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By Tom Hintgen

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Hanan assumes new duties under joint agreement

Published 12:00pm Monday, January 4, 2010

Mike Hanan, in his 24th year as head of waste management for Otter Tail County, has new duties as of Jan. 2. This comes about from an agreement whereby Wadena County has contracted with Otter Tail County for solid waste administrative purposes. Hanan thus becomes head of solid waste for Wadena County.

“This agreement takes place with the understanding that assistance to Wadena County will in no way take away from things I need to help get done here in Otter Tail County,” said Hanan on Thursday.

Two other employees of Otter Tail County, in Hanan’s department, also will assist Wadena County. They include Rick Denzel, recycling facilities manager, and Jess Steinbrenner, who works in public information.

Wadena County wishes to place new emphasis on recycling, a main reason why Denzel and Steinbrenner will be involved with new duties, along with Hanan. Otter Tail County, in addition to processing its own recyclables, also performs recycling services for Wilkin County (Breckenridge area), Grant County (Elbow Lake area) and some sections of Traverse County (Wheaton area).

Wadena County will reimburse Otter Tail County $19,500 in 2010 for administrative services. Wadena County also will pay Otter Tail County for use of office equipment.

Otter Tail, Wadena and Todd counties currently haul refuse to the burner at Perham. Those three counties have approved the formation of a Joint Powers Board. A fourth county, Becker (Detroit Lakes area) is replacing Stearns County (St. Cloud area) as a supplier to the refuse burner in Perham. Becker County is close to signing the joint powers agreement.

“After approval of the Joint Powers Board by all four counties, the next step would be to develop by-laws,” said Hanan. “Once that’s completed, ownership of the refuse burner in Perham will shift to the Joint Powers Board, which would include all four counties.”

The agreement between Otter Tail and Wadena counties is seen by Hanan and county board members from both counties as a step in regionalizing solid waste departments into one entity. The combined entity would oversee solid waste and allow the counties to share services, transfer stations and landfills.

Steam heat from the refuse burner is sold to two Perham-based companies, Bongards which is a cheese producer and Tuffy’s, a pet food supplier.

The refuse burner at Perham processes close to 100 tons per day. That total comes from Otter Tail, Wadena and Todd counties. Becker County, which has signed a letter of intent, has not started deliveries as yet to the refuse burner in Perham.

As for Otter Tail County, bulk items such as railway ties and furniture are hauled to the refuse center at Gwinner, N.D., west of Wahpeton.