The Huron City Commission on Oct. 20 authorized the mayor to sign a renewal application that combines the city’s municipal solid waste transfer station, its composting site and scattered construction-and-demolition (C&D) areas under one permit, solid waste superintendent Dale Fortin told the commission.

The renewal, Fortin said, was submitted as an amendment/renewal rather than a new permit because the facilities are already in use under separate approvals. “We’re combining the 2 sites,” Fortin said. “So before we open the transfer station, we applied for, amendment to the other 1. And now we’re asking to, combine it all under 1 contract.” He said the state has reviewed the submittal and that the renewal, if finalized as written, will run five years.

Why it matters: Consolidating permits would roll multiple previously separate C&D and transfer operations into a single, updated authorization — which the city says should simplify record-keeping and operation. The city will rely on the state permitting authority for final certification, Fortin and commissioners noted.

Commission discussion and operational details
Commissioners asked staff to clarify what the consolidation covers and how the public will use the new transfer station. Fortin explained the consolidated permit covers the transfer station, a composting area and a new C&D area that had previously been permitted under different numbers. “That includes our composting site, the new c and d area that we're actually operating that used to be under another number,” he said.

Fortin described operational changes now under way: a driver-license kiosk that will read a user’s address when they enter, a scale and software update, functioning cameras, and “QR code” contractor accounts so contractors can be billed to city accounts rather than using debit cards on site. “When you pull up to the kiosk, you'll put your driver's license in. It'll actually read the address off of the driver's license. And there it'll allow you to come in and out of that facility,” Fortin said, describing an initial limit of one free visit per week for residents and a separate fee structure for contractors using the facility outside staff hours.

He said staff are still finalizing fee amounts for drop-off and recycling and expect a phased rollout, likely stretching into the spring for full functionality. Fortin said the exit arm currently raises on exit, but the entry programming and account data are still being completed; cameras and fiber-optic connectivity issues were recently fixed so staff can begin using the scale and accounts.

Recycling and contamination concerns
Fortin said the city has received new recycling bins but will delay placing them until the kiosk and other systems are functional. He cautioned that state municipal solid waste rules require supervision and that uncontrolled drop-off risks contamination (for example, prohibited items such as paints). “The state mandates with the municipal solid waste, it has to be confined and and we have to be there to handle that,” Fortin told the commission.

Roll-call vote and related votes
Commissioners voted to authorize the mayor to sign the renewal application following questions and discussion. The roll-call for that item recorded the following votes: Commissioner Smith — yes; Commissioner Plude — yes; Commissioner Greg — yes; Commissioner Harvey — yes; Mayor Mary Robich — yes. The motion passed.

Votes at a glance: agenda and consent items
The commission also approved the evening’s amended agenda and the consent agenda (which included minutes, raffle approval for medical expenses, alcoholic beverage license items, a public hearing date for alcoholic beverage renewals, personnel confirmations and payment of bills). Those motions were approved by voice/roll-call during the meeting; the transcript records the motions as approved but does not provide a complete named tally for those two votes.

What happens next
Fortin said the city has submitted required documents (tonnage records, groundwater and other technical material) to state reviewers and will proceed with the single permit structure if the state signs off. Staff plan to begin using the updated scale program once the software is fully uploaded and to open the gate and kiosk functions in phases while finalizing fee schedules for recycling and contractor use.

Commissioners and staff said they will notify the public about hours, fees and any changes to service as the systems come online.