Adams County solid-waste staff report operational catch-up as DNR approves alternative financial test

Adams County solid‑waste staff reported operational progress, equipment repairs and steps to expand recycling revenue at a Feb. 11 meeting of the Adams County Solid Waste Committee. Committee members were told the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved the county’s submission to use an alternative net‑worth test to meet owner financial‑responsibility requirements.

The approval from the DNR, staff said, means the county avoided taking a letter of credit that staff said would have cost roughly $40,000 a year; the alternative test cost an estimated $5,000–$8,000. Kyle, a committee staff member who prepared the submission, said the DNR called Adams County’s package “one of the best submissions that they had” and notified the county on Feb. 7 that the alternative test was approved.

The DNR issue grew out of updated closure and long‑term care estimates tied to landfill expansion. Kyle told the committee the county’s updated plan of operations, completed in 2023, showed higher long‑term care and closure costs after adding Cell 5 and planning Cell 6, and those estimates caused the county’s escrow and certificate‑of‑deposit balances to fall short of DNR requirements. The alternative test and an auditor’s agreed‑upon procedures statement were submitted to meet the agency’s requirements.

Operations staff reported several near‑term equipment and site updates. Ruben, a solid‑waste staff member who led the site report, said a tanker truck will be shipped at month’s end for a modification that adds a vent pipe and internal baffles to reduce leachate splashing. He also said the tarp remains under discussion and is not a current high priority while staff finalize annual reports for the DNR with consultant Tetra Tech.

Nate Kloski, a landfill maintenance staff member, said many vehicles arrived with warning lights and that most engine‑warning issues have been repaired, many under warranty. He said, “to the best of my knowledge, there are only two now that have an engine light on,” and described repairs including injector replacements and work to correct premature wear caused by inconsistent maintenance prior to his return.

Staff said they are returning to higher‑quality parts after previously buying lower‑rated filters through general retail channels. Ruben said the county is transitioning back to appropriately rated Baldwin‑style filters to reduce equipment failures and repair costs.

Recycling and material‑handling updates included catch‑up work on stored refrigerators and tires. Ruben said crews cleared large backlogs of refrigerators and rims and reported revenue from the first clean load of rims: a ticket showed $1,203.40 received. Staff also described a refrigerant exchange arrangement: larger leased cylinders and an exchange program that staff expect will break even initially and become profitable as collections grow. Kyle said R‑22 refrigerant will be the most valuable stream and that a full profitable cycle may not occur until roughly spring of next year.

On staffing, Ruben said 37 applicants applied for the scale‑clerk position; a candidate pool has been selected for interview scheduling. On the county’s Clean Sweep hazardous‑waste event, Ruben said an application to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection was not submitted by the May 24, 2024 deadline; staff are monitoring the next application window in April and pursuing alternative funding partners to support a 2025 event.

Consultant Tetra Tech continues to assist the county with updated reports to the DNR and planning for the landfill’s vertical expansion, staff said. Kyle said Tetra Tech provided documentation that helped the county reassemble missing records and GPS files and that the firm has been in frequent contact about Cell 5 and future expansion work.

Committee discussion included requests for clarification on the draft memo timeline; staff corrected an apparent date typo in the Tetra Tech memo (said to be 2025, not 2024). Ruben also said a report regarding an overfill on Cell 5 was sent to a contact, Colin Moss, for review. Committee members had no additional actions or motions tied to the operational items.

Votes at a glance

- Approved agenda: Motion by Supervisor Bork; seconded by Supervisor Gubarski; outcome passed (voice vote). - Approved minutes from Jan. 14, 2025: Motion by Supervisor Bork; seconded by Supervisor Carlson; outcome passed (voice vote).

The committee set its next meeting for March 11, 2025, and adjourned at about 4:30 p.m.