At the June 6 meeting of the county board, more information was brought forward pertaining to the dusty waste produced at Strongwell Corporation in Chatfield.
At the May 23 meeting, it was noted that the dusty waste (from production of fiber reinforced polymer products) has been dumped at the Resource Recycling Center for many years. Employee safety concerns have been raised. The board considered allowing delivery of the waste if bagged and boxed to eliminate the dust. Acceptance of the waste was contingent on Winneshiek County Landfill continuing to accept the dusty waste.
Winneshiek responded that they will only accept the product if it is delivered in sealed 55-gallon drums and if it is delivered separately from normal municipal waste. Material of that nature will not be accepted if loose or bagged. When asked why they have accepted it all these years, Winneshiek maintained they were never made aware of the content of the waste, which has been delivered with other waste materials.
Winneshiek is willing to accept delivery of the Strongwell waste directly from Strongwell in the sealed drums. Commissioner Duane Bakke said he didn’t want the county to have the responsibility of accepting the sealed drums. Commissioner Marc Prestby added a direct delivery would be the cleanest and the best for the county.
By consensus, the board decided not to accept the Strongwell dusty waste described in the SDS (safety data sheet). Winneshiek will classify the waste as requiring special handling and accept it only in the sealed drums.
“Other Waters” maps
Donna Rasmussen and Anne Koliha, SWCD, provided draft maps and criteria for “Other Waters,” as required by the Minnesota Buffer Law. Other Waters areas were selected if there is an evident channel or a continuation of protected water across roads when both sides look similar.
Koliha said they had to come up with a list and maps of Other Waters for an addendum to the water management plan. Other Waters are not mandated to have buffers at this time. Field visits will be done over time to determine if a buffer is needed or not.
Rasmussen said anything that happens with Other Waters comes back to local authority to decide what needs to be done. Koliha suggested Other Waters will include an additional 100 miles or so. Bakke said that will amount to an additional 15%.
County Attorney Brett Corson asked if public waters includes wetlands? Rasmussen stated if wetlands are not on a map as protected or public waters, they are not part of the buffer law.
Rasmussen explained there are instances where conditions are exactly the same, where one requires a buffer and one does not. The SWCD is required to provide the maps and a list of additional streams that may benefit from buffers to the county before July 1.
No action was taken this day. The board will have time to look at the maps (one for each township) and ask questions. The SWCD board will take action on June 15 and it will come back to the board for action later in June. The SWCD has to adopt a resolution by July 1.
Bakke asked about the percent of landowners in compliance with the buffer law. Koliha suggested about 95% of the parcels are in compliance or working toward compliance with owners looking into CRP or alternative practices that can qualify as a buffer. Bakke noted that landowners are required to have a plan in later this fall and be in compliance by July 1, 2018.
Other business in brief
• Approval was given to advertise for a replacement bridge on CR 109 in Beaver Township. Local Option Sales Tax funding will be used for the bridge on this three digit road.
Approval was given to advertise for a replacement bridge (Old Barn Bridge) on Heron Road in Carrolton Township.
• Several more of the county’s policies were discussed. Bakke explained the review of county policies that has been ongoing over the last few months came about by a decision to look at all of the county’s policies at the board level.
The second reading of proposed updates were made and the updated policies approved for the Electronic Communication policy and the Purchasing by Credit Card policy.
There was more discussion on proposed updates to the PTO policy. There was a consensus to set the maximum accumulated hours to 480.
The updated Purchasing policy was approved. Purchases over $500 but less than or equal to $2,500 must get two quotes. Board approval is only needed for purchases in this cost range when the low quote is not accepted or the purchase is not in the board approved budget. Purchases over $2,500 require board approval.
• Approval was given to hire a temporary Accounting Technician for the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office not to exceed six months. The temporary worker will need to have experience with payables, receivables, and payrolls. Human resources officer Kristina Kohn said the temporary employee will help the office get caught up and then allow them to assess whether a full-time position is needed. Bakke and Prestby voted no.
• Brock Hoff-Walsh and Cole Schmitt were hired as summer highway temporary workers effective June 9 and June 19, not to exceed four months.
• Bakke reported on the District 9 meeting held on June 5. He noted that the county did a preliminary jail study. Bakke said in his opinion Fillmore County will still have a jail in the future for up to 90-day stays. Commissioners from other counties let him know of their available jail space for longer sentences.
He said there have been big cost shifts in Health and Human Services. If services are mandated, but non-funded, we have to provide the funding.
Bakke also acknowledged some increased funding in the Transportation bill.