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LA CROSSE COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS

PLANNING MEETING

MONDAY JUNE 9, 2008

The La Crosse County Board of Supervisors Planning Meeting was held on June 9, 2008 in the Administrative Center, Room B410.  Chair Steve Doyle called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  The County Clerk, Marion I. Naegle, took attendance.  All supervisors were present except as noted:

County Board Chair Steve Doyle

·          The WCA Conference will be held at the Kalahari.  Room rates for the Kalahari are $99 per night.  Other Hotels in the area are State rate of $62.  If a supervisor stays at the Kalahari they will have to pay the difference of $37 unless they share a room with another supervisor.   Car pooling is also recommended.

·          The County Board picnic will be at Neshonoc Park on July 17.  The time of the July 17 County Board meeting and picnic will be discussed at the June 18 County Board meeting.

·          Supervisors had a Report on Public Intoxication Ordinance from the City of La Crosse Police Department on their desks.  Supervisor Sebranek will be discussing the report at the June 18 County Board meeting.

County Administrator Steve O’Malley  

Proclamation - Parks and Natural Resources Month

WHEREAS, the County Parks system and our Natural Resources are an integral part of the La Crosse County Community; and,  WHEREAS, the quality of our Parks and Natural Resources provides safe and healthy places for residents and visitors to recreate and enjoy; and,  WHEREAS, residents and visitors are encouraged to educate themselves and adopt responsible lifestyles that preserve the beauty and value of our Parks and Natural Resources; and,  WHEREAS, La Crosse County employees from the Facilities Department and the Department of Land Conservation serve to educate, protect, maintain and enhance the quality of our Parks and Natural Resource;  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the La Crosse County Board does hereby proclaim the Month of June 2008 as La Crosse County Parks and Natural Resources Month and urges all

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residents to join in recognizing the valuable contribution made by County employees dedicated to the welfare of our Parks and Natural Resources for the benefit of our residents and visitors of La Crosse County.

Motion to approve by Wood/L. Pfaff passed unanimously with 3 excused – Erickson, Meyer and Fisher and 2 absent – Brockmiller and Schroeder.

Community Service Manager for Xcel Energy Mike Herro

Review of Xcel Energy French Island Operations

·         The County of La Crosse has a contract with Xcel Energy until 2023.

·         The Plant burns 50% wood and 50% RDF (garbage)

·         Produces 20% of La Crosse County’s needs

·         There is a DVD on the County’s website under Solid Waste which has detailed information

o        Mark Paitl – Plant Manager

§         Explained the plant’s history

§         Explained the workforce at the plant

§         Upgrades to the plant to get it to 2023

§         Tours and open houses

§         Highlighted maintenance of the plant

§         Ferris metal recycling started in 2007

o        Christine Ball – Xcel Energy Eau Claire Office

§         Spoke on the French Island Plant’s annual Environmental and Operations Performance Report – 2007.

§         Xcel Energy Plan reduces the volume of our landfill space by 90%

§         Spoke on pollution controls

§         More computerization to help the function of the plant

§         Talked about the failing tests on the boilers

§         Dioxide and mercury is being reduced from the earlier days

§         They are working with the DNR to burn more RDF instead of wood

§         Also working on water quality issues

Question and answer session with all three presenters

Solid Waste Manager Brian Tippetts

Overview of Solid Waste Management Plan

·         Handout – Organizational Chart

·         Programs Implemented for the Solid Waste Department

·         Power point

o        Mission

o        Vision Statements

o        History

o        Strategic Issues

§         Communications/Education/Marketing

§         Succession Planning

§         Waste Stream Security

§         Funding

§         Transfer Station Development

§         Xcel related options issues

§         HH:M

§         Drop Off Centers

§         Curbside Collection

§         Landfill Capacity

§         Yard Wastes

§         Disaster Debris

§         Tipping Fee Philosophy

Questions were asked throughout the presentation.

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Project Manager and Client Liaison for Foth Hank Koch

Review of Past/Present/Future Landfill Construction Efforts - Power Point

·         Overview

·         What are we building and why

·         On schedule under budget

·         Financial Impacts

·         How do these  Projects affect the Solid Waste Plan

·         On solid ground

·         What are we building

·         New landfill (asset)

·         Eliminate old landfill (liability)

·         Picture of landfill site with explanation

·         Redevelopment critical path

·         Why new landfill

·         Running out of space

·         Foundation of Solid Waste System

·         Pictures of construction through different phases

·         Old landfill affecting ground water

·         Why relocate old landfill

·         Provides place for new landfill

·         More effective than finding a different location

·         Minimizes long-term liability

·         Cost effective remediation

·         Remediation of old landfill

·         Do nothing – legal fees & technical fees - $1 million

·         New Cap - $6 million and continues to leak

·         Pump and Purge - $10 -$20 million and no guarantee

·         Move it - $50 ton - $40 million project

·         Pictures of

·         Relocation of old landfill

·         Waste relocation – not well constructed

·         Expansion – clean and proper

·         Secure facility

·         WDNR’s Perspective – We are a first class Solid Waste System

·         Projects will be completed by the end of 2009

·         What are the Financial Impacts

·         Start of the projects $20 million

·         The projects are on schedule and under budget – bonding is not necessary

·         Explanation of Airspace Depreciation

·         Income Statement – Profit of $6 million

·         After waste relocation – Profit - $21 million (in airspace depreciation) – we did not loose customers or dollars, just airspace

·         Summary

There were questions and answers throughout the presentation.

Audi/Finance Director Gary Ingvalson

Fees & Charges

Ingvalson explained financial end of the projects and reason why we did not have to go to the debt market for $8 million as anticipated.  The County is trying to be as frugal as possible.

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RESOLUTION #20-6/08 RE:  ADOPTION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LA CROSSE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

WHEREAS, Wisconsin statutes give La Crosse County the authority to undertake solid waste planning and to direct certain waste to La Crosse County resource recovery facilities; and,  WHEREAS, it is a responsibility of La Crosse County to protect public health, welfare and the environment through environmentally sound and financially responsible management of municipal solid waste; and,  WHEREAS, the reduction of the toxicity of the solid waste stream is a goal of La Crosse County; and,

WHEREAS, since 1978 La Crosse County has continually offered sanitary landfill services at the same general site utilized today and has redeveloped the existing landfill site to correct environmental problems and provide future disposal capacity; and,  WHEREAS, the existing landfill site may also provide waste processing and transfer services indefinitely; and,  WHEREAS, it is good public policy for La Crosse County to work with its neighboring governmental bodies to equitably resolve environmental solid waste issues because of the broad impact of environmental problems; and  WHEREAS, La Crosse County has developed a comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, dated February, 2008, as part of an effort to collaborate regionally on solid waste issues.  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the La Crosse County Board hereby adopts the Solid Waste Management Plan dated February, 2008 and directs that the Plan be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for approval.  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that La Crosse County commits to collaborate with governmental bodies within and outside of La Crosse County to control costs and lessen environmental impacts related to solid waste management.

FISCAL NOTE:  No fiscal impact.

Motion to approve by Spiker/Burke passed on a unanimous voice vote with 4 excused – Erickson, Meyer, L. Pfaff and Fisher with 1 absent – Schroeder.

County Administrator Steve O’Malley

Report on Top Priorities Policy Goals for 2008-2010 Term from County Board Retreat

We will continue to use these as guide posts.  Question and answer session.

County Board Chair Steve Doyle

Invited all supervisors to attend the next Executive Committee meeting, June 11 at 4 p.m. for a sneak peak on the budget.

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ADJOURN

Motion by Manthei/Sebranek to adjourn at 8:41 p.m. passed on a unanimous voice vote with 4 excused –

Erickson, Meyer, L. Pfaff and Schroeder and 1 absent – Schroeder.

The above minutes may be approved, amended, or corrected at the next Board meeting.

I, Marion I. Naegle, La Crosse County Clerk, in and for the County of La Crosse, Wisconsin, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Journal of Proceedings of the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors at the Planning Meeting held Monday, June 9, 2008 and that it is the whole thereof IN WITNESS THEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND AFFIXED THE OFFICIAL SEAL THIS 10^th DAY OF JUNE 2008.