- I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Board of Directors of the Waste Reduction District of
- Monroe County for July 9th, 2026. Mr. Glasson, would you please call the roll? Piedmont Smith? Thomas?
- Here. Wilkes? Here. Jones? Ellis? Here. Thompson? Here. Madhu? You have a quorum. Excellent. No members
- present online currently.
- First order of business is approving the minutes for May 14th. Can I get a motion for that? I move approval
- of the minutes as presented. Can I have a second? Second. Excellent. So we have a motion and a second
- to approve the minutes. Any comments or questions? All right. Can we do a roll call vote on that? Thomas?
- Yes. Elvis? Yes. Madeira? Yes. Thompson? Yes.
- Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Excellent. It should be okay. Just move it closer to you, Tom, and you
- should be fine. Awesome. Let me know if that doesn't improve. Yeah. Yeah. TSC can change out the mic
- or something if we need to.
- All right, so the next item of business is we're going to ratify the hiring of our new controller.
- So Mr. Glasson, I'd like to shoot that one to you. Yeah, that's not working. So maybe you take this
- one here, this short one, or switch it out with the one. Well, that's not ideal because we've got to
- hurry through this meeting.
- Okay. We've got another mic here. Is that one working better? There we go. There we go. We're good.
- Page seven of the packet. If you recall the May board meeting due to some time constraints with Ms.
- Gowin's departure date, the board did delegate the authority to make an offer of the controller position
- to Chairperson Piedmont-Smith.
- Interviews, you know, were conducted with the full executive committee. And after those rounds, two
- rounds of interviews, Ms. Piedmont-Smith did offer the position to Mr. John Arnold, who is sitting here
- with me. He did accept the position and has been with us for a few weeks now, working under Ms. Goin's
- tutelage. And we are asking the board as a whole to ratify that hiring decision.
- I make a motion to ratify the decision to hire the new controller, John Arnold. Second. And before we
- vote, I would just like to say I've worked with John before, so I'm pleasantly surprised to see him
- as part of this. Wonderful. So we need a roll call vote on that, I would guess. With all members present
- in the room, I do not believe a roll call vote is necessary. A voice vote would suffice.
- And that's, we can do, we can vote aye or nay. So all in favor of ratifying the hiring of the new controller,
- say aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed say nay. That ratification is unanimously approved. Congratulations,
- welcome aboard. Next item in the business is the controller's report.
- First of all, I want to thank you all for offering the position to me, and I'm excited to be here. For
- the May 2026 cash bounces, see the June 26 board packet. The May meeting was canceled. The cash flow
- summary memo is on page eight of your board packet. The cash flow summaries were emailed on Wednesday.
- So here are the balances as of June 30th. Operating $5,452,474.37, debt service $153,301.76,
- capital $46,228.50, and the landfill post closure was
- $831,755.99. And the cash flow summaries are in the Wednesday email. Does anyone have any questions
- about this? I do not. Does anyone else? Excellent. Can we get a motion on the table for the approval
- of payroll and claims? Excellent.
- Since there are no questions here, we can go to the public. Is there any member? He didn't go over payroll
- and claims yet. I'm sorry. I'm jumping ahead of myself. We need to get out of here, so I'm jumping ahead
- of on the agenda as well. Nail, the next item on the agenda is moving forward to payroll and claims.
- So back to you.
- On page 11 of the packet, you have a summary of the pre-approved payroll and claims since our last meeting
- in the amount of $422,205.16. And the backup for those are on pages 12 through 81. The payroll
- was $206,735.29. Documentation was included in the Wednesday email.
- That brings a total of all payroll and claims that we are recommending for approval at $628,940.45.
- And are there any questions regarding these claims? Any questions? All right. Looks like the board members
- have no questions about payroll and claims. Now, I believe we shoot this to the public as well.
- There are no members of the public present in the NatU Hill Room that I can see. Online have any questions?
- Seeing no hands, we can come back. Since there's no comments or questions, Mr. Blassen, can you call
- a roll call vote to approve payroll and claims? Ellis? Yes. Thompson? Yes.
- Thomas? Yes. Wilts? Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Excellent. Thank you so much. The next item on our
- agenda is item five, resolution 2026-07 to amend the district fee resolution.
- Yeah, this is strictly on for introductory purposes. By rule, we have to introduce a resolution to adjust
- fees and allow, I think, a minimum of 14 days for public review before we hold a public hearing before the board
- board votes on it. Historically, when we have done this, we presented at one meeting and then hold the
- public hearing followed by the vote at the following meeting. So that would be the plan again for this
- one and bring it back in August for a vote. Just to summarize, what you see in there is specific to
- our household hazardous waste department.
- has to do really with two items that we're seeing more of that have a substantial cost to the district.
- That would be lithium ion batteries, those that are in excess of 300 watt hours, as well as damaged,
- defective, and recalled lithium ion batteries. And part of this has to do with I think where
- The system hasn't really caught up with where we are. With the prevalence of scooters and e-bikes and
- so forth, those batteries in excess of 300 watt hours are more prevalent now and more accessible to
- the average consumer. We are beginning to see some of those come through our facilities.
- And then when it comes to the damaged, defective, and recalled ones, size really doesn't matter. The
- damaged ones are the ones that present a hazard. That's the cause when you see about a semi-truck catching
- on fire on I-70 east of Indianapolis. So there's a safety concern for our employees as well as our vendors
- and the drivers that are transporting those. Because of that, there's some additional
- requirements for packaging those materials that are costly. And on the back end, the cost for us to
- get those properly managed by the vendor can be substantial. Mr. Long can correct me if I am wrong,
- but we currently have
- two EV batteries at our facility that were delivered by the fire department from vehicle accidents that
- we are still trying to find somebody that will take off of our hands. We are probably looking at $2,000
- apiece for those. You will note in the fee resolution for even the next material I am going to describe,
- what we are asking for is that
- The resident bringing that material to us pay for 50% of the district's cost up to a maximum of $500.
- So for those really expensive items, we're still willing to bear the brunt of the cost, but we're seeing
- enough of them now that it is impacting our HHW costs and having a budgetary impact. So you might recall,
- I think at the last meeting we had a
- HHW disposal bill that was about $81,000 I think so it does make an impact and So then the third item
- in there that excuse me that we're seeing are spray foam insulation canisters those are now available
- at some of the do-it-yourself box stores that For people do their own insulation projects But they're
- classified as a compressed cylinder
- by our vendors. They are not an aerosol can, and because of the material that is in them and some of
- the hazards that it can present, that bears a substantial cost to us, I think Mr. Long said. And that
- was a big part of that $81,000 bill. I think we had about 34 of them at $1,400 apiece. So again, we
- are willing to bear the bulk of that cost, but it is getting to the point that
- You know, we would like the public to assist with that if they're going to bring those to us. So that's
- the gist of what's in the requested and the amended fee resolution. Excellent. For T to weigh in on
- that in the August meeting.
- a public hearing held at the August meeting before the board were to vote on the resolution. Yes. Yes.
- Any comments from directors? Questions? I just have a quick question. I'm supportive of recouping costs.
- I am curious if there's any thought that residents may attempt to
- Dispose of these inappropriately given the fees and do we have any data or any ideas for how to encourage
- them to continue to dispose of them through the waste reduction district?
- Well, I mean, for the batteries, the data's out there. The experience is out there. We see on the news
- all the time where these damaged lithium ion batteries are causing fires and, in some cases, explosions.
- So that evidence is definitely out there. The spray foam canisters, for us at least, is a newer commodity
- that we're seeing. There's certainly, I don't know that we have,
- any data or specific events to point to, but I think we can all imagine what happens if a compressed
- cylinder winds up in a packer truck that is collecting garbage. So I think the potential hazard is obvious
- that is there, certainly a concern. And if
- You know, if we can always, you know, reassess, you know, what we're charging, if we start to, you know,
- if our compliance department starts finding these things along the side of the road, which would,
- you know, indicate people aren't willing to pay the expense. And granted, that's, you know, those canisters
- are going to be $500 through us under this, you know, fee resolution. I get it. That's a substantial fee.
- but that's part of the cost of doing a project yourself. You're doing it yourself to save money because
- the contractor, that's the type of cost the contractor is looking at when they need to dispose of materials.
- But if we put this in place and we start to see issues, we can certainly reassess that and consider
- changes to encourage people to bring it to us so that it's managed properly.
- Any other comments, questions? So we will hold the vote on this after public comment in August. Yeah,
- it would be up to the board to decide whether to take it up for a vote after the public hearing at the
- August meeting. Okay, excellent. Thank you very much. Then moving on, we have the 2026 Community Grant
- Program Awards.
- I'm trying to get there. All right. Yeah, so if I guess starting with the memo on page 93 of the packet,
- if you recall at the March meeting,
- I believe the CAC actually recommended that the board reopen the grant program for bids as we'd only
- received one application at the beginning of the year. So staff did do that. And those second round
- of grant applications, I believe, were due May 15th. We received four. They're all in your packet. They've
- been reviewed by the CAC as well as the executive committee.
- They are here for the board's, I guess, consideration. I believe they all all four of them have to do
- with food waste and efforts to remove food waste from the waste stream. And and with that, I would be
- happy to let the board discuss or answer any other questions that I have. I believe
- Uh, we have at least one grant applicant, uh, in attendance online. So that's your questions. Yes. Um,
- okay. So, um, it would be useful to have the remaining fun total and then to have a list of each of
- the four funding amounts that are requested.
- Okay, yeah, I apologize to not put that together and I don't have the numbers off the top of my head,
- but we did review that with the executive committee and the combined total of the four applications
- before you plus the one awarded earlier this year, it came out to right around $17,000 and we had $20,000
- appropriated. I just want to say I'm concerned because really this is one organization.
- for the funding, in essence, but in four different programs. So it's a little different. Any other comments,
- questions? Yeah. Well, I noted that as well, that each of these programs is utilizing in various
- maybe differing ways, the services from one program. That said, the four different applications are
- applying it in different ways in different environments with different audiences and do offer the kind
- of impact I think we are looking to make with these grants.
- Being that it's the first year, I'm hopeful that we will have more diverse applicants perhaps in the
- future. One of the questions I'd be interested in exploring in the future too is distributing information
- about this program out in the community so that we do have more
- Any other comments, questions? Right. Seeing none, do we do a roll call vote on this? We need a motion.
- We need a motion and then I believe it would be permissible, acceptable. The board could take all four
- applications as a group.
- or could vote on them one by one? Excellent. I can see it makes sense to vote on them as a group. I
- have no objections to that. Yes, Councilor Wilt. I have no objections to that. I do have a question
- about the Wonderlab application and the application requesting funds for a student intern.
- I think that the executive committee had asked about perhaps looking more closely into how much of that
- intern's responsibilities relate to this grant project and considering a partial funding of that position.
- Mr. McGlasson, was there an update on that?
- Well, unfortunately, due to lack of forum, the executive committee meeting last week was canceled.
- I did, prior to that, have some individual conversations with some of the members of the executive committee
- and similar concerns were expressed.
- make an attempt to kind of quantify the amount of time and, you know, looked into and the way that the
- program and the applications are worded, you know, the board would have the discretion to award a lesser
- amount than what was requested. I believe in the application, Wonder Lab did indicate that if a lesser
- amount were awarded that they would
- continue the project, just perhaps at a reduced scope. And, you know, I would offer, you know, in my
- review of the description for the intern position, and I'm trying to pull it up, I think they asked
- for $1,250 for the intern. Does that sound right?
- but, you know, would say that probably, you know, 25% of those duties would not be directly related
- to the project outlined in the grant application and perhaps it would be reasonable for the board to
- make, you know, a similar reduction in the dollar amount of the award. I'm curious because what I see
- from Wonder Lab is a $4,500 request for an actual system.
- 1250 is the intern seat. I'm sorry. On page 127 of the packet, they do have an itemized outline. Okay.
- And I guess it was, actually it was 1250 per semester and requesting two semesters. I see it now, thanks.
- So $2,500, so.
- but that would be the board's decision, the board's discretion as to whether or not to make any changes
- to that amount. And you said that it's 80% of what they do is related to this project? It's 75, maybe
- 80% at most, based on my review of the job description. Well, I got my calculator out. That's 1875 for
- the two, instead of 2500.
- be like a $625 reduction in the total amount. I would like to move the award amount by $625 for the
- Wonder Lab application. So that would give us a total of $3,875? Yes, for that application.
- Second. Right. So all in favor of reducing the amount of the wonder lab grant to thirty eight seventy
- five. Say aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion passes unanimously. And I believe other than that we can take
- is there any opposition to taking these grants together with that modification.
- Okay, so we need a motion to approve the Community 2026 Community Grant Program Awards. How about I
- just make a motion to approve the Community Grant Awards for 2026 with the amended amount for Wonderlab
- noted as it appears in our packet.
- Lasset, would you call the roll? Do you have to take public comment on this? I would. Excellent. So
- is there anyone in the NatU Hill Room who would like to offer public comment on the 2026 Community Grant
- Program Awards? Is there anyone online who would like to offer public comment on the 2026 Community
- Grant Program Awards?
- Seeing no public comment, Mr. Glesson, would you call the roll? Wills? Yes. Thompson? Yes. Thomas? Yes.
- Ellis? Yes. Madhu? Motion passes unanimously. Excellent. Thank you so much for that. The next item on
- the agenda is the request for a new appointment to the CAC. Yeah.
- I apologize as I try to get there in the packet. But you'll note included in the packet, you do have
- two different requests for appointment to the CAC. The memo on page 139 summarizing, or I guess identifying
- the applicants. The first is Allison Sears, who is an employee from Rumpke Waste and Recycling, actually
- is present in the room with us today.
- The second is Elizabeth Liz Carter, who is the MS4 coordinator for City of Bloomington utilities.
- And then, you know, would note additionally to that in the memo, with Mr. Arnold being ratified as the
- controller for the district,
- He has indicated he does plan to resign from the CAC. He does not feel it's appropriate for him to hold
- such a position with the district and also serve on the CAC, which would bring the number of members,
- I believe, to four with two being representatives of the waste industry.
- which is the maximum allowable under statute. 50% of the membership is the maximum waste industry
- representation they could have. So just to make the board aware that if Ms. Sears appointed by herself
- would exceed the statutory threshold for waste industry representation. Any questions or comments from
- directors?
- I move that we approve the two appointments together, as indicated, so appointing Alison Sears and Liz
- Carter to the CAC. Do I have a second? Second. With a motion and a second, I would like to take public
- comment on this matter. Anyone in the U-Hill room have any
- comments on these appointments? Seeing none, would anyone online like to offer comments on
- these appointments? With no public comment on these appointments, Mr. Glassen, would you like to call
- the roll? Madera? Yes. Thomas? Yes. Ellis? Yes. Wilts? Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
- I believe the next item is department reports. I would just call to the board's attention that we do
- have the joint meeting with the CAC that was scheduled, advertised at 430 to immediately follow this
- meeting. I think it's okay that we're a little past that, but we have concluded the action items on
- the agenda.
- It would be you know up to the board if they wish to table any of the Subsequent agenda items in order
- to start the joint meeting and before I I guess allow the board to make such a decision I at least do
- want to announce for public information that the district has begun piloting the hefty renew program
- at our south walnut facility and
- That is a program that recycles or accepts for recycling hard-to-recycle plastics, like straws,
- plastic bags, styrofoam egg containers, food containers, things to that effect. In the packet, there
- is a flyer from HEFTE regarding the acceptable materials. Certainly that information is available on
- their website.
- Unfortunately, because it is not an established program in this area, not aware of any local retailers
- that have those bags in the store. So those materials would have to be delivered to the South Walnut
- facility in an actual hefty renew bag. I do know that they are available online through Amazon, the
- Walmart website, and the Target website.
- We are looking if we find other options. We will certainly get those posted to our website, but all
- of that information as well as a link to the Hefty Renew page is on the home page of our website. We're
- certainly excited to pilot this and hope it goes well and appreciate Romkey's cooperation and support
- in letting us do this. Thanks for pursuing this.
- I will just note Amazon does not have the bags right now, but Target Walmart does online. And they also
- have a line of trash bags called Renew that are not orange. So don't get those. It has to be the hefty
- Renew. So confusing. It is an orange bag, unfortunately, like our orange bag and household trash program.
- If this is something that works and we are able to expand it, we will certainly work through the issues
- with the similarity in the bags. But the official bags are an orange bag with white lettering that says
- hefty renew on it. And these go in with the plastic? They will go in with our regular plastics in the
- same container. And we need the bag to survive intact to the sorting facility.
- Great, thank you, thank you, thank you. Please tie them well, secure them tightly so that the tops don't
- come open. They will be compacted in our machine, transported and dumped a couple times before they
- get pulled out of the line to be sent to Hefty for recycling. Okay, awesome, got it. Do we anticipate
- local retailers selling these at some point soon?
- Immediately, I would not suspect so. If this is something that works and Rumpke agrees to let us to
- expand the program to the other sites, at that point, we could probably pursue getting local stores
- to stock the bags. Great. Thank you. I think we also, I mean, if I'm understanding this correctly, that
- people need to specify not just the name we knew, but if someone comes out with a
- you know, a generic brand or a different company that's doing a program that does similar, this is just
- for the hefty brand.
- The hefty renew bags are not currently available on Amazon, but I do know Amazon just does have generic
- orange trash bags that are available to purchase through them. So yes, and staff will be watching to
- make sure that the bags that are brought are the hefty bags with the white lettering that say hefty
- renew on them. Excellent. Thank you so much for that information. It sounds like that project is in the bag.
- Yes, yes, I'll try to trash it. So my fellow directors, are you comfortable tabling the rest of those
- to proceed with the joint meeting? Yes, please. All right. Then I think we're. Yes, we do need we need
- to adjourn this meeting, probably take four to five minute break for TSD to queue up. The joint meeting
- is under a separate team's link, so.
- Well, then to facilitate that, consider this meeting adjourned and then we can proceed with the joint
- meeting. Thank you.