Recycling increases approved

As its financial situation improves, Jay County Solid Waste District is rewarding those who handle its day-to-day work.
The JCSWD board voted Monday to approve an increase in pay for the groups that work at recycling trailers on Saturdays. It also decided to give Christmas bonuses to its director and educator.
After discussing a possible increase at their previous meeting, board members Milo Miller Jr., Jim Zimmerman, Faron Parr, Dan Watson, Randy Geesaman and Bill Gibson unanimously approved a $25 increase — to $125 from $100 — for groups working at recycling trailers. The JCSWD has two or three trailers each Saturday, with one in Portland and the others rotating at sites in Dunkirk, Redkey, Pennville, rural Bryant and Salamonia.
The groups previously made $150 per trailer, but that number had been bumped down in recent years because of financial strains on the district. With finances back on the upswing — the JCSWD’s balance of $279,573,44 is up nearly $90,000 from this time last year — board members decided to increase the payment by $25 and plan to discuss another raise if the financial health continues in 2014. Members also said they would consider a year-end bonus for the volunteers at either their December or January meeting.
Corwin also looked into the possibility of adding an additional trailer at sites in Pennville and Redkey, but said there was not enough of an increase in volume to justify such a move. She said she and Jacobs would meet with workers at those sites to see what else could be done to help.
In addition to the recycling increase, the board approved Christmas bonuses of $500 apiece for director Freda Corwin and educator Bettie Jacobs.
“Freda and Betty both are a bargain for the job they do,” said Zimmerman, with other board members voicing their agreement. “I say thank you on a job well done for the past year.”
In addition to improving financial numbers, the district also saw an increase in volume at Tox Away Day in September. The event brought in 106,000 pounds of hazardous materials, which is up from 80,000 pounds in 2012.
In other business, the board:
•Learned Jacobs, who was absent from the meeting, is working with Head Start programs in Portland and Dunkirk. She will begin working with second graders in the county on an educational program about worms in January.
•Discussed adding a new member to its citizen’s advisory committee, agreeing to think about possible nominees with a target of naming a new member in January.
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