Magnuson Trucking to take over management of county's solid waste

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

Beltrami County is getting out of the waste management business.

As of Aug. 1, Magnuson Trucking and Leasing -- which presently transports solid waste for the county and manages the Transfer Station -- will take over complete management of the county's solid waste, pending contract negotiations with the county.

Acting on a Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommendation, the Beltrami County Board approved Magnuson's proposal Tuesday with a 3-0 vote.

Chairman Lee Coe said he believed the proposal was better for the county than the current system under which it operates, and if all works out the final transfer of responsibility plan could be in place by late July.

" It looks like a good opportunity for all," he said.

Magnuson's bid was the only one submitted from a list of firms that expressed interest in a request for proposals distributed by the county in December. The deadline for proposals to be received was Feb. 5 and for a firm, if approved, to take over management after the present contract the county has with Magnuson expires July 31.

Under its proposal, Magnuson's responsibility for all recycling activities; disposal of problem materials such as oil, antifreeze and fluorescent tubes; management of the demolition landfill; management of staffed rural collection sites at Ten Lake Township and Blackduck and unstaffed sites at Pinewood, Nebish, Fourtown and Northwood Township.

The idea of private management was made by recommendation of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee as a possible route to take in managing solid waste in the county and saving the taxpayer money, Coe said in November.

Consideration for going private came about because the Advisory Committee believed a private management firm could easier implement innovative ideas and could do things at a lower cost, he said.

For example, as the committee began plans to build four staffed rural collection sites around the county, it discovered costs were higher than expected and an important part of the system was temporarily put on hold, he said.

"We were pretty impressed by what they had to show us," Coe said, following last week's meeting between the Advisory Committee and Magnuson. "They indicated several ways they could accomplish the things we want to do and do it more cost effective."

In other business, the board:

• Authorized a Marshall-Beltrami Judicial Ditch 21 meeting.

• Approved the county's 1997 Technology plan, presented by the Innovation and Technology team.

• Received the investment report for the fourth quarter of 1996.

• Denied solid waste assessment appeals from Benson Timber of Blackduck and Zada's Multi Mini-Mart, new Highway 71 North.

• Approved an amended contract with Buetow and Associates for architectural services of the Community Services Center.

• Accepted a bid from Thorson Inc. of Bemidji for a grading and paving project on County Road 53.

• Authorized the purchase of two new motor graders and advertisement for sale of two used motor graders.

• Authorized the purchase of a 1997 Honda 4-by-4 for use by the Survey and Mapping Department.