Dec. 1, 2009 — Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the Lassen Regional Solid Waste Management Authority has combined its November and December meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 1.    

The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at 707 Nevada St. in Susanville.      

There are several action items on the agenda including the closing of the Ravendale Transfer Station and relocating the debris bin to Madeline, approve forming an ad hoc committee and selecting two directors to sit on the committee and selecting a director-at-large from the applicant pool.

Ravendale Transfer Station   

Staff will be providing information including an evaluation of expenses, revenues and customers for both the Ravendale and Madeline sites.   

According to a staff report, closing the Ravendale station would save approximately $6,400 per year — savings would include the gatekeeper’s salary and bin hauling costs.    

Moving a second debris bin to Madeline would decrease bin-hauling cost by allowing the authority to take advantage of the second box rate of approximately $63 versus a single box rate of $210.    

According to a staff report, both sites have seen a decline in revenues and a corresponding decline in received waste, but the overall decline is more significant at Ravendale.    

Madeline’s customer base has increased this year from 2008 by 6 percent and Ravendale has declined by 16 percent.

Ad-hoc committee   

As a way to develop recommendations regarding future refuse collection services in Lassen County, the board will look at forming an ad hoc committee.    

The ad hoc committee will start gathering input and brainstorming ideas before the board takes action on future refuse management agreements. Currently, the authority has a franchise agreement with Waste Management, the sole garbage collector and hauler in Lassen County. It provides services to the Susanville, Janesville, Milford, Litchfield, Standish and Spalding areas. Westwood and Herlong are not included in the current agreement.    

The contract agreement between the authority and Waste Management began in 2001,was extended in 2006 and is set to expire in 2012.    

Even though the agreement ends in two years, authority manager Tom Valentino said    staff thinks it’s appropriate to start discussing what the agency wants to see in the new franchise agreement.    

The committee will be comprised of representatives from the city of Susanville, Lassen County, authority counsel and authority staff including the authority manager Tom Valentino, authority program coordinator Paula Wesch and landfill manager Paul Payne.       

Staff recommends an initial ad hoc meeting early in 2010.

Director-at-large   

Dale Soulé is the current director at large and is the only one to apply for the position.   

Staff advertised for the position from Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Tuesday, Nov. 17.    

Five people sit on the board of directors, two city council members, two county supervisors, and director-at-large.        

In a joint powers agreement between the City of Susanville and Lassen County that the director-at-large will be appointed by receiving at least three votes of the four city and county representatives.    

If the selection of the fifth director cannot be agreed upon, then the director-at-large shall be selected by chance.    

The term is for two years beginning Jan. 1, 2010. The board of directors may approve a shorter term than two years.    

Applicants must reside in Lassen County, cannot have any direct or indirect financial interest in any solid waste collection or processing business within Lassen county and cannot be employed by the city or county.