Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brown County Landfill Supervisor Peter Londgren stands in front of a new landfill cell being filled with waste Tuesday afternoon. Underneath the waste are drainage layers rock, plastic and clay.

NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved an $89,272 quote Tuesday to remove bridge debris due to excessive rain that caused many trees to wash into the Cottonwood River in June and early July.

Some of the trees snagged on bridges on County State Aid Highways (CSAH) 10, 11 and 13. Quote requests to remove debris were sent to eight contractors. One response was received, from River Ridge Construction.

Brown County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens said some contractors believe removing bridge debris is too risky to allow people to do.

“This won’t be the end of it. There are lots of trees in the water,” Commissioner Dennis Potter said.

Stevens said the debris is hauled to a county gravel pit and burned.

Debris removal is part of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursement request. The estimate submitted to FEMA for the debris removal was $85,000. The contractor will not guarantee debris removal by the end of the year, as required.

The Brown County Highway Dept. recommended accepting the quote that includes $9,096 for CSAH 10, $33,091 for CSAH 11 and $47,085 for CSAH 13.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• Setting a public hearing date to consider continuing the Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation. The Brown County Highway Dept. suggests holding the hearing at 11a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Commissioners reviewed and approved the Ten Year Road & Bridge Construction Program Sept. 4. Changes to the previous program were made based on current construction costs, bond payments, estimated State Aid, Wheelage Tax, a $125,000 local construction levy and continuing the Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation.

Projects to consider for the sales tax continuation as listed in the 10-year plan are:

• CSAH 13 from New Ulm to Hanska in 2021, $3,700,000.

• CSAH 20 from CSAH 13 to TH 15 in 2022, $1,050,000.

• CSAH 20 from CSAH 16 to TH 4 in 2023, $2,100,000

• CSAH 27 from TH 14 to CSAH 11 in 2026, $2,100,000.

Estimates are based on current construction costs with inflation added to future years. Estimates are updates annually.

• A 1.5% rate adjusted to the current Riverview Sanitation (Braun & Borth Sanitation is owned by Riverview Sanitation) recycling contract in the total amount of $389,610 in 2019 and a 1.5% increase in 2020 to $395,454 as recommended by the Brown County Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

The projected fee amount is based on the number of residential units in Brown County rural and incorporated areas. Rural residents are charged at one unit per household for drop-off service. City residents are charged at two units per household for curbside, pickup service.

Brent Kucera of Riverview Sanitation said the rate hike results from recycled material prices that have fallen greatly. In addition, he said the firm is investing in a transfer station compactor to decrease costs.

• Reviewed and approved proposed revisions to the Mathiowetz Enterprises Inc. contract to operate the Brown County Landfill for three years including the self-hauler, credit card payment option.

The Solid Waste Advisory Committee met with Mathiowetz Enterprises Sept. 4 and Oct. 23. Cost increases of 1.9% for each year were due to increased costs for personnel, parts, equipment and health insurance.

In addition, a credit/debit card payment service has been asked to be added at the landfill with 85 to 90% of self-haulers asking for the credit card option to pay tipping fees. A $700 per year fee for credit/debit card payment was added to improve service to the public.

Brown County will reimburse the contractor any time diesel fuel prices rise above yearly, designated prices. The contractor will submit fuel invoices quarterly to the county for payment and reimburse the county if fuel prices fall below designated minimum prices.

Minimum and maximum prices are $2.36 to $3.16 in 2019; $2.38 to $3.18 in 2020; and $2.40 to $3.20 in 2021.

• Raising the Brown County Landfill tripping fee from $19.25 to $22.25 per cubic yard with a condition that a scale be installed within 48 months as recommended by the Brown County Solid Waste Commission.

The hike is due to pending expenses including additional leachate testing, hauling to the New Ulm Waste Water Treatment Plant, consulting and Demonstration Research Project Implementation costs. In addition, the fee funds landfill expansion, maintenance and the landfill closure and post-closure costs required by the State of Minnesota.

The tipping fee is estimated to be $55.63 a ton. Surrounding landfill tipping fees range from $45 to $70 a ton.

• Authorizing Landfill Trust Fund interest to be placed in the Landfill Operating Fund. The account helps operate the landfill, build new cells and fund the solid waste program. The Trust Fund fee, now $.50 per cubic yard, is fully funded with a balance of $2,925,536.57.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.