Board agrees to engineering review of Waste Management request, subject to reimbursement

The St. Joseph County Utilities Board authorized an engineering review of a Waste Management proposal to change leachate pretreatment parameters, but conditioned approval on the company reimbursing district costs. Staff (speaker 6) described a JPR scope of work and told the board, "The proposal that I sent you earlier today ... was for $23,000," which he said would not include bench-scale testing that Waste Management may require.

Board members pressed on operational impacts — including possible increased man hours and sludge removal and the need to show regulators that the proposed changes will meet permit requirements — and discussed the district ordinance that allows passing along engineering costs to a requesting party. District Attorney George Lapinios (speaker 9) and others advised that a reimbursement agreement or an email confirming Waste Management’s willingness to pay would be appropriate before the district incurs costs. Staff (speaker 3) moved to approve the services as described "subject to the reimbursement authorization with East Management," and the motion carried on a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Board members asked staff to negotiate terms and to confirm whether bench testing is required by regulators; if bench testing is required, members acknowledged costs could exceed the $23,000 scope. The board instructed staff to seek a reimbursement agreement from Waste Management, or to adjust the rate structure to reflect any long-term changes to treatment operations if reimbursement is not secured.