02-23-21 CCM Workshop (SSOM Composting Options)HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORKSHOP
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021, AT 4:15 P.M.
CITY CENTER — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Call to Order — 4:19 p.m.
Mayor Gary Forcier called the meeting to order. Members present were Brandon Begnaud, Chad Czmowski and
Dave Sebesta. Member absent was Mary Christensen. Others present were Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, Andy
Reid, Finance Director, Andy Kosek, Creekside Director, and Craig Coker, Coker Composting & Consulting.
DISCUSSION/REVIEW ITEMS
1. Source -Separated Organic Materials Composting Options
Craig Coker, Coker Composting & Consulting presented before the group. In August, 2020 Creekside hired
Coker Composting & Consulting (CC&C) to evaluate its alternatives, develop capital and operating cost estimates
for each alternative and then model outgoing cash flows for each alternative in a Net Present Value (NPV)
analysis. Coker reviewed Creekside's current process of handling yard trimmings and source -separated organic
materials (SSOM) and issues with the equipment. While Creekside sells its yard waste compost in both bagged
and bulk products, the SSOM compos is currently not being sold at market but rather used by other City
departments. This is due to high levels of non-compostable contamination not able to be screened out of the
finished SSOM product due to the small size of the contaminants.
Identification of Alternatives:
Alternative I A — Repair existing container system
Alternative IB — Replace with new container system
Alternative 2A — Replace with different aerated static
pile (ASP) system at same capacity (1,500 tons/yr)
Alternative 2B — Upgrade to new Covered Aerated
Static Pile at expanded capacity (3,000 tons/yr)
Alternative 3 — Upgrade to new CASP at expanded
capacity (10,000 tons/yr)
CapEx
10yr NPV
Difference
$516K-$618K
$5,647,535
3.4%
$981K-$1.45 Mil
$6,113,085
8.6%
$722K-$889K
$5,629,421
0%
$722K-$889K in 2021
$6,957,149
24%
Add'I $315K in 2025-2026
$1.4-$1.5 Mil
$8,136,819
49%
(composting only)
Alternative 4 — Outsource SSOM composting to another permitted facility.
(dropped from consideration)
Alternative 5 — Outsource all compost production.
(dropped from consideration)
Mayor Gary Forcier asked what the most common contamination coming through is. Coker replied plastic. Andy
Kosek, Creekside Director, concurred; in addition to glass, tin cans, batteries and oil filters. Coker confirmed the
average contamination is 1.3% by weight and 1.4% by volume. Zero is almost impossible, but 3% max is the
most acceptable. Council member Chad Czmowski asked if there are cameras on haulers to identify the culprits
of contamination (most of which are rental tenants). Kosek confirmed there are and they receive a hand -full of
reports a day which include photo and address. Unfortunately, contamination can be hidden in the cart and once
it's dumped, the contamination is exposed but too late and Creekside spends $15,000 in tip fees getting rid of
contamination. Kosek stressed the importance of continuing education and extensive marketing to the residents
and maybe an "opt -in" or "sign up" program as per Coker, these are more successful. Coker commented on some
successful programs in the state that Creekside could learn from.
Kosek added he initially budgeted $2 million to replace what Creekside currently has. City Administrator added
this item will be discussed at the council meeting following this workshop.
Motion by Czmowski, second by Sebesta, to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. Roll call vote was taken: Begnaud — aye;
Czmowski — aye; Sebesta — aye; Forcier — aye. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Gary T. Forcier
Mayor
Matthew Jaunich
City Administrator