Highway Committee
February 3, 8:30 a.m.
DRAFT Minutes
Present were: Paul Allen, Chairman; John Steger, Vice Chairman; Merwin Armstrong, Dan Tagliente, Scott Elston; Steve Dafoe; Scott Steve, Chairman of the Legislature, Larry Cornell
Others present: Ann Homer; Don Chambers; Bob Buerkle, Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Eric Mulvihill, Dave Parker, Mike Clark, Dan and Lisa Williams, Ron Fuller
Absent: Larry Cornell
Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m.
Mr. Allen recognized the haulers who were in attendance to speak to the group about their feelings regarding flow control. Ms. Lisa Williams feels that the County should go ahead and do flow control; we need something in this County to protect the County. Mr. Fuller remarked that he agrees with Ms. Williams. He knows flow control is hard to enforce, but it is done in other counties. This would keep him from having a parade in Seneca. Mike Clark spoke about flow control. He is in Cincinnatus. He feels we should go ahead with it. It will change some of his ways of doing business. He asked if the Legislature is ready for a legal battle from the other haulers.
The next meeting of haulers is February 18 at 4:30 p.m. Ms. Williams asked that all haulers receive a notification of the meetings. Mr. Elston asked Mr. Clark what he paid in Chenango County. Mr. Clark responded it was $55 per ton; if the hauler signs a two-year contract, it is $50 per ton, and he guarantees that all Chenango County garbage will be sent to Chenango County. Mike asked why we need $60 per ton, since Chenango’s highest rate is $55.00.
David Parker from Blue Moose Sanitation. He echoed the others’ sentiments. Ms. Williams showed a flier from a Fabius provider, which has come in to Cortland County and has cut our haulers’ rates "big time" which will hurt Cortland County as the refuse is not going to the Cortland County Landfill. Mr. Dafoe asked the Highway Committee Chair if the remainder of the Highway Committee members are invited to the meetings with the haulers.
The haulers asked why the reduction in tip fee was pulled from the last Legislative agenda. The response was that the issue is still under discussion and the initial figures show that the reduction could result in a loss for the County.
Mr. Tagliente asked if this could be brought up as the first agenda item so we can hear Mr. Schrader’s report. Mr. Schrader indicated that he has not done anything in writing, but could do so if the committee wants it. The adopted budget was planned for with a $47 tip fee. The haulers have indicated that they will haul to Cortland County if we become competitive. The $47 fee appears to be the fee that would allow us to be competitive. The issue in his mind is purely economics. We need to allow the private sector to be competitive within the private sector, and the way to do that is to reduce the tip fee. Some of the haulers are taking a competitive advantage by hauling outside the County at a lower tip fee. He feels that the consumer is ultimately going to benefit by the reduction. Like it or not, we have a landfill. We either need to use it as it was intended or we need to close it. We are taking in much less volume than was intended. We have costs regardless of how much refuse we are taking in to the landfill. It is to our advantage to take in more refuse, up to the amount allowed by our permit. We need to create a competitive atmosphere for our haulers. If we continue as we are, we will lose more and more volume every day. The fixed costs at the landfill are not going to change. Mr. Schrader indicated that he can do a full-blown report for the next committee meeting if the committee desires. Mr. Allen is concerned that the landfill could become a burden to residents. He would like to see us consider a plan such as Chenango County, which gives a reduced fee if there is an agreement that all County refuse will come to our landfill. Mr. Schrader indicated that there is pros and cons to the plan. Mr. Cornell asked if Chenango County polices the refuse staying within the County. Mr. Clark responded that it was on the honor system. Mr. Clark feels that $47 is shortfalling the County; why not reduce to $50 or $55 and not cut ourselves so short. Mr. Fuller indicated that the lower fee of $50 or $55 would help the haulers; he has been using the County landfill for 40 plus years. Mr. Parker said Mr. Schrader makes sense. The smaller haulers are here; it is hard to be competitive with the bigger haulers; it is hard to beat their price. Mr. Parker doesn’t believe lowering to $50 or $55 will make any change. He feels it should be lowered to $40 or $45. He now sees that it is $47. That is higher than he would like. Any higher will not bring any more refuse in to the County.
Mr. Elston moved the adoption of the minutes of the January 6, 2005, meeting; seconded by Mr. Steger All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Authorize Agreement/ New York State McLean Road and McLean Road Ext. P.I.N. – 375370 & P.I.N. – 375371 – Mr. Elston moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. All members voting favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
2. Modify Refuse Disposal Fee, Highway Department/Landfill – Mr. Allen moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Elston. Mr. Allen moved to amend the RESOLVED clause by inserting after "Landfill" and before "commencing" for haulers who are willing to enter in to an agreement that all tonnage collected in the County be brought to the Cortland County landfill and $55/otherwise. Mr. Cornell asked how much of the $47 is going to equipment replacement. Mr. Schrader indicated that $6.00 is going to landfill closure and equipment replacement ($3.00 to each fund). Mr. Dafoe indicated that he can support the $55, but he cannot support the $47. Mr. Allen indicated that this needs review of the County Attorney before it goes to the Legislature. Mr. Tagliente indicated that Mr. Parker made legitimate points; however, we have many issues to consider. The haulers have spoken about Seneca Meadows, which is a money-making operation. However, if down the road, there is a leak at Seneca Meadows, someone has to be responsible for that. If we institute flow control, we then become responsible for the trash in the County. If we lower the tipping fee too much, then we fill up the landfill too quickly and will incur expenses to open a new cell. He feels that we should lower it to $47, take the haulers at their word, and try it for a year. Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Cornell agree with that concept. Mr. Allen indicated that as much as he would like to see the rates decreased, he has met with the haulers every month, and even at $47/ton, there are haulers that will be leaving the system. If we institute the rate and have that amount of tonnage lose the system, we will be losing a substantial amount of income and the landfill will become a burden on the taxpayers. If we are able to tie in some assurances that we will at least maintain current volume or perhaps increase, then absolutely. However, there are haulers who have been hauling exclusively to our facility for years and we haven’t offered any incentive to do so. We need to reward those haulers while not blindly implementing a cost reduction that might hurt the taxpayers. Mr. Schrader remarked that you cannot go on the remarks of one hauler. The issue is not keeping that hauler’s volume here, it is to prevent more tonnage from leaving. The issue becomes that hauler becoming more competitive than any other hauler in the system, and we have to prevent that from happening so more and more tonnage isn’t taken from the system and to allow other haulers to remain competitive. All members voting in favor except Mr. Tagliente, Mr. Dafoe, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. Cornell voting no. Motion is lost.
3. Abolish/Create/Amend Budget, Highway Department (Highway Engineering Supervisor/Deputy County Highway Superintendent of Highways) – Mr. Elston moved adoption, seconded by Mr. Allen. Chairman Steve asked if the position will be advertised. Mr. Schrader indicated that it will be posted, advertised, and there will be interviews. At the point a selection is made, the committee will be notified. Chairman Steve indicated that the past procedure has been to hire from within; the new procedure is to advertised and see what is out there before hiring. Mr. Elston asked why we wouldn’t just post it internally. Mr. Schrader indicated that the policy at the County is to post every position to try to hire the most qualified person for the position. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
4. Authorizing Application for and Acceptance of Grant Agreement from the Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Department of Transportation for Improvement Project at Cortland County Airport – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Elston. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
1. FY-2005 AIP Program – Mr. Buerkle explained this program. This is the AWOS program.
2. Obtain approval to hire consultant McLean Rd. – Mr. Chambers explained that federal and state funding has been obtained for this project. He would like to select a consultant to obtain design services. This amount if contained in the previously approved resolution. Discussions will be held about requesting speed limit reductions on the McLean Road. We cannot decide it here; the State DOT has to make that decision. The consensus of the committee is that Mr. Chambers can proceed with selecting a consultant.
3. The committee requested Mr. Chambers to bring a resolution to the next committee regarding a speed reduction on the McLean Road in Cortland County.
4. Mr. Allen indicated that we are getting close with the Recycling Center and looking at positions. Mr. Schrader will be receiving a proposal looking at contract sorters and he will be evaluating the pros and cons of that.
5. Mr. Allen indicated that the Highway Superintendents Conference was a couple of weeks back. Mr. Allen and Mr. Dafoe attended as well as Mr. Chambers. They were able to obtain information from vendors and other individuals.
6. Leachate Hauling – Mr. Allen indicated that we have another issue with Workers’ Compensation that came up in December 2004. We relied upon a surrounding county to come to our rescue to prevent the tanks from overflowing. Mr. Allen would like to give Mr. Chambers the permission to look in to this situation to prevent anything further from happening. Chairman Steve asked why we don’t just get a tank. We have trucks and drivers. Mr. Chambers indicated he has asked Mr. Allen about the possibility of renting a tank from the company current doing our hauling. Mr. Chambers indicated we could have a potential hazardous situation coming up. He needs to do whatever he needs to do to prevent this potentially hazardous situation in the near future. Chairman Steve indicated that a long-term resolution would be to get our own tanker. Mr. Dafoe indicated that he agrees. The committee agreed that Mr. Chambers can do what he needs to do to handle this situation.
7. Mr. Dafoe asked about vending at the park. Are we going to send it out for bid? Mr. Dafoe has vendors that have been calling him. Chairman Steve indicated that RFPs are going to be sent out. Mr. Dafoe asked whether they are going to be outside or inside? Chairman Steve indicated that the cooking must be done outside and inside can be used for seating.
8. Mr. Cornell asked about the progress of the Recycling Center. Mr. Chambers indicated that we are basically on schedule. He will be meeting with the City in the near future to discuss the recycling program and how it will work. Mr. Mulvhill indicated that at the Homer Town Board meeting, they indicated they will be contracting with a new hauler and are uncertain as to how proceed – on the current system or the new system. Mr. Mulvhill indicated that Mr. Chambers may want to contact the Town of Homer about this. Mr. Chambers explained more about how the two-stream and three-stream separation will work at the Recycling Center. Mr. Tagliente indicated that he is under the impression that the City sends all the recyclables out of the County, so they won’t have to change. Mr. Chambers is hoping that they will be changing and bringing the recyclables to the County; the hauler has indicated that this will be happening.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.