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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8132 (Res.) -. r r o ... . ..~ I . NO .8132 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota, is a Home Rule Charter City of the Third Class, having authority pursuant to Minnesota statutes, 9 473.811, without limitation, to regulate and license the collection of solid waste within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. is a contractor licensed to collect solid waste within the City of Stillwater pursuant to a contract in effect continually since the 30th day of December, 1976; and, WHEREAS, the City Council has received a copy of a "Notice of Suspension of License to Operate" dated August 11, 1989, issued by Mary Luth of the Department of Public Health of Washington County, which suspension provides, among other things, that unless an appeal is taken by Junker Sanitation Service, Inc., a suspension of the license of Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. to collect and transport solid waste as a commercial waste hauler in Washington County, shall be effective on the 21st day of August, 1989. AND, WHEREAS, it appears that the nature of the violations constituting the basis for the suspension of the license of Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. is an apparent violation of Washington County's Solid Waste Designation Ordinance. AND, WHEREAS, the members of the City Council of the City of stillwater wish to inform the Board of Commissioners of Washington County of their grave concern with regard to the procedure used in the issuance of the suspension and the substance of the proceedings. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. That because of the action of the Washington County Department of Public Health taken without notice to the City of Stillwater, a public emergency was created. 2. That it is impossible, upon ten days' notice, for the City to make alternative plans to collect the waste since that inherent in the regulation and licensing of a solid waste collector are negotiations with regard to rates, assurances of the ability to perform the service, the adequacy of a hauler's insurance protection and the obtaining of important background information. 3. That the City of Stillwater was without notice that Washington County was conducting an investigation of Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. and was without notice that a suspension of any nature was being considered. That the City Council was informed of the County's action by a phone call to the Mayor from a reporter employed by the Stillwater Gazette, a local newspaper. ~. r r '"' That by its failure to keep the city Council of the City of Stillwater or its City Coordinator informed of its contemplated action, Washington County has committed a serious breach of intergovernmental cooperation. 4. That the unilateral action of the County without consultation has created a serious credibility problem that could possibly impair needed cooperation between the City of Stillwater and the County of Washington. 5. That the City Council has concerns that a 60-day suspension of the license of Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. bears no rational relationship to the seriousness of the alleged offense committed by Junker Sanitation Service, Inc. 6. That even though Junker is permitted an appeal and stay of the suspension, the finding of wrongdoing and imposition of a substantial penalty without a hearing raises a serious question of fundamental fairness and due process. 7. That the City Council questions the wisdom of any ordinance vesting such substantial power affecting the welfare of the citizens of the City in an employee of the Washington County Department of Public Health. 8. That Washington County should immediately conduct hearings on their Designation Ordinance giving proper notice to all of the communities within Washington County in order that a fair, comprehensive ordinance is created, recognizing the rights of commercial haulers and the authority of local units of government in the County of Washington to regulate and license the collection of solid waste. Enacted by the City Council of Stillwater this ~..t~ day of ~..L._:r , 19h. rahamson, Mayor Attest: ~(}.~~ Mary Lo Johnson, ty Clerk II n m Inl IrrTl