Gallia, Jackson, Meigs & Vinton Solid Waste Management District

Policy Committee

Phone Conference Meeting

Minutes

11/5/20

 

The Policy Committee of the Gallia, Jackson, Meigs & Vinton Solid Waste Management District met Thursday, November 5, 2020 on a Webinar/Phone Conference at 2:00 p.m.

Call to Order

Chairman, Harold Montgomery, called the meeting to order @ 2:06 p.m.  

1st Roll Call was taken with the following members attending:  Gallia County: Harold Montgomery, Tony Gallagher, John McKean, Terri Walters, Brett Boothe; Jackson County: Roy Hatten Proxy for Randy Evans, Greg Ervin, Tom Woltz; Meigs County: Tim Ihle, Steve Swatzel; Vinton County: Tim Eberts, Janelle McManis, Vicki Maxwell.  Nick Rupert of Rumpke, Jamie Zawila (RRS plan consultant) and Cindy Saltsman were also in attendance.  

 

There being no quorum at opening of the meeting, Jamie Zawila briefly went over the ratification timeline.  By November 16, the public notice needs to be put in the papers and notifications to be sent out for 30-day public comment period.  The draft plan will be posted on the district web page and there will be a hard copy in the office for review for thirty days (December 1, 2020 – January 1, 2021).  If there are any comments they will be noted and on February 4 the Policy Committee will meet again to review those comments and make any changes that need to be made and to also adopt the draft plan to be sent out for ratification.  There is a 90-day period for the ratification process.  The Policy Committee will then meet one more time possibly in June to pass a resolution that the plan was properly ratified.  The plan will then be submitted to OEPA for approval.  The statutory deadline to be submitted to OEPA is September 25.  We are a little ahead of this timeframe and it could possibly be around September that it could be final.  Harold Montgomery asked Jamie what the percentage of each county for ratification was.  Jamie said you must have the majority of the Board of Commissioners, which is three.  The legislative part you have 60% plus the majority of the largest municipalities.  Steve Swatzel asked if the process goes smoothly, what date will the generation fee start.  Jamie said probably around September or October.  The first day of the second month.  If the plan is ratified in June the district will send letters to the collection agencies and two months after that it will go into effect.  It could be as early as August, but we thought it may be around September.  OEPA has it for two months for approval.

Harold then asked for another Roll Call. The 2nd Roll Call was taken with the following members attending:  Gallia County: Harold Montgomery, Tony Gallagher, John McKean, Terri Walters, Brett Boothe; Jackson County: Paul Haller, Roy Hatten Proxy for Randy Evans, Greg Ervin, Tom Woltz; Meigs County: Tim Ihle, Steve Swatzel; Vinton County: Tim Eberts, Janelle McManis, Vicki Maxwell.  

 

Old Business

 

Minutes of 8/6/20 were reviewed. Tony Gallagher made a motion to accept 8/6/20 minutes Terri Walters seconded the motion. All were in favor, motion approved.

 

New Business

Cindy Saltsman read the following public notice that is to be sent out for the thirty-day public comment period:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Establishing Public Comment Period

And Notification of Public Hearing

The Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District (“District”) has prepared a draft solid waste management plan expected to take effect in 2021 as required by Section 3734.54 of the Ohio Revised Code. The District is establishing a 30-day written comment period (December 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021) on the draft solid waste management plan. The 2021 Plan is available for review on the District’s website at http://www.gjmvrecycle.com/ or, at the following location during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.): Gallia, Jackson, Meigs & Vinton Solid Waste Management District offices, 1056 S. New Hampshire Avenue, Wellston, OH 45692

A public hearing on the draft 2021 solid waste management plan will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at:

10:00 am at Gallia, Jackson, Meigs & Vinton Solid Waste Management District offices, 1056 S. New Hampshire Avenue, Wellston, OH 45692

The 2021 Plan is an update to the previously approved solid waste plan. The 2021 Plan establishes a fifteen-year planning period (2021-2036) and includes a budget to finance the plan, a solid waste facility inventory, projections and strategies, facilities and programs to be used, and an analysis of progress made toward achieving state waste reduction goals.

 

The 2021 Plan includes details existing programs including residential/commercial recycling programs, education and outreach programs for target audiences, and industrial strategies. The District demonstrates achieving goals required by the State of Ohio for recycling and waste reduction for residential, commercial and industrial solid wastes. The 2021 Plan complies with State Plan Goal #1: Infrastructure Goal.

 

The 2021 Plan includes a demonstration of access to at least fifteen years of solid waste landfill capacity to meet the solid waste management needs of the District’s residents, businesses, and institutions. The Plan authorizes the Board of Directors to make, publish and enforce rules determined to be necessary for the protection, maintenance and use of facilities, the inspection of out of state waste (if received) and any other rules as permitted by law.

 

The 2021 Plan includes a detailed budget outlining revenues and operational costs for programs. The District currently levies solid waste disposal fees pursuant to ORC Section 3734.57(B) in the amount of $1.00 per ton of solid waste in-district; $2.00 per ton of solid waste out-of-district; and $1.00 per ton of solid waste out-of-state. The 2021 Plan maintains this disposal fee throughout the planning period. The District proposes $0.35 per ton generation fee to be effective upon ratification.

Comments on the 2021 Plan will be accepted for a thirty (30) day period extending from December 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. During this period, anyone may comment on the draft plan by forwarding their comments, in writing, to: Cindy Saltsman, Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District, 1056 S. New Hampshire Avenue, Wellston, OH 45692 or via email to: csaltsman.gjmvrecycles@gmail.com.

 

Cindy then read Resolution 1120-A:

Resolution 1120-A

Resolution Adopting Fee Schedule

of the 2021 Solid Waste Management Plan

Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District

A resolution declaring that the fee schedule presented in the 2021 Solid Waste Management Plan for the Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District has been adopted by the policy committee.

WHEREAS, this Solid Waste Management District Policy Committee is ratifying a $0.35 per ton generation fee scheduled to begin after plan ratification and approval by Ohio EPA in order to support programming through the planning period to meet State Goals;

WHEREAS, this $0.35 per ton generation fee scheduled to become effective January 1, 2022;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Solid Waste Management Policy Committee of the Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District declares the fee schedule for the Gallia Jackson Meigs Vinton Solid Waste Management District to be adopted, and shall cause the 2021 Plan to undergo the public comment period followed by a public hearing before ratification and submittal to the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

Vote was done by Roll Call:  Gallia County: Harold Montgomery, yes; Tony Gallagher, yes; John McKean, yes: Terri Walters, yes; Brett Boothe, yes; Jackson County: Paul Haller, yes; Roy Hatten Proxy for Randy Evans, yes; Greg Ervin, yes; Tom Woltz, yes; Meigs County: Tim Ihle, yes; Steve Swatzel, yes;; Vinton County: Tim Eberts, yes; Janelle McManis, yes; Vicki Maxwell, yes.  After vote was done, Cindy realized that she had counted incorrectly, and we only had 14 members present.  Cindy then called Kevin Aston and Kevin joined the meeting to make our quorum.  Harold asked Kevin if he was comfortable in voting on the resolution. Kevin agreed and voted yes on Resolution 1120-A and also voted to approve the 8/6/20 minutes.

 

Terri Walters made a motion that the GJMV Policy Committee would enact a bylaw that states in the absence of a quorum to conduct official business, participants may submit their vote via original signature via mail to the GJMV office.  Tim Ihle seconded the motion.  Steve Swatzel asked how long you wait to get the ballot.  Cindy asked is this was legal with the Sunshine Laws.  Jamie said you could do it with the Roll Call list with “yes” or “no” by each person and they would by signature approve or not approve.  Janelle McManis stated that with this being a public meeting that has to be advertised and people not being able to listen in it could not be legal because something was done in the mail. Harold and Terri both said that we would still have the meeting for the public to join in all just the vote would be done by mail.  Harold said we could go ahead and take a vote on it and then have it reviewed for the legality of it.  All were in favor except one opposed, Steve Swatzel, but the majority carried the vote.

 

Tony Gallagher wanted to get some information out to the public that the Gallia/Meigs Community Action received a grant for $377,000 to help people with their water bills, utility bills, mortgages and even rentals.  If you have questions, the number to call is: 1-740-367-0214.  Terri Walters stated that the Gallia County Sewer department sent that information out for their delinquent accounts.

Steve Swatzel asked how you replace people on the Policy Committee.  Cindy said we just ask people if they are interested and go from there, as long as they are in the statues required positions.  Steve Swatzel said he would help.

 

 

With a motion by Tim Ihle and a second by Paul Haller, the Policy Committee adjourned at 2:56 p.m.