HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 01/28/2008• MINUTES OF THE
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Parkers Prairie Community Center
Parkers Prairie, MN
Monday, January 28, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Following public notice, a special meeting of the Otter Tail County Commission
was held in Parkers Prairie. MN on January 28, 2008. This special meeting was
held in conjunction with the county boards of Wadena and Todd and the City of
Perham. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss governance and potential
expansion of the Perham Resource Recovery facility.
Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened Monday, January 28,
2008, at 9:30 a.m. at the Parkers Prairie Community Center with Commissioners
Roger Froemming, Dennis Mosher, Syd Nelson, and Everett Erickson presenl,0
Commissioner Bob Block being absent.
• The following were discussion points:
• Bongard's steam purchase agreement expires in February, 2009.
• Ownership of the facility should be resolved before expansion decisions.
• The final application for state grant funding for expansion is due March
31, 2008. It might be possible to extend this for 1-3 months.
• Possibilities may exist to bring in Becker and Cass Counties.
• MCIT provided an insurance coverage comparison between the insurer
that Perham uses and what the MCIT could provide.
Reference was made to a letter from the city of Perham outlining the conditions
under which transfer of ownership could go to a Joint Powers Board. Of issue is
the potential liability for events occurring prior to such a transfer. The City wishes
to be held harmless for such events. There potentially is insurance coverage for
this situation. Who would pay for the coverage is undetermined.
The question was posed asking Perham if they desired to be a voting member on
the Joint Powers Board. The City indicated that under the right conditions they
may be interested.
Transfer of the existing 8.9 million of debt from the City of Perham to a Joint
Powers Board is possible. Interest rates are currently very low. The debt
• transfer would be easier if expansion of the facility was occurring. Fifteen
percent of the bonding dollars would have to be set aside for some type of •
expansion activities.
The primary focus should be moving ahead with a Joint Powers Agreement
which can be modified as issues and needs arise.
Expansion of the plant requires more solid waste which may or may not be
available. The question was asked if Otter Tail County would commit all of it's
solid waste to the Perham facility? Even with all of Otter Tail's solid waste an
expanded facility would require additional waste from new partner(s).
Steps that need to be accomplished:
• Development of a Joint Powers Agreement -Solid Waste Directors
• Grant extension application -City of Perham
• Update Engineering study -City of Perham
• Contact other counties (partners) -Mike Hanan.
It was stated that if Otter Tail County is not willing to take the lead this project will
probably not come to be.
The meeting adjourned at 11 :40 a.m.
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