Director says ECSWC has one final chance to prove its worth
Posted 5/4/01

By ERIC FREEMAN
Mille Lacs County Times

Some important jobs require the leadership of a visionary to clearly see and meet the challenges that must be overcome to accomplish the work.

The challenges, past and present, of the East Central Solid Waste Commission (ECSWC) are well documented.

It seems the ECSWC may have found its visionary in the commissionís current director, Allen Bonini.

Bonini, formerly from the Chicago area, a man who led the way in a joint powers commission involving 30 municipalities before coming to the ECSWC just over a year ago, addressed the Mille Lacs County Commissioners Tuesday, April 24 with the purpose of bringing his vision to the county board.

"I came to the ECSWC because I was attracted to the challenges that face the commission and the opportunities and potential that are here," said Bonini as he began his presentation.

Bonini noted that the commission has, in his opinion, a strong asset base.

He outlined the important financial issues facing the commission, noting that the ECSWC was currently in the process of paying down two separate bond issues totaling approximately $9.6 million. with a shared annual debt service of $1.7 million. The debt service is shared by the five counties that make up the commission.

Bonini reported on the current success of a reserve fund that was created for the 2001 budget.

"The reserve fund is receiving approximately $24,000 per month which will make it possible to pick up two extra payments this year. The result is that a total of $385,000 will be freed up to divide among the counties. Mille Lacs Countyís 17% share of this money will be just over $65,000.

Bonini briefly reminded the commissioners of the failure of the proposed solid waste management fee in 2000. He made the case that without a fresh, competitive and business-like approach to the handling of solid waste the commission would continue to fall behind and very likely find itself in the position of disbanding due to lack of public support when the automatic dissolution clause comes into effect in 2007.

"The ECSWC has one more chance to prove itself to be an asset to the counties it serves," said Bonini. "I see it as one of my top priorities to see to it that the ECSWC proves its worth and value to the public.

"I believe that if the commission can keep its focus, come together in a vision and strategic plan for the commissionís future that we can prove the commissionís value and demonstrate the importance of renewing it in 2007," said Bonini.

Bonini spoke extensively of the need for a strategic plan that would take a hard look at the history of the commission and the solid waste facility.

He explained that any strategic plan has to incorporate plans to make the current facility a profitable enterprise and that a clear and meaningful reevaluation of the current situation is an absolute must in order for the facility and commission to have a realistic chance of survival in the coming years.

"Itís been my experience that composting just doesnít work," said Bonini. "Garbage is a commodity. The market has changed since the time the composting facility was built, and Iím willing to go toe to toe with the state to make them prove to us that its mandate for composting is still a valid mandate.

"We must compete and we must be allowed to compete," he said.

"The environment is important, but the processes for handling our solid waste must also be cost effective."

Bonini spoke of plans to begin again with the formation of a strategic plan that would include input from the counties involved in the commission, the waste haulers and those in the vicinity of the solid waste facility.

Boniniís hope is that such a plan could be in place in the next 18 months.

"We have spent a year fixing ourselves internally," he said. "We have made good progress in several areas."

Bonini went on to explain that the ECSWC was working to internalize the operation of the facility and landfill in Mora.

The plan is to hire two heavy equipment operators who would be directlyresponsible to the ECSWC rather than hiring outside companies to be in charge of the day to day operation.

"We were finding that we would tell the operator we wanted something done and weíd get the answer that ëWell, thatís not my job,í" Bonini said.

"By hiring the employees to do the work, we gain control over the process and the labor."

Bonini wrapped up his presentation with a series of questions.

"We have some basic questions to answer," he said. "Itís important to decide whether the counties are going to be committed to renewing the ECSWC agreements after the 2007 dissolution clause becomes a possibility. If the answer is no, then the strategic plan must focus on the dissolution of the commission. If the answer is yes, weíll commit to making this work, then the questions include How can we compete? What will be the role of the commission? Do we continue to attempt a recycling, composting operation or do we move strictly toward landfill, which has potential to make a profit?"

Another issue affecting the direction the commission will take is whether or not Mille Lacs County would reverse its intent to withdraw from the ECSWC.

"We need closure on this withdrawal request," said Bonini. "The outcome of that decision will certainly affect the direction taken in a strategic plan."

Bonini finished his presentation stating that the issue of Mille Lacs Countyís withdrawal request would be taken up at the May 14 meeting of the commission.