09/22/2021 Regular MeetingSOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
September 22, 2021 - 5:15 PM
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly Chambers
Call to Order
Chair Szabo called the regular meeting to order at 5:23p.m. on Wednesday September 22,d
2021.
Roll Call
P. Valerio conducted a roll call, a quorum was established. Board members present were Chair
Nick Szabo, Andie Wall, Terri Pruitt, and Nathan Svoboda. Doug Hogen and Patrick Cummings
were absent. Others present were Kodiak Island Borough Assembly Member Aimee Williams
and Scott Arndt, USCG Representative Jennifer Nutt, Robert Williams Manager of Walmart
(future Board Member), and Alaska Waste Manager David Edwards.
PRUITT MOVED to excuse both Patrick Cummings and Doug Hogen's absences. WALL seconded.
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Approval of Agenda
PRUITT MOVED to approve the agenda. WALL seconded.
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Approval of Minutes
PRUITT MOVED to approve the minutes of August 25`h, 2021. WALL seconded.
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Visitor Comments:
Discussion Items:
A. Member Survey:
Andie Wall presented a handout with all the answers provided in the survey and
reviewed them on the record. There was some discussion about how to move forward
with this information. The consensus of the Board was that they didn't want this to just
be something that happened they want to learn and distinguish attainable goals for the
Board's future. The Board decided that having a Work Session would be a great idea to
be able to thoroughly discuss these items. Staff has been asked to look into whether or
not the Assembly Chambers are available for Wednesday October 611.
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B. Engineering & Facilities:
Patricia Valerio presented for the EF Department since both David Conrad and Jena
Hassinger are out on personal leave. She announced that Dave, with a lot of help from
Nate Svoboda was able to apply for and received a $1000 grant from the Kodiak Brown
Bear Trust (KBBT). Dave will be returning to the KBBT in November to apply for an
additional $2000 grant. Both grant funds used to promote bear awareness. Nate
Svoboda spoke more about how money needs to be used for things Brown Bear related
and it can be inside City Limits or in the Borough — anywhere Brown Bears are present.
Patricia also announced that Friday, September 241h is the last day for commercial
businesses to sign up for the Commercial Hazardous Waste Event Appointment. The
event is happening October 71h and 811 at the Landfill by appointment only.
Further along in the meeting Patricia announced that the dumpster located at Threshold
will be relocated to the Dark Lake dumpster site. David Edwards spoke about this as
well. Both said that they were not at liberty to state the reasoning behind the move
because both were unsure if they were allowed to discuss in public yet. But David
Edwards did say it was not because of bears or trash issues.
Patricia also gave a shout out to Larry Turner, who is the good Samaritan who returned
EF's game camera that had been stolen.
C. Outreach:
Terri Pruitt played her ads that the has recorded for the radio, one about bears and
closing dumpster doors correctly and the other about reducing consumption of
prepackaged drinks. They will start going out soon.
With Holidays coming up, there was some discussion about what messages to get out to
the public during that time. Cardboard recycling should be the focus with how many
boxes are shipped to the island during Christmas.
Nick Szabo announced that he had spoken with the Chamber of Commerce, Jena
Lowmaster, regarding the Relocation packet rates. He said that those prices should be
out in the next couple of months. Once they know the rates, he would like to discuss
with the Board whether or not they would like to do a full page or a half page for
Threshold and the Landfill.
D. Threshold Recycling
Patricia Valerio spoke for Chris Lynch. She had spoken with Chris earlier in the day. Chris
had shared that recycling prices are up —which has been good. And that they are
working closely with KANA, Andie Wall's office in particular.
Andie provided a short explanation of how KANA and Threshold have been working
together on the Backhaul Alaska program. Andie and Stephanie Mason made a
presentation at a previous SWAB meeting about the program. Threshold has been
accepting and storing the electronic waste and the fluorescent lightbulbs that come in
from the villages.
E. Alaska Waste:
David Edwards reported about the Three Sisters dumpster site and how there have been
issues with the bears bending the doors. AK Waste found out that the reason the bears
have been so aggressive with this dumpster is that people have been throwing carcasses
inside of it. There was some discussion among the Board about getting education out
the public that will inform them of how to dispose of deer or fish carcasses properly.
David also reported that the high winds have caused issues with the roll carts. AK Waste
has been attempting to correct, collect, and get all the roll carts to their proper places.
Nick Szabo asked David what AK Waste is going to do about the pull -down pin type
dumpster latches that are too hard for folks to pull down (spring is too stiff). David
responded that they are trying to make the pins easier to grip. There really is no way to
find the right strength that will be suitable for everyone, but they are trying.
Visitor Comments: None
Board Member Comments:
T. Pruitt— Encouraged about survey answers and getting things organized.
N. Svoboda — Can we permanently remove the City from the agenda?
A. Wall — Thank you all for filing out the survey gave us good information to go on. I have EPA
grant that looks like a decent opportunity, I'll send it to Jena and Dave.
N. Szabo —Thank you Andie for filling in and running the meeting tonight — nice job. Thank you
Staff, I know you have a lot on your plate right now.
Meeting Schedule — Next Meeting October 27th, 2021, at 5:15pm. May have Work Session
October 6th will notify everyone and find out if that date works for all.
Adjournment
PRUITT MOVED to adjourn. WALL seconded.
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:43p.m.
SUBMIT BY:
Ifft
Patricia Valerio, Board Secretary
KIB Engineering/Facilities Department
APPROVED BY:
Ni Szabo, Chair
Solid Waste Advisory Board
Date: O Z
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