health Care Providers.

Fawzi Awad, Ramsey County, made a presentation on the coordination of all metro counties RCRA regulators. Members of these organizations have developed a committee whose work plan includes: reaching a consensus among metro counties regulatory agencies; developing a strategy for working with health care facilities and other stakeholders to achieve compliance on management of waste; and, developing and implementing training and workshops. Commissioner Harris asked what the timeline is for developing training and implementing workshops. Mr. Awad noted that this should be accomplished by the end of 2003. Chair Haigh asked that the Board be kept up to date on this issue.

Agenda Item #5. Management and Policy.

    1. Blue Ribbon Task Force Report
    2. Bob Meier gave an update on the Task Force. He noted that the Task Force will begin working on its final recommendation on shared disposal costs and how to secure stable funding from SCORE and solid waste management fees. Mr. Meier noted that State Representatives have been invited to attend the final meeting which will provide the Task Force and others attending an opportunity to begin dialog with State Representatives.

    3. Legislative Issues
    4. Barry Tilley and Tom Keliher of Capitol Hill Associates, handed out the 2002 Election Summary. Mr. Tilley noted that Committee assignments were preliminary. He also noted that Commissioner Kordiak met with Senator Ozment regarding household hazardous waste issues and the disposal of electronic equipment.

      Commissioner Kordiak made a motion that the SWMCB approve the revised legislative policy position as presented to the SWMCB on the disposal of electronic goods. Chair Haigh noted that the SWMCB had already passed a general position regarding waste electronics, but the version presented to the SWMCB for approval at this meeting is more detailed then what was approved at the October meeting. Commissioner Reinhardt seconded the motion. Commissioner Stafford asked if any research had been done on product sales in the bordering states if this proposal was passed. Commissioner Kordiak noted that other states have passed legislation on disposal of electronics and more are likely to do so in the future. Commissioner Stafford asked what the industry's response has been to the legislative proposals. Sherry Enzler noted that the State of California had a similar bill brought before its legislature and it was vetoed after heavy lobbying by the electronics industry. Ms. Enzler noted that the general consensus is that once legislation is passed, companies would begin collecting advance disposal fees. There being no more discussion, the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

    5. Foundry Sand Disposal Issues: Presentation by Minnesota Metalcasters Association
    6. John Derus, St. Anthony Falls Group, and Mike Bensing, Metalcasters of Minnesota, gave a presentation to the SWMCB on foundry sand disposal. Mr. Derus noted that foundry sand is made up of mostly sand, and at this time there are only two legal outlets for disposing of it: dispose of in a landfill in Minnesota or ship it out-of-state for reuse as fine aggregate by manufacturers of cement, grout, etc. Mr. Derus noted that Mn/DOT does not allow the use of foundry sand in materials to be used on Minnesota roads. Commissioner Stafford asked if there were any indication from manufacturers in Minnesota that they would use foundry sand, if the law were changed. Mr. Bensing noted that there are companies in Minnesota which would be interested in using the foundry sand. Sherry Enzler noted that the PCA and the OEA have been working on this issue as well.

      Commissioner Reinhardt noted that the State of Minnesota was working on this issue with regards to the technology of using foundry sand back in the early 1990’s. Commissioner Reinhardt asked if this technology matured. Mr. Bensing noted that Minnesota is behind other States in developing uses for foundry sand. Commissioner Reinhardt suggested that the Metalcasters of the State of Minnesota try for grant funding to help in developing long-term solutions to the use of foundry sand. Commissioner Kordiak asked when regulation began on disposal of foundry sand. Mr. Bensing noted that regulation begin 20 years ago when solid waste regulations came into effect.

    7. Communications: GreenGuardian.com Activities
    8. Greta Bergstrom, North Woods Advertising, and Linda Gondringer, RRA, presented an update on the development of the GreenGuardian web page, the creation of the mascot and plans for paid advertising and integration of GreenGuardian into county promotional materials. Commissioner Kordiak asked what rules had been established with regards to letting others use the GreenGuardian logo. Ms. Gondringer noted that staff have not yet developed a plan, but will do so.

    9. Amendment #2 to the Lancet Software Development, Inc. Agreement for 2003 SWMCB.org Web Page
    10. Commissioner Siegfried made a motion that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to finalize negotiations and execute Amendment #2 to the Agreement with Lancet Software Development, Inc. for the SWMCB.org web page services by extending the term of the Agreement through December 31, 2003 with no change in contract maximum. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

    11. Technical Amendments to 2002 and 2003 Budget

Commissioner Siegfried made a motion that the SWMCB approve the technical budget amendments for 2002 and 2003 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stafford and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #6. Reduction and Recycling.

    1. 2001 Community POWER Project Final Report
    2. Due to time constraints, this agenda item was held over until the January 2003 meeting.

    3. Authorization to Release a Request for Bids for Compost Bins
    4. Judy Hunter noted that the 2003 SWMCB work plan and budget call for the distribution of up to 15,000 compost bins through distribution events and online ordering with manufacture direct shipping. Ms. Hunter noted that in hopes of increasing efficiencies of ordering of compost bins and streamlining the promotions of the bin, the GreenGuardian.com web site will be used to take orders online and a regional telephone ordering system will be used to take orders for all six member counties. Staff will bring additional information on the distribution and promotional plan to the SWMCB at the January SWMCB meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Reinhardt that the SWMCB authorize staff to work with the Dakota County attorney and financial manager to draft and release a request for bids based on specifications presented to the SWMCB. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Berg and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

    5. Recycling of Telephone Books
    6. Due to time constraints, this agenda item was held over until the January 2003 meeting.

    7. Amendment #1 to the Agreement with JL Taitt & Associates, Inc. for the Transport Packaging Campaign

Judy Hunter noted that the SWMCB entered into an agreement in December 2001 with JL Taitt and Associates for the implementation of a Transport Packaging Campaign in 2002. Staff are recommending that the SWMCB amend its contract with JL Taitt and Associates to continue the campaign in 2003. Ms. Hunter also noted that there are funds in the 2003 budget and work plan for this project. A motion was made by Commissioner Reinhardt that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to finalize negotiations and execute an amendment to the Agreement with JL Taitt and Associates, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $32,000 for the period of January 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Siegfried and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #7. Toxicity Reduction: Amendment #2 to the Agreement with Lancet Software Development, Inc. for VSQG Database Services.

Mike Lein noted that the SWMCB contracted with Lancet Software Development, Inc. in 2002 to build a database for tracking hazardous waste manifest information and host and maintain the database once developed. Mr. Lein noted that this site must continue to be maintained as additional data is entered and to allow for staff from each member county to easily access reports. In order to achieve this, staff are recommending that the SWMCB amend its contract with Lancet Software Development, Inc. A motion was made by Commissioner Maher that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to finalize negotiations and execute an amendment to the Agreement with Lancet Software Development, Inc. for VSQG database hosting and maintenance services by increasing the contract by $15,000 and extending the term of the Agreement to December 31, 2003. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and approved unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #8. Other.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:04 p.m.