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TTEI~ 6.6. <br /> <br />~ay of <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> TO: <br />iver <br /> <br />MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br />STEPHEN ROHLF AND LAURIE <br />MEZERA-KERR <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />DECEMBER 12, 1997 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />SOLID WASTE CHANGES PROPOSED BY <br />SHERBURNE COUNTY <br /> <br />On Tuesday, December 16, 1997, the Sherbume County Board will consider several changes to the <br />current solid waste system in the County. These changes could affect the City of Elk River in a <br />variety of ways. This memo is designed to brief the Mayor and Council on these changes and seek <br />your direction on the City's response to the proposed changes. <br /> <br />CURRENT SITUATION <br /> <br />Sherburne County is under contract to deliver 50 tons of refuse per day to the RDF plant. This <br />contract runs through the year 2009. Because disposal fees at the RDF plant are significantly higher <br />than at landfills, Sherburne County is concerned about meeting its contractual agreement. If the <br />required tonnage is not met, the County will pay substantial penalties. <br /> <br />Currently, the County assesses a refuse surcharge to all property owners (residential & businesses) <br />in Eastern Sherburne County. This surcharge is used to subsidize the tipping fee at the RDF plant to <br />make it competitive with landfilling. The two year surcharge, which has been in effect for one year, <br />amounts to a $20 annual fee per household. The end result, is that this fee has enabled the County <br />to meet its contractual agreement, but was viewed as a temporary solution and is proposed to be <br />eliminated effective January 1, 1999. <br /> <br />Presently, the City contracts with three different haulers to collect residential waste, but the City <br />pays for disposal. The City of Elk River's residential garbage is under contract with the County to <br />go to the RDF plant through 1998 at $41 per ton. Elk River's 3,900 households currently receive <br />the benefit of the subsidized tipping fee at the RDF plant through lower monthly refuse bills. <br /> <br />COUNTY PROPOSAL <br /> <br />The County plans to: <br /> <br />eliminate the current surcharge in 1999; and <br />phase in higher tipping fees at the RDF plant that reach $56 per ton in 2002; and <br />seek long-term (5 year) voluntary contracts with the haulers and the City to assure delivery <br />of the waste to the RDF plant in an amount sufficient to meet the County's contractual <br />obligation. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 ° TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />