July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Waste district pays Jay County loan (11/27/07)
Jay County Solid Waste District
By By MIKE SNYDER-
It's been more than five years since the formation of the Jay County Solid Waste District.
And that district, which was created with a loan from Jay County taxpayers, is now debt-free.
Board members agreed Monday to re-pay the remaining $40,000 balance on the $79,700 paid to a consulting firm to write the district plan in 2002.
Although an additional appropriation for the $40,000 was OK'd 6-0, the check will not be issued until December, district executive director Kay Hayes told board members.
The new district, which leads recycling and re-use efforts in the county, was created after Jay County Commissioners, unhappy with the county's role in the three-county Mideast Indiana Solid Waste District, decided to pull out and go it alone.
That decision was based largely on the fact that district operations were funded by the only landfill in the three counties - the Jay County Landfill.
The Jay County SWD is also funded by a $1.25 per ton tipping fee on trash deposited in the landfill.
That fee is collected by landfill operator Waste Management of Indiana and passed on to the district.
Also Monday, board members got an update on the district's annual Tox-A-Way household hazardous waste collection day in October.
Although total tonnage was down slightly, Hayes said she considered the day a success, with thousands of pounds of materials being safely taken out of the waste stream.
"I think Tox-A-Way Day has been a real good thing for the community," said Milo Miller Jr., president of the board and a Jay County Commissioner.
The total cost for the day was approximately $26,100, less than the $30,000 budgeted
Hayes also said she is working with contractor NuGenesis to possibly hold the collection day earlier next year. It was held Oct. 27.
Hayes said she would like to find a date in early to mid August, but Dan Orr, a teacher at Jay County High School and member of the district's citizens advisory committee, said that could complicate coordination of student volunteers since school would not be in session.
Board members asked Hayes to keep them updated on the issue.
In other business Monday, board members Gerald Kirby, Bill Gibson, Gary Theurer, Faron Parr, Bruce Hosier and Miller:
•Approved claims totaling $22,409.48. Income from tipping fees was an above average total of $34,842, based on 28,154.96 tons of trash deposited into the Jay County Landfill.
The district currently has $179,136.77 in its checking account and a little more than $51,000 invested. The $40,000 to re-pay Jay County and $26,100 for Tox-A-Way Day is not reflected in the $179,136.77 figure.
•Tabled action on a re-write of the district personnel policy after questions were raised about language in a section covering employee absence for court appearances. Kirby said he believed employees should be compensated for absences due to jury duty, but not necessarily for civil cases. The policy will be reviewed by the firm of Hinkle, Racster and Lopez, which was recently retained by Jay County Commissioners to serve as legal counsel.
•Heard Hayes report that she recently attended a seminar on composting in northeast Indiana. She said that grants are available to buy equipment needed for composting operations.
Portland Mayor Hosier said that the city already composts leaves and other plant materials at a site along North Morton Street west of the Jay County Fairgrounds.
Hosier said that the material, which is in windrows and turned at least once a week, is provided free of charge to the public.
Dunkirk has also contracted composting services in the past.
Hosier said Monday he would have Portland Street/Parks Superintendent Jeff Harker provide more details to Hayes regarding the city's program.
Miller said he was leery of the personnel costs involved in expanding composting programs.
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And that district, which was created with a loan from Jay County taxpayers, is now debt-free.
Board members agreed Monday to re-pay the remaining $40,000 balance on the $79,700 paid to a consulting firm to write the district plan in 2002.
Although an additional appropriation for the $40,000 was OK'd 6-0, the check will not be issued until December, district executive director Kay Hayes told board members.
The new district, which leads recycling and re-use efforts in the county, was created after Jay County Commissioners, unhappy with the county's role in the three-county Mideast Indiana Solid Waste District, decided to pull out and go it alone.
That decision was based largely on the fact that district operations were funded by the only landfill in the three counties - the Jay County Landfill.
The Jay County SWD is also funded by a $1.25 per ton tipping fee on trash deposited in the landfill.
That fee is collected by landfill operator Waste Management of Indiana and passed on to the district.
Also Monday, board members got an update on the district's annual Tox-A-Way household hazardous waste collection day in October.
Although total tonnage was down slightly, Hayes said she considered the day a success, with thousands of pounds of materials being safely taken out of the waste stream.
"I think Tox-A-Way Day has been a real good thing for the community," said Milo Miller Jr., president of the board and a Jay County Commissioner.
The total cost for the day was approximately $26,100, less than the $30,000 budgeted
Hayes also said she is working with contractor NuGenesis to possibly hold the collection day earlier next year. It was held Oct. 27.
Hayes said she would like to find a date in early to mid August, but Dan Orr, a teacher at Jay County High School and member of the district's citizens advisory committee, said that could complicate coordination of student volunteers since school would not be in session.
Board members asked Hayes to keep them updated on the issue.
In other business Monday, board members Gerald Kirby, Bill Gibson, Gary Theurer, Faron Parr, Bruce Hosier and Miller:
•Approved claims totaling $22,409.48. Income from tipping fees was an above average total of $34,842, based on 28,154.96 tons of trash deposited into the Jay County Landfill.
The district currently has $179,136.77 in its checking account and a little more than $51,000 invested. The $40,000 to re-pay Jay County and $26,100 for Tox-A-Way Day is not reflected in the $179,136.77 figure.
•Tabled action on a re-write of the district personnel policy after questions were raised about language in a section covering employee absence for court appearances. Kirby said he believed employees should be compensated for absences due to jury duty, but not necessarily for civil cases. The policy will be reviewed by the firm of Hinkle, Racster and Lopez, which was recently retained by Jay County Commissioners to serve as legal counsel.
•Heard Hayes report that she recently attended a seminar on composting in northeast Indiana. She said that grants are available to buy equipment needed for composting operations.
Portland Mayor Hosier said that the city already composts leaves and other plant materials at a site along North Morton Street west of the Jay County Fairgrounds.
Hosier said that the material, which is in windrows and turned at least once a week, is provided free of charge to the public.
Dunkirk has also contracted composting services in the past.
Hosier said Monday he would have Portland Street/Parks Superintendent Jeff Harker provide more details to Hayes regarding the city's program.
Miller said he was leery of the personnel costs involved in expanding composting programs.
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