Board eyes promotion

In real estate, it’s location, location, location.
Jay County Solid Waste Management District is putting its 2016 focus on promotion, promotion, promotion.
The district board discussed a variety of ways to encourage recycling in the county at its meeting Monday.
It also approved raises for its director and educator and heard about a change for Tox Away Day.
Brainstorming about ways to promote recycling stemmed from the monthly report from district educator Bettie Jacobs, who reported on an education grant program and possible performance dates for the Dumpster Drummers.
Jacobs told the board she has sent out letters to local schools about grants for recycling-related activities. The deadline to apply for a portion of the $10,000 appropriated for the program is Feb. 28.
She also said while Dumpster Drummers are unavailable for July 4, they could perform either during the Jay County Fair or the Rural America Farm & Garden Expo planned for September.
Board member Faron Parr expressed his support for both events while asking Jacobs if there are other educational programs or events that might be beneficial and wondered if a second Tox Away Day each calendar year would be a good idea. He and other members noted that with nearly a half million dollars in its reserves, the district has the ability to make use of such opportunities.
Jeanne Houchins, the board’s president, said she’d like to see the district get involved in more local events, and board member Jim Zimmerman suggested a building-wide presentation at Jay County High School. Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman, who also has a seat on the board, expressed concern that the number of residents using the city’s curbside recycling program seems to be declining.
Board members agreed that advertising will be key to getting the word out and discussed the possibility of using a direct mailing campaign in addition to billboards, radio and newspaper.
“I think the advertisement is where we really need to hit it the most,” said board member Bill Gibson.
Jacobs said she will look into additional educational programs, and the board agreed to monitor its programs in 2016 as it considers adding a second Tox Away Day in the future.
The board also agreed to increase the contract amounts for both director Ronyelle Edwards and Jacobs by more than 30 percent.
Jacobs advocated for an increase to her contract for 2016, saying she wouldn’t be able to continue in the part-time educator’s role at the previous rate of $11,000 per year.
“I want to be here. I love what I do here,” said Jacobs while requesting a 2016 salary of $15,000. “There are lots of things on the horizon that I want to see through.”
The board spoke in favor of an increase, but said it felt that if it was making a change for one position it should also consider the other. It had approved at 14-month contract at an annual rate of $23,000 for Edwards in October at the end of her three-month probationary period after being hired in July.
“I think Bettie’s worth every bit of the $15,000 because the education part of it goes hand-in-hand,” said Houchins. “And I think Ronyelle’s done a fantastic job … in the short time that she’s been here.”
Board members Doug Inman, Gibson, Parr, Geesaman, Zimmerman and Houchins voted in favor of an increase to $15,000 for Jacobs and to $30,000 for Edwards. Those are increases of 36 and 30 percent respectively.
Edwards told the board Tox Away Day for this year has been scheduled for Oct. 8, and the district has received approval to hold the event in the Jay County High School parking lot. It was previously held in the East Jay Middle School parking lot.
She also said she received a quote from Heritage Environmental, Indianapolis, for the event, but that it included itemized costs and a variety of limitations. The board decided to continue using NuGenesis, also of Indianapolis, for the event at a cost of $24,000.
In other business, the board:
•Learned from Edwards that the district brought in $23,911 in tipping fees at Jay County Landfill. That brought the district’s total balance in its checking and savings accounts to $489,697.16.
•Made several transfers to balance funds as the end of the year approaches. The board moved $1,476.05 to miscellaneous office from household hazardous waste, $850 to educator from part-time hourly, $106.16 to telephone/internet from utilities and $27.59 to advertising from utilities.
•Heard Geesaman compliment Watson for his service on the board as mayor of Dunkirk. Gene Ritter will take over the seat on the board after defeating Watson in the November election.
•Learned from Edwards that letters seeking new members for the citizens advisory committee have been sent out to groups that work at Saturday recycling trailers, but that so far there have been no responses.
•Heard that Jacobs is planning a water barrel workshop for April 14.
•Asked that residents not leave items at recycling trailers at times when they are not staffed. Recycling trailers are typically open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.