Bedtime for MOSA

The post-MOSA picture is beginning to come into focus, which is a good thing, because MOSA will cease to exist as of May 1, 2014. Yesterday, the Solid Waste and Environmental Concerns (SWEC) Committee voted to recommend two contracts, one for post-closure maintenance of the MOSA landfills, and the other for the processing of trash in Otsego County at the two transfer stations, which Otsego County will own outright.

MOSA has responsibility for three closed landfills, and post-closure agreements with the three MOSA counties (Otsego, Montgomery, Schoharie) obligates each county to continue maintaining these landfills for many years. With the dissolution of MOSA, the individual counties still have the responsibility to maintain the landfills. A request for proposals (RFP) was written, and after examining the bids, SWEC chose to recommend the Montgomery County proposal.

When MOSA ends, the northern (Cooperstown) and southern (Oneonta) transfer stations will become the property (and responsibility) of Otsego County. Another RFP was prepared for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the stations, and the transport and disposal (T&D) of the trash which passes through the stations. As the SWEC minutes indicate, Casella's bid for these processes was approved. I'm pretty sure that it didn't have anything to do with all the coffee and donuts the Casella representatives have brought to SWEC meetings over the years. As far as I could tell, they really did have by far the best proposal.

So, assuming the Administration Committee approves all this tomorrow, and sends it on to the full Board, which in turn gives its approval, starting May 1 Casella will begin operating the northern and southern transfer station and carting off the trash to one of its many landfills in the region. Otsego County will set and collect a per-ton 'tipping fee' for all trash delivered, and will pay Casella for the O&M and T&D. In the meantime, Montgomery County, using equipment formerly owned by MOSA, will maintain the three closed landfills, and will be paid a set fee for this by Schoharie County and Otsego County.

The trick will be setting the right tipping fee. It needs to be low enough to attract business (haulers in the eastern end of the county may go to the Schohairie station if our tipping fee is to high) but high enough for Otsego County to break even on this whole thing. SWEC recommended a tipping fee of $55/ton, so we'll see.

By the way, this all depends on the Home Rule legislation clearing the NY State Legislature in time, allowing us to dissolve an Authority that was, after all, established by state legislation. It's still grinding its way through, but all indications point to a timely and successful conclusion. Once again, we'll see.