BRODHEAD - Entering its second month of having to dip into its capital fund to pay its bills, the Green County Solid Waste Management Board on Monday put Monroe back on the hook to pay its share of operational costs.
It's a counter move featuring the same language in a proposed five-year contract that the city rejected back in January, now putting the issue at an impasse until the city decides whether to enact a board-requested flow-control ordinance.
"It's one or the other," said Randy Thompson, the transfer station's manager. "Otherwise, the other option is (Monroe) can get itself a Dumpster."
He said the county's capital fund is down to approximately $216,000. It is funded by a 5-percent contribution of each month's revenue.
A flow-control ordinance would require commercial garbage to join residential garbage in the county's transfer station. Currently, residential waste is handled by the city but private haulers take care of commercial waste.
Monroe dropped its membership in the station in January, citing in part its concern over unforeseen operational costs. As a result, its tipping fee jumped from $47 to $52 per ton.
It's better than the average of more than $70 per ton once operational costs were factored in, according to City Administrator Phil Rath.
At its March 3 Common Council meeting, the city tabled any decision on flow control until it could do more research, including whether such a move could open the door to legal action by the National Waste & Recycling Association.
As a result, it countered back to the county by saying it "may" agree to flow control, instead of it "shall."
Even if the city comes on board with flow control, the procedural process of a council vote, then a judiciary ordinance review, then a public hearing would delay it until April 21 at the earliest.
Still, Monroe Alderwoman Brooke Bauman, who sits on the county's solid waste board as part of her duties as Monroe Common Council president, said the city's taking a legitimate look at flow control.
"It got a good response from the council, which is an optimistic sign," she said.
When Bauman asked Thompson what the transfer station's break-even point was, relaying a question asked at the March 3 council meeting, Thompson said: "We were near it back when we had (private trash hauler) Viola on board, but we lost 11,000 tons per year when it left."
Viola ended its contract three years ago, becoming Advanced Disposal. The new owners cut back on its use of the station, dumping only New Glarus trash there per a contract agreement, Thompson said.
Meanwhile, another daunting financial hurdle faces the county as the station's wood grinder has more than doubled its life expectancy. A used replacement would cost $250,000, Thompson said, and a new one $750,000.
"That grinder is our priciest thing and our most worn out," said Harvey Mandel, the board's vice-chairman.
Waiting on Monroe also makes the county a prisoner in dealing with Janesville, where the Green County trash is eventually buried.
"They also want a five-year deal," Mandel said, "but only with Monroe can we get back on the solid footing we used to have. We need enough trash coming through here to get the best possible bid from Janesville."
Without it, private haulers who may be under flow control and required to use the transfer station may struggle to avoid price hikes.
"We have private companies doing hauling in the county, and we want everyone to be able to make money while not hurting the business customers," Mandel said.
It's a counter move featuring the same language in a proposed five-year contract that the city rejected back in January, now putting the issue at an impasse until the city decides whether to enact a board-requested flow-control ordinance.
"It's one or the other," said Randy Thompson, the transfer station's manager. "Otherwise, the other option is (Monroe) can get itself a Dumpster."
He said the county's capital fund is down to approximately $216,000. It is funded by a 5-percent contribution of each month's revenue.
A flow-control ordinance would require commercial garbage to join residential garbage in the county's transfer station. Currently, residential waste is handled by the city but private haulers take care of commercial waste.
Monroe dropped its membership in the station in January, citing in part its concern over unforeseen operational costs. As a result, its tipping fee jumped from $47 to $52 per ton.
It's better than the average of more than $70 per ton once operational costs were factored in, according to City Administrator Phil Rath.
At its March 3 Common Council meeting, the city tabled any decision on flow control until it could do more research, including whether such a move could open the door to legal action by the National Waste & Recycling Association.
As a result, it countered back to the county by saying it "may" agree to flow control, instead of it "shall."
Even if the city comes on board with flow control, the procedural process of a council vote, then a judiciary ordinance review, then a public hearing would delay it until April 21 at the earliest.
Still, Monroe Alderwoman Brooke Bauman, who sits on the county's solid waste board as part of her duties as Monroe Common Council president, said the city's taking a legitimate look at flow control.
"It got a good response from the council, which is an optimistic sign," she said.
When Bauman asked Thompson what the transfer station's break-even point was, relaying a question asked at the March 3 council meeting, Thompson said: "We were near it back when we had (private trash hauler) Viola on board, but we lost 11,000 tons per year when it left."
Viola ended its contract three years ago, becoming Advanced Disposal. The new owners cut back on its use of the station, dumping only New Glarus trash there per a contract agreement, Thompson said.
Meanwhile, another daunting financial hurdle faces the county as the station's wood grinder has more than doubled its life expectancy. A used replacement would cost $250,000, Thompson said, and a new one $750,000.
"That grinder is our priciest thing and our most worn out," said Harvey Mandel, the board's vice-chairman.
Waiting on Monroe also makes the county a prisoner in dealing with Janesville, where the Green County trash is eventually buried.
"They also want a five-year deal," Mandel said, "but only with Monroe can we get back on the solid footing we used to have. We need enough trash coming through here to get the best possible bid from Janesville."
Without it, private haulers who may be under flow control and required to use the transfer station may struggle to avoid price hikes.
"We have private companies doing hauling in the county, and we want everyone to be able to make money while not hurting the business customers," Mandel said.