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Barron County approves purchase of industrial shredder and material handler, authorizes loan application
Summary
The Barron County Board authorized purchasing a Comtech industrial shredder and Caterpillar material handler to expand waste-to-energy processing, and approved the county clerk signing a $1.5 million loan application to help finance the purchase. Supporters cited new revenue streams and landfill diversion; the purchase passed by a two-thirds vote 28-0.
The Barron County Board of Supervisors on July 22 authorized the county’s Waste-to-Energy operation to buy a Comtech industrial shredder and a Caterpillar material handler and directed the county clerk to submit a municipal loan application for $1.5 million to support the acquisition.
Brent, a Waste-to-Energy representative, told the board the county had identified a waste stream — paper rolls and bulky items — that can be shredded and used as fuel at the plant. He said crews tested shredding about 6,000 pounds of paper rolls at another facility and found the shredded material to be an efficient fuel. "Paper has very little ash to it. It burns very well," Brent said, describing the trial run and its fuel value.
Brent and staff framed the purchase as fiscally prudent: a 5-year contract for approximately 3,800 tons per year at $90 per ton would generate roughly $342,000 in revenue, offsetting operating costs. Brent estimated maintenance for the shredder’s wearing parts at about $30,000 a year and projected the combined changes could produce "over a hundred thousand dollars of additional revenue" for the plant after expenses.
Supervisor Cook pressed staff on operating and maintenance costs; Brent replied the manufacturer estimate for maintenance was about $30,000 annually and that the county planned to stock replacement teeth and combs and perform some rebuild work in-house. On capacity, Brent said an acid gas removal system previously approved would raise capacity to 150 tons per day and that shredding bulky waste would let the plant accept more material without major process changes. He warned permit limits and a plan-of-operations update with the DNR will determine exact shredding percentages.
The board approved the capital purchase by the required two-thirds majority (28-0). Separately, the board authorized the county clerk to sign a municipal general obligation loan application for $1.5 million tied to the project; County Administrator Jeff said the 6% rate on the state trust fund loan was currently locked but could be refinanced or prepaid if rates fall. That authorization passed 28-0; final borrowing will require a future three-quarter vote.
The vote advances a project the county argues will divert bulky waste from landfills, add fuel supply for the waste-to-energy plant and reduce some external disposal costs. The next steps include completing contract execution related to the new waste stream, finalizing loan terms, and updating permit documentation with the Wisconsin DNR for any changes in shredding operations.
