County Reduces Recycling Fees

BY MATTHEW JOHNSON

     The County is making large reductions in its recycling handling fees to residents (and non-residents) for large appliance and electronic items, as well as for box springs and mattresses.
     No comments were received from the general public during a public hearing on the then-proposed fee changes at the Wadena County Board meeting held on Thursday, April 17. And, since the board did not take official action to approve the new fees during that meeting, the commissioners did approve the fee reductions during their Tuesday, May 6, regular meeting.
     The appliance and electronic recycling fees are being reduced from $5 to $2 for residents, and from $13 to $5 for non-residents. There will be no recycling handling charges for smaller electronics like radios, sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. Also, the cost of disposing box springs and mattresses are dropping from $10 per item to $5 per item.
     As for the roll-off recycling containers for smaller recyclable items, the commissioners say they have been receiving positive feedback on those. Commissioner Bill Stearns said he´s heard “lots of compliments” in that regard, especially pertaining to the recycling container underneath the water tower in Wadena.
     “Sebeka´s happy, too (regarding the recycling container recently placed there by the County),” said Commissioner Mary Harrison.
WesMin RC&D Grateful for Payment
     WesMin Resource Conser­vation & Development (RC&D) President Lyle Hovland recently sent a letter to the 14 county boards that sponsor the non-profit organization. The letter explained the status of assessment payments in the settlement of judgments assessed against WesMin in the amount of $60,227. The judgments are a result of actions taken by a former RC&D council employee.
     Last August, Hovland sent a letter to WesMin´s supporting boards proposing a $3,983 assessment payment be made to WesMin by each county so WesMin could recoup its costs and continue functioning as a viable non-profit.
     In his April letter, Hovland listed Wadena County among 10 counties that have made the payment. The four counties that have not made the payment are Grant, Crow Wing, Stevens and Cass.
     Hovland used the word “grateful” to describe Wes­Min´s reaction to the counties that have made the requested payments. How­ever, Hovland said, WesMin will still fall short of its obligations without full participation of the remaining four counties.
     “To the counties which have not yet sent in the assessment payment, I am making another appeal – we still need your help! Your payment would be greatly appreciated, and will help us sustain our operations. Our assessment was calculated to the exact amount needed based on 100 percent participation,” wrote Hovland.
     WesMin works to develop human and natural resources through cooperative efforts. According to the WesMin website, WesMin “has assisted local people and others to successfully complete 640 projects, during the last 40 years.” The projects total over $85.7 million in federal, atate and foundation grants and donations, with over $15.9 million of in-kind donations.
     In other business May 6, the Wadena County Board:
     •Authorized County Public Health Director Karen Nelson to sign a contract with the National Institute on Media and the Family for $10,000 (plus travel expenses-mileage and hotel) for David Walsh, Ph.D., to present on Wednesday, September 24, a day session for professionals and an evening session for the community on “NO – Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It” and “Why Do They Act That Way.” The evening session is free to the public.
     •Authorized Nelson to sign a contract with Freshwater Education District in an amount of up to $7,000 for co-sponsorship of Walsh for the Wednesday, September 24 presentations aforementioned.
     •Authorized Nelson to sign a contract with Wadena-Deer Creek School for rental of the auditorium at a cost of $50 for the evening presentation by Walsh from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on September 24.
     •Approved the first half payment of Wadena County Public Health´s portion of the 2008 annual County Levy in the amount of $63,788.50. The total County Levy Allocation for Public Health is $127,577.
     •Approved a call for bids for employee health insurance coverage from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, and to authorize the Wadena County Health Insurance Committee (WCHIC) to set a time, date and location to receive bids and open bids based on when bidding information is received from the current carrier. The board had previously accepted a similar motion, only it specified that the bids be received by May 30. It was determined that was too early, and the WCHIC can set the date.
     •Approved amendments to board minutes from its March 20 meeting. Roger Anderson, not Roger Larson, of Verndale was appointed to serve on the Wadena County Planning Commission. Also, in the approval of the Jack´s Family Recycling proposal for all services except white goods, white goods have been described as including such items as washers, dryers, furnaces and water heaters.
     •Approved a motion to advance $300,000 of 2008 tax revenue to the general fund retroactive to April 30, 2008; to be reimbursed before the distribution date of May 15, 2008 Tax Settlement by County Auditor/Treasurer Char West.
     •Approved a pledge payment of $1,000 to the Initiative Foundation for the Phase IV 2008 Allocation into the GE-Endowment Contributions Fund.
     •Received a quarterly Community Corrections report from the state on Todd and Wadena counties.
     •Approved another employee in the County Recorder´s office to work for County Recorder Soledad Henriksen while she´s on vacation May 14-28.
     •Approved a 3.2 beer license for Twin Lakes Lodge -N- Resort.
     The Wadena County Board of Commissioners meets at 9:00 a.m. on the first Tuesday and the third Thursday of the month in the board chambers on the second floor of the Wadena County Courthouse.