District considering trailer deal

A new proposal could allow Jay County Solid Waste Management District to extend its contract for Saturday recycling trailers without seeing a major cost increase.
Melinda Antell of Waste Management presented the JCSWMD board with a contract that includes individual fees for trailer delivery and replacement at each site. They range from $100 for delivery to $300 for replacement, which would allow the district to save money by leaving trailers at their sites until they are full.
“The thought is to try to get a place at each of your locations, or at least a majority of them, where you can keep that container on site,” said Antell. “So instead of having to deliver it on Friday and pick it up on Monday, it just stays there.”
Board members had discussed the contract, which is up at the end of April, in January after financial manager Freda Corwin told them they could see the cost rise from $220 per trailer per week to about $550.
At that time, several members expressed concerns that loose trash would be left around trailers if they remain on site for weeks or months at a time. Under the current system, Waste Management drops off trailers on Friday for use on Saturday, and then picks them up early the following week.
Board members were unsure if the current recycling sites — Marsh supermarket in Portland, the former Ludwig’s parking lot in Dunkirk, Will’s IGA in Redkey, the parking lot across from Pennville fire station, Bloomfield Elementary School and the parking lot South of Salamonia Park — would be willing to keep recycling trailers on site full time. Jeanne Houchins, Bill Gibson, Jim Zimmerman, Randy Geesaman, Faron Parr and Doug Inman asked Corwin and district educator Bettie Jacobs to contact each site, and to seek alternatives if necessary.
The board also discussed a possible date change for Tox-Away Day and a contract proposal for the creation of a district web site.
Corwin told the board a representative from recycling company NuGenesis of Mooresville has requested that the district move its annual Tox Away Day from the second Saturday in September to the fourth.
Zimmerman expressed concern that the move could make it difficult for those in the agriculture sector if it coincides with the beginning of harvest season. Board members asked Corwin to talk more with NuGenesis about an earlier date.

The board also discussed a control proposal from Dynamic Business Solutions of Portland for $4,375 for design of a web site with an additional $185 per year hosting fee. It had budgeted $3,000 for the project.
Members asked Parr to talk with Craig Frazee of DBS about the price and see if there is room for negotiation.
In other business, the board, with Dan Watson absent:
•Approved a resolution authorizing Corwin and Jacobs to use the district credit card for preapproved purchases as well as training and lodging.
•Paid claims totaling $21,417.45, including more than $8,000 in bonuses for groups that staff the Saturday recycling trailers. The district brought in $22,689 in landfill tipping fees last month. That brings the district’s savings and checking accounts to a combined balance of $383,789.30.
•Heard from district educator Bettie Jacobs that she will represent the district April 11 at the Jay County REMC expo. She is also planning a rain barrel workshop for April 16. She will also represent JCSWMD at today’s Purdue Extension Advisory Council annual meeting.
•Signed an agreement for lease of the district office through 2022.