Hubbard County Solid Waste will receive a Greater Minnesota recycling and composting grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Solid Waste Administrator Josh Holte informed county commissioners that the project was selected for a full award, estimated to be $241,795, with a 25 percent local match requirement.
Holte explained, “This project will work to increase recycling within Hubbard County and will reduce the costs associated with hauling single-stream recyclables for processing. We will improve the collection of, and move fully to single-stream recycling. Finally, this project would also push initiatives to further recycle and reuse construction and demolition material, reducing the amount of demolition material landfilled in Hubbard County each year.”
The first phase of the project will be installing a 20 hp auger compactor with necessary containers at the north transfer station. Holte said this compactor would be used to collect single-sort recyclables from the transfer station so they can be directly transported to the Polk County Material Recovery Facility for processing.
The second phase of the project will be expanding the commercial recycling program in Hubbard County by purchasing dumpsters to provide businesses with single-sort recycling. Most large businesses are currently set up with smaller, dual stream containers, Holte explained.
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The third phase is acquiring “a series of roll-off containers to be able to separate and store recycled and reusable demolition materials at our transfer stations and demolition landfill facilities,” Holte said. “Recycled material would then be placed in a designated reuse area for residents.”
Holte told the county board he hopes to make the purchases over the winter, but there is infrastructure to build at the transfer station next spring.
“It was a competitive grant, so it’s nice to be able to receive that from the state,” he said. “Collectively, these projects will lead to greater efficiencies that will reduce transportation costs, handling of materials, reduce emissions, and better our recycling system within Hubbard County as we strive to increase our overall recycling goals."
In other business, the county board did as follows at their Oct. 20 meeting:
Approved the low quote of $14,369 from National Drilling Service and Exploration, LLC, Pequot Lakes for installation of a monitoring well at the Hubbard County south demolition landfill.
Reviewed the results of the Oct. 9 tax-forfeited land sale. Land Commissioner Chip Lohmeier informed them that three of 11 parcels were sold to adjoining landowners, for a total amount of $7,200.
Approved these quotes for board room modifications to allow for social distancing, with payment to be made from CARES Act funding: $5,477 from Haataja Contracting, Inc., Menahga, (Category 1 – Carpentry); $22,333 from Rick’s Miran Creek Furniture, Browerville, MN (Category 2 – Casework); $2,973 from Arnquist Carpet Plus Color Tile, Alexandria, (Category 3 – Carpet); and $6,300 from Lee Davis Electric, Inc., Park Rapids, (Category 4 – Electrical). The motion passed 4-1, with county commissioner Ted Van Kempen opposed. Van Kempen commented that the cost seemed high.
Accepted quotes to install a Global Plasma Solutions bipolar ionization system in the courthouse ($33,299), county public works building ($4,371) and law enforcement center ($60,702) for the purposes of air purification and pathogen mitigation. The motion passed, contingent upon learning what the ongoing maintenance costs may be. Payment will be made from CARES Act funding.
Approved final payment of $4,988 to Bemidji Bituminous, Inc. for projects in Farris Park and Farden Township 500th St.
