The City of Albert Lea’s solid waste management fund continues to lose money, and as a result $100,000 is being transferred from the general fund to cover the deficit.

Tuesday, April 09, 2002

The City of Albert Lea’s solid waste management fund continues to lose money, and as a result $100,000 is being transferred from the general fund to cover the deficit.

The waste management fund covers the costs of operating the city’s solid waste transfer station, a demolition landfill and testing wells at North Edgewater.

According to City Manager Paul Sparks, the transfer station has always been a money-losing proposition for the city, although this is the first time that the general fund has been tapped to cover any shortages. Before now, deficits were covered by the cash balance left after the closure of the city’s main landfill.

Among the items accepted at the transfer station are organic waste, including leaves, tree branches and shrubs; tires; demolition debris; appliances; waste oil; and household refuse. The city charges fees for most of the items handled by the transfer station, with Christmas trees, leaves, waste oil and recyclables taken for free. The fees vary according to the type and quantity of waste, and the amount is set at the time of drop-off.

The history of the operation suggests that even with fees, the facility will never become profitable, Sparks said. City officials believe that transfers from the general fund will be necessary every two to three years to keep the solid waste management fund solvent. But even though it’s not a self-supporting operation, Sparks sees the transfer station as an asset for the community.

&uot;It’s a public service that fills a need in the community,&uot; said Sparks. He does not advocate abandoning it. While it’s possible the service could be taken over by a private contractor, without the potential for profit, there’s no incentive for a business to take it on, he said.

&uot;At some point we may have to consider a levy,&uot; Sparks said. At this point, however, the city’s authority to levy the whole area served by the transfer station is somewhat limited.

That might change if the city and Freeborn County work out an arrangement providing funding for solid waste transfer together. State regulations actually make counties ultimately responsible for the disposal of solid waste, Sparks said.

One incentive for the county to cooperate with the city is that the transfer station probably keeps that waste material out of area ditches and lakes. Without the transfer station as an option, citizens might not flinch at dumping appliances and other items where they don’t belong, whether it’s legal or not, Sparks said.