Trash debate overheats

Riverdale residents go beyond intended topic to share concerns

By Bob Williams | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, June 1, 2007

What started out as a public meeting on the permit application for the transfer station turned into a heated debate by local residents opposed to its lcoation near the airport on Highway 210.

Residents of the Riverdale addition voiced vehement concerns ranging from increased truck traffic in the vicinity because of the ethanol plant and the transfer station, to a water bath for the tires of trucks exiting the station and water and sewer being run out to the area.

“It seems like to us that this is a power play by the county to bring water out there,” said Sheila Rodning.

“Before there was any thought of a transfer station, the city had plans for sewer and water out to the airport,” said City Engineer Dan Edwards. “Development does help drive the water infrastructure and it helps pay the cost of it.”

“You’re almost using us to pay for water and sewer to put something in because you want water and sewer there,” Barb Johnson said. “You’re using the people who are opposed to it to get water out there.”

“I don’t see it that way,” said Edwards. “The city and county see it as coordinating and accelerating our plans when we want to go to the airport when there’s a benefit to the city. If we can work with the county and have it done sooner and share the cost, it’s a benefit to us and residents.”

Many residents seemed exasperated over the location of the station, while some were concerned about dissent in their own community more than specifics about the permit.

“I know there are a lot of regulations, but who cares about regulations when it’s sitting in our backyard?” Joel Lunde said.

“This breaks my heart because it pits neighbor against neighbor,” Rodning said.

Kathy Holland-Hanson, an engineer at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) office in Detroit Lakes, along with Otter Tail County Solid Waste Director Mike Hanan began the meeting with a summary of the MPCA permitting process and modifications made to the initial transfer station designs.

Both made note when discussing the purpose of the meeting that the station’s location was not an issue to be covered because the location of the station is a township issue.

“You seem to want to limit discussion or exclude discussion about location, but I want to emphasize people have rights to comment,” said Attorney Tim Lundquist, legal representation of some citizens in attendance. “I feel certain some entities have limited areas of discussion, such as socio-economic concerns that you do not have authority to limit.”

The meeting went back and forth as did some of the citizens speaking on whether or not they should be talking about the site plans, but rising emotions steered the conversation far away from what officials intended. Arguments were had about the city council’s February resolution opposing the county’s choice for the site.

“What about the proposal the city has put through?” Roger Albertson said.

“The city has not put forth a proposal,” said Hanson. “The city does not have any regulatory authority over the site — the township does.”

“From the county’s point of view, the city found us this site, so we’re not interested in finding another site,” said Otter Tail County Attorney David Hauser.

“It doesn’t seem prudent to go somewhere else,” Hanan said.

The draft permit and application were placed on pubic notice May 11 and will be available for 30 days. In that time, citizens have the right to comment on the permit and must do so in writing according to statute.

Individuals with comments or inquiries should contact Kathy Holland-Hanson at (218) 846-0470, but will need to do so in writing. She can be contacted via e-mail at kathy.holland-hanson@pca.state.mn.us