12-21-2005 CSMCREEK SIDE SOILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
December 21, 2005, 4:15 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER — 4:15 P.M.
Members Present: Bill Arndt, Casey Stotts, Doug Johnson, Robert Anderson, Gary Plotz and Randy
DeVries
Members Absent: Brandon Fraser and Marion Filk
Approval of Minutes from October 19, 2005
Motion by Arndt, second by DeVries, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried
unanimously.
2. Financials — Ken Merrill
Ken Merrill stated he has been working on the financials, however he feels he needs to review
them with staff before they are distributed to the Board. Preliminarily, it appears as if some
things need to be capitalized. A quarterly financial report will now be given to the board. Mr.
Merrill will email the financial report to the board members.
Ken Merrill did state that each quarter will have peaks and valleys, however it should be
consistent from year to year.
Gary Plotz commented that the source - separated operation costs more than the facility charges,
based on bag film price increases, Waste Management increases, inflationary increases, etc.
Discussion was briefly held regarding the 2006 budget.
3. 2005 Review — Doug Johnson
Mr. Johnson reported that debagging operations were moved to Spruce Ridge near Biscay.
The site on Adams Street currently is stocked with 800,000 bags of product (it was clarified
that the October 19, 2005, minutes should read that 500,000 bags were on -site as opposed to
5000). The facility bags approximately 20 -24 bags per minute. The facility has stockpiles of
compost, peat and manure and is ready to go for the season beginning in March. Several
inquiries have been made from other companies regarding Creekside bagging corn product.
Mr. Johnson reported that approximately four of the temporary employees will be laid off next
week until the first week in May when operations start up again.
4. Spruce Ridge Operations — Doug Johnson
Doug Johnson, Compost Site Coordinator, stated that debagging operations should be
completed in two weeks. Half the site was completed for their debagging operations. All of
the bags received from Minneapolis have been debagged. This year's operation for that
contract only required eight semi trucks as compared to 15 trucks last year.
Mr. Johnson reported that one neighbor at Spruce Ridge commented on the lights shining
during the operation. This was adjusted and no other comments were received. Odor readings
were also taken and they were within normal range.
5. Bagging Update — Doug Johnson
Refer to the 2005 Review above.
6. Public Sales
Discussion was held regarding the possibility of having public sales on -site. The current area
on the facility's site is being used for storage and Mr. Johnson does not feel that there is ample
room for sales on -site. Casey Stotts asked if residents of the City could receive some sort of
benefit, such as a coupon, for bringing items to the site. Doug Johnson stated that that could
be an option, but it had to be kept in mind that this is a county -wide facility and McLeod
County residents are not charged anything for bringing items to the facility.
Doug Johnson suggested that the local landscapers continue to be used for public sales and try
to negotiate with them to lower their costs. Bob Anderson stated that he feels if residents are
compensated in some way with a coupon or what have you, the neighbors be compensated in
some way for the hardships they have had over the past several years.
The Board will continue to brainstorm this item.
7. Neighborhood Meetings — Mayor Cook
Mayor Cook reported that the neighbors and he have been meeting monthly to discuss various
items. At the last meeting, the group decided monthly meetings will not be necessary and they
will only need to meet on an as- needed basis. The neighbors feel operations have improved.
Bob Anderson asked the chain -of- command for issues. Both the mayor and Gary Plotz stated
they should be contacted first and they will pass concerns on to staff. Doug Johnson will now
be attending any future neighborhood meetings.
8. Consulting for Operations Pertaining to Odors
Mayor Cook stated that he had read an article about a facility near St. Louis that was
surrounded by multi- million dollar homes. This facility used an operation that monitors the
materials to determine when they needed to be turned, etc. and would forecast if odors would
be heightened. Doug Johnson will research this further.
9. Grinding on -site versus off -site — Gary Plotz
Gary Plotz stated this topic was brought up at a neighborhood meeting. Mr. Plotz informed
the group that Creekside receives material from other communities in the county that need to
be ground. The county had suggested that all of this material be trucked to Creekside to be
ground as opposed to the grinder being transported to the other sites. The County Board
approved purchase of equipment to be used to transport materials from other communities to
Creekside. Mr. Plotz has learned that Glencoe and Winsted would like for Creekside to
continue to come to their site for grinding. The plan is to continue to travel to these two sites
because of the large volume of material, however the other communities will be bringing their
items to Creekside for grinding. Of course, in the case of an emergency, the grinder will be
transported to the other sites for grinding.
Doug Johnson stated that for logs that are 6" — 18" in diameter, the site grinds regularly. Logs
that are over 18" in diameter are ground every two years.
10. Plans when Minneapolis contract is completed — Casey Stotts
Casey Stotts asked what the plan is when this contract is complete? Do we want to continue
when the contract expires, if not, what is the contingency plan? What are the costs that have
been put into this operation as to the profit being made?
Doug Johnson stated that equipment that has been leased for this contract could be left with no
strings attached. The only equipment that has been purchased are the walking floor trailers.
Other communities have verbally informed Creekside that they would like Creekside to take
their materials, such as is set up with Minneapolis now. Doug Johnson stated that staff is
watching this closely and will be able to make an educated decision before the contract
expires. Casey Stotts stated he would like numbers put together to determine how much
money has been put into the operation since it started.
(Bill Arndt excused himself at 5:28 p.m.)
11. General Manager Position
Gary Plotz stated that the position was widely - advertised, however no proposals were
received. Mr. Plotz suggested ruining the operation as it is now with him, Doug Johnson and
Cam Rucks as a consultant. Cam Rucks is currently contracted for four hours a week. Mr.
Johnson stated that this idea is favorable to him. It was noted that labor and equipment costs
need to be held steady, or lowered, in order for the facility to be profitable. It was further
noted that daily labor and equipment efficiencies will be measured. Gary Plotz mentioned that
Steve Madson may be contracted on an as- needed basis for special projects. Casey Stotts
asked that staff check to see what type of city -owned equipment Steve Madson may still have
in his possession.
Discussion was held regarding the department manual that Steve Madson is writing for
Creekside. This should be completed by the end of March 2006.
Bob Anderson noted that he liked the proposal of waiting to fill the General Manager position
and only hiring if it is crucially needed.
12. Miscellaneous
Bob Anderson asked what kind of items the advisory board has actually recommended to the
City Council. Examples given were items such as contracting for a financial person, going out
for an RFP for the GM position, and leasing equipment. Future discussions to have will be the
future operations of the facility.
One of the last piles from the Minneapolis contract is going to be screened and assessed to
determine what should be done with it. The plastics may be taken to the landfill or bailed.
Motion by Stotts, second by DeVries to adjourn at 5:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.