Recycling to begin at Bagley/ Clearbrook-Gonvick schools
Tue, 11/06/2018 - 4:38pm
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners held their last October meeting on the 30th, with all Commissioners present: Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.
Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht announced the schools have received the Environmental Assistance Grant money totaling $184,000, which was used to purchase the auger compactors for recycling at three locations. The auger compactors for recyclables at the Bagley Elementary and High Schools, and Clearbrook-Gonvick School were installed at all three sites on October 30th.
“The machines belong to the schools and are intended to reduce their disposal and hauling costs,” said ES Director Hecht, who wrote the grant, and did the application.
The school is required to make a 25% match of the funds, a $46,000 value which will be provided in the way of staff hours to train the students about recycling, and also pays for County in-kind expense for Dan's staff time in managing the grant, and JAG Body Shop for bin label printing in the amount of $800 (the County's only cash expense), and reimbursable from grant funds.
Head Custodian of the Bagley Schools, Dan Lavine, has been very involved in the installation of the compactors here.
The County will recover some money as a result, and it will save about $700 per year in solid waste management taxes.
“The State has been expressing a need for wanting us to do more in the way of recycling here. This is why I'm doing this. This (the schools) is a good source of recyclables. It will include office paper, newspaper, card board, plastic bottles, tin and aluminum cans. This is a huge portion of the schools' waste,” Dan explained.
“The schools have been very supportive of the project because they recognize the potential savings on solid waste costs,” he said.
“This project was made possible by a grant to the County and Schools from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Environmental Assistance Grant Program”.
Sanford Health Personnel Rob Belanger, Administrator, Stephanie McKnight, Nursing Manager, and Jim Aagenes brought concerns to the Commissioners' attention of the risk involved at times when a helicopter is landing at the pad behind the hospital.
“We have concerns on the sliding hill, and some people just passing through. There are also public vehicles that park there at times,” stated Administrator Rob Belanger. “There is also a great 'wash' (wind projecting debris) from the helicopter, making it a safety issue.”
“We propose having fencing constructed to keep people away from the helicopter pad, and prevent the public cars from parking there, which must be moved for the helicopter to land,” added Stephanie McKnight and Jim Aagenes.
“What we want to do is to limit access to the parking lot. We know that kids are curious when they see a helicopter. We have no intention of taking away the sliding hill,” the hospital staff commented.
Commissioner Arlen Syverson commented that kids have been sliding on that hill since he was a kid – 80 or more years ago. He proposed a sign for authorized parking only, with the towing of other vehicles.
Besides winter sledding on the hill, the parking lot fills up with people in summer to watch the fireworks.
“There is a tradition of doing that for many years,” Commissioner Dean Newland added.
“We also know the historic value of the rock fence,” it was stated.
“The wall belongs to the City,” Commissioner Neal Illies stated. He suggested an automated gate for authorized vehicles to enter the parking lot, which may be considered.
“The line is close to the northwest corner,” added Commissioner John Nelson.
With that, an aerial view was found on line, and Al Paulson brought in a print out which confirms that the area in question for fencing or other approaches, and the wall is out of the County, and that property actually belongs to the City of Bagley, so that is where they will go next.
“We wanted to approach the County first as our initial group to talk to,” responded Administrator Belanger.
County Engineer, Dan Sauvé is in need of a new full-time General Foreman for the Highway Department. An employee in the department, Tom Riggs, expressed interest in the position and has the experience and qualifications. He has accepted the position of General Foreman, at Grade 19 Step 1, or $22.15 per hour, starting date December 3. He has worked for the department for four years. This is a non-union position.
The Engineer received Board approval to advertise for a full-time Engineering Technician I or II position.
Director of Nursing Marissa Hetlund was given approval to advertise for a full or part-time clerical position, as the current position will be vacated next March when Lynn Riggs retires.
The Chairman, Dan Stenseng signed the North Country Community Health Board Agreement, with Board approval, for the period of January 1 – December 1, 2019.
Chairman Dan Stenseng reported on the recent AMC meeting. He said there is a resource available, Source Well which has as helpline available for Human Resources personnel.
“Human Resources continues to be an ongoing issue,” he said.