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Sherburne County to solicit contractor for municipal yard-waste sites after Big Lake compost fire; Elk River faces separate fee structure
Summary
Following a recent fire at the Big Lake yard-waste drop-off site, Sherburne County will solicit RFQs to centralize contracting for municipal yard-waste sites (Zimmerman, Big Lake, Becker) to ensure consistent operations and that material goes to the permitted SSO compost facility (Vanco 2). Elk River elected to leave the SCORE agreement and will have a separate annual fee structure.
Sherburne County staff recommended the county begin soliciting requests for quotes to contract and manage services at municipal yard-waste drop-off sites in Zimmerman, Big Lake and Becker after a fire at the Big Lake site highlighted operational risks.
Staff told commissioners that county SCORE grant language requires yard-waste material be taken to the county’s only permitted source-separated organics (SSO) compost operation (identified in the packet as Vanco 2). By managing contracting centrally, staff said the county can establish uniform operational standards, improve state reporting, and help ensure material is routed to the permitted compost facility.
Panel discussion focused on access controls, commercial versus residential inputs and cost. Staff said access cards will be reset Jan. 1 and limited to two cards per household to curb distribution; municipalities will be provided reset services. The city of Elk River has chosen to stop participating in the SCORE-funded arrangement because it cannot separate commercial from residential loads; Elk River residents will face an annual access fee (staff cited $25) and contractors will face a higher annual fee plus per-drop charges. Zimmerman, Becker and Big Lake sites will continue to receive SCORE funding to offset residential operational costs.
Commissioner Danielewski moved to approve solicitation for RFQs to serve the municipal yard-waste drop-off locations for the three cooperating cities; the motion carried.
