Corwin resigning as director

Jay County Solid Waste Management District is looking for a new director.
District board members learned at their meeting Monday that Freda Corwin, who has held the position for about three years, is resigning effective July 31.
They also took a first look at their 2016 budget and made some adjustments to sites for Saturday recycling trailers.
The board plans to advertise for a new director immediately and hopes to one selected by mid-July. That would allow the new employee to train with Corwin for two weeks before taking over the job Aug. 1.
An executive committee made up of president Jeanne Houchins, vice president Doug Inman and a third board member will evaluate applicants, conduct interviews and bring a recommendation to the board. The job includes running the district office and managing finances.
“It’s going to take a special person,” said district educator Bettie Jacobs while encouraging the board to move quickly. “Freda has filled in a lot of gaps. She helps me immensely.”
Corwin took the position in August 2012 after the resignation of previous director Jill Hall. She previously served two terms as Jay County auditor as well as several other positions at the county courthouse.
She’s stepping away to focus more on her business — General Store in Pennville — and spend more time with family.
“I know we kind of kid Freda, and she’s good enough to take that kidding because she knows how seriously we really appreciate her and the job that she’s done,” said board member Jim Zimmerman before leading the group in a standing ovation.
Board members also decided on new sites for two trailers. The new Dunkirk site will be in a parking lot south of West Jay Community Center, and the new Redkey site will be at the former town hall, 20 S. Ash St.
Corwin reported that there has been an issue with the size of the trailers being delivered, with Waste Management bringing one or two 1.5-ton trailers instead of the previous three-ton. She said she is working with the company to solve the problem.
Board members Bill Gibson, Dan Watson, Randy Geesaman, Faron Parr, Houchins, Inman and Zimmerman also took a first look at and made some adjustments to their projected budget for 2016.
The biggest increases in the budget came in the cost of the Saturday recycling trailers — a $20,000 bump to $88,000 — and bonuses for groups that work those trailers — a $10,000 bump to $40,000.
The increase for recycling came in May when the district entered into a new contract with Waste Management.
The 2016 budget is projected to come in about $265,000, up about $30,000 from 2015, and the board plans to vote on it at an upcoming meeting.
In other business, the board:
•Approved payment of claims totaling $12,744.93. The district took in $27,457 in tipping fees in the last month and now has a total cash balance of $430,244.43.
•Heard a reminder from district educator Bettie Jacobs that the district will have a display in the new Marion and Irene Bubp building at Jay County Fairgrounds during the fair July 6 through 11. Also, rain barrels decorated by 4-H participants will be on display in the women’s building.
•Agreed to sponsor a hole for $100 for the Aug. 8 Knights of Columbus golf tournament to benefit Jay County Special Olympics.
•Received a thank you note from Dunkirk Head Start for its support.