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Hubbard County is partnering with Beltrami County on commercial organics collection.

As part of a $1.5-million Organics Management Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) received last year, Hubbard County Solid Waste Administrator Josh Holte said he budgeted the purchase of a live floor trailer to haul organic material and shredded wood waste.

In November 2024, the county acquired a horizontal grinder, costing $1,165,788, to manage wood waste in Hubbard County and a nine-county region.

In his Tuesday, Feb. 5, report to the Hubbard County Board, Holte wrote, 鈥漌e feel that it would be in our best interest for Beltrami County to purchase the live floor trailer needed as part of this grant and incorporate the trailer into their existing fleet and the hauling into current and future hauling contracts.鈥�

Holte explained the county already teams up with Beltrami and Polk Counties to haul mixed municipal solid waste (MSW). Beltrami County owns all of the MSW trailers and administers the hauling contract, which is done by a private contractor, according to Holte.

Beltrami County will purchase the trailer, estimated to cost between $105,000 to $110,000, then Hubbard County would pay for 75%, using available grant dollars. Beltrami County will pay 25%.

County commissioner Char Christenson asked if households have increased their organics recycling.

Holte replied it鈥檚 hard to track.

Christenson said, 鈥淚t takes a lot of room in garbage, if you don't recycle organics.鈥�

Holte agreed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of weight. It鈥檚 the majority of weight in the waste stream.鈥�

The board authorized the purchase of 0.64 acres in Laporte from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The parcel has been used as a county recycling site.

鈥淟ast fall, MnDOT reached out to us indicating they were planning to sell their property along State Highway 200 and County 39 in Laporte. We鈥檝e been leasing that property for the last few years from MnDOT,鈥� Holte explained.

The county invested in some improvements at the location, such as fencing, the road and site.

The asking price is $17,000, plus fees.

鈥淏y purchasing this property, we鈥檒l be able to continue to operate the site for recycling,鈥� he said.

In other business, the board:

• Learned Troy Christenson will be replacing Nick Opsal as Hubbard County emergency manager.
• Accepted a 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant, totaling $21,158, and authorized use of county funds for a 50% match. 鈥淭he state is quite behind in processing these applications,鈥� Opsal noted. The grant pays for 40% of emergency management salaries and benefits. 
• Approved the replacement of a washing machine at the county jail. The low quote was $12,127 from RJ Kool of Mendota Heights.
• Established a Walker Ambulance Service District Board with Cass County. They named District 3 and 4 county commissioners (currently Steve Keranen and Tom Krueger) to serve on the board because they represent the impacted districts in Hubbard County.