Great River boasts some of the lowest landfill fees

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

It is highly unlikely the thought of landfill fees cross the minds of residents.

However, if you?re thinking about a landfill bargain, turn to the Great River Regional Waste Authority (GRRWA) in Des Moines County.

The landfill has the lowest prices in the area, according to a price comparison disseminated at the last meeting of the GRRWA board of directors.

Henry County Supervisor Vice Chairman Marc Lindeen, a member of the board, shared the news with his peers during Tuesday?s board of supervisors meeting.

County solid waste from the rural areas and Hillsboro is taken to the GRRWA. The remainder of the county communities, with the exception of Wayland, which uses the SEMCO, has its refuse taken to the Des Moines County Landfill.

GRRWA charges $42.50 per ton for mingled solid waste. The next lowest is the Iowa County Landfill at $45 per ton. Des Moines County charges $51 per ton and Semco $50 per ton.

In the appliance category, GRRWA charges $8 per appliance, Des Moines County is at $10 each and Semco $5 each.

The charge for E-waste (computer monitors, laptops, televisions, etc.) at GRRWA is $5 for a monitor or small television and $15 for a large television. That compares to $7 for a computer monitor at Des Moines County, $15 for all televisions and 25 cents/pound ($5.00 minimum) for other electronics. SEMCO?s fees are $10 for a non-console television/picture tube, $15 for a console television, $5 for a computer monitor, and $10 for a large printer/fax/copier. All other E-waste is free.

Tire fees range from $1.75 to $100 at GRRWA, dependent on the size of the tire. Des Moines County charges from $2.50 to $23 and Semco from $5 to $38.

GRRWA?s charge for brush is $24.50 per ton; Des Moines County is at $24 a ton; and Semco, $50 per ton.

Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss, in his weekly report to the supervisors, said his department?s fiscal 2016 ending balance was $2.7 million. Of that total just over half ($1.38 million) is obligated for current projects, equipment purchases, etc. Hotchkiss said his department?s fiscal 2015 ending balance was $2.4 million.

?I feel we are doing well on our budget,? Hotchkiss said. ?In general, we are running good.?

Most of the county?s summer road projects are nearing completion, the engineer reported.

Those projects include reconstruction of 220th Street; replacement of a bridge on Ash Avenue; grading of two miles of 260th Street; new pavement on a 900-foot stretch of old Highway 34; and rebuilding of a damaged railing east of Lowell on county road J20.

?Overall, I think we are in pretty good shape (with the construction projects),? Hotchkiss said. ?We may be looking at a budget amendment because some of the projects carried over into this fiscal year (2017).?

Last week?s work by the secondary-roads crew included finishing up the 200th Street shoulder pulling project; fixing and installing crossroad pipe on two roads, mowing shoulders of county roads; and hauling resurfacing rock.

Hotchkiss also said he is advertising for a full-time equipment rider. A county equipment operator is retiring Oct. 28.

Supervisors will meet again in regular session Thursday, Aug. 25, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.