01-16-2013 CSMCREEKSIDE RENEWABLES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES
City Center
January 16, 2013 - 4:30 p.m.
Members Present: Gary Forcier, Marian Filk, Bob Peterson, Nathan Winter, Brandon
Fraser, and Bob Anderson
Member Absent: Juli Neubarth
Others Present: Andy Reid, Andy Kosek
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes from October 24, 2012
Motion by Fraser, second by Anderson, to approve the minutes as presented.
2. Financials
Andy Reid, Controller, reviewed the unaudited balance sheet and income statement
of the Compost Fund as of December 31, 2012. Cash increased approximately
$418,000 for the year. Total revenue over expenditures is $217,825. There was a
20% increase in sales over 2011. No money was spent in capital outlay, which had
a budget of $125,000. In the Refuse Fund, and additional $225,000 in cash was
added for the year and total revenue over expenditures is $72,634.
3. 2013 Sales Orders to date
Andy Kosek noted that sales are up 6000 bags for in -house orders. Creekside is up
8700 bags, Wonderblend is up 17,000 bags and SplenderGro is up 15,000 bags.
Kosek spoke of the promotions available which are attached to the Wonderblend
line. Frattalone's orders are not in yet. Typically there order is approximately
23,000 bags. Kosek is confident that those orders will be placed. A vast amount of
sales come in with re- orders and no promotions are available on re- orders.
4. Satellite Sites
a. Shakopee
Kosek noted that perhaps a deal is being worked out with Shakopee providing
material to Creekside. The site is permitted for 2013. Shakopee is willing to do
the work for Creekside and provide Creekside the material for bagging.
Creekside may not utilize the site in 2013.
b. Maple Grove
Have been purchasing material for the last six years - Kosek would like to use
this site as a distribution site for bulk materials and a mulch inventory site. Also
spoke of a program through dirtfill.com to gain material and distribute from the
Maple Grove site.
c. St Cloud
Materials brought to our site - $2.50/$2.75 bagged, ready for sale
d. St Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids
No longer pursuing these sites due to competition
5. Bagging Production
a. Garick
900,000 bags for Home Depot; Garick would like additional 680,000 bags for
Menards. Creekside doesn't have enough material to fulfill an additional
680,000 bags. Garick contacted a site in Shakopee to see if they had any options
for them. Shakopee doesn't have the equipment but has material, so Garick is
placing mobile equipment and staffing it at the Shakopee site. Kosek spoke of
bagging operations in general.
6. New Business
a. New Bulk Products
Pine bark mulch — a lumber mill south of International Falls has this ground up
product. They are currently burning it and Creekside is looking to taking the ground
up product to sell for bulk mulch.
7. Miscellaneous
Kosek spoke of the MNLA show held last week — very good attendance. Kosek
spoke of local shows — Home & Landscape, Bring it Home Expo. Kosek inquired
whether or not Creekside should be part of these shows even though the clientele
that attends the shows are not Creekside customers. Instead, Creekside could
contribute towards local vendors' booths to advertise Creekside products. Nathan
Winter suggested the Minnesota Home Growers Show in St. Cloud could be
considered for future years.
Brandon Fraser asked how Creekside will handle an overabundance of orders,
shipments, etc. Kosek noted a downside would be having to use 2014 product for
2013 obligations. The main worries center around not having enough product.
Kosek noted that source - separated projects can be tapped into more — such as in
grocery stores, schools, restaurants, commercial accounts. That will be looked into
implementing in 2013.
Kosek also noted that a grinder motor went out and is being overhauled currently.
Grinding work should be completed by Spring.
Bob Anderson commented that back -up alarms are being used again and they
haven't been for several years. Kosek noted that he had found information noting
that back -up alarms wouldn't be used after 10:00 p.m. Anderson asked that the
City's industrial ordinance be reviewed and compared to OSHA regulations. Kosek
noted he will look into it.
Motion by Anderson, second by Winter to adjourn at 5:40 p.m.
Next meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2013, at 4:30 p.m.