Board plans to extend contract

Jay County Solid Waste Management District’s board plans to continue its contract with Waste Management for providing weekly recycling trailers, but will wait a month before making it official.
Board members Monday decided to continue working to finalize trailer sites before voting on the contract.
The board also agreed to add a recycling trailer at Jay County Sheriff’s Office and got updates on scheduling for several events, including Tox Away Day, free dump days at Jay County Landfill and a free shredding day.
Board members were presented with a three-year contract proposal earlier this month from Waste Management for delivery and replacement of recycling trailers, which are staffed by volunteers and open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. In order to save the district money, the contract calls for leaving those trailers on site until they are full rather than picking them up each week.
District financial administrator Freda Corwin contacted owners of each of the current sites — Marsh supermarket parking lot 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 — to ask if trailers can be left permanently. Owners of the Dunkirk and Redkey sites said they do not want trailers full time, and the trailer in Salamonia would likely need to be moved as well. Corwin had not received responses from the other locations.

Board members said they plan to approve the three-year contract with Waste Management, but may need to continue the current system of removing trailers each week until permanent sites are found.
The board talked with Jay County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Rob Bicknell about placing a trailer on the sheriff’s office property on Water Street after Corwin presented the request from Sheriff Dwane Ford last month.
The trailer, which will be placed on the Commerce Street side of Jay County Jail near the alley behind The Greazy Pickle, will be used for sheriff’s office recycling and will also be available for the business community. It will cost the district about $200 plus a tonnage fee each time the trailer is replaced.
“I think it’s a benefit for the commercial properties, because they don’t have any curbside recycling,” said Corwin.
“I think it’s wonderful that they’re willing to do this,” added district educator Bettie Jacobs.
Board members asked Corwin to make arrangements to get the trailer as soon as possible.
Corwin and Jacobs also updated the board on upcoming events, including a rain barrel workshop scheduled for 6 p.m. April 16 at the district office, 5948 W. Indiana 67, Portland. On May 9, there will be a free dump day from 7 a.m. to noon at the landfill and a free shredding day from 9 a.m. to noon at the district office.
A second free dump day is scheduled for Sept. 12, and Tow Away Day will be Sept. 26.
In other business, board members Jeannie Houchins, Randy Geesaman, Doug Inman, Bill Gibson, Jim Zimmerman and Dan Watson, with Faron Parr absent:
•Received an update on the proposal for a new district web site. Board members changed some specifications and negotiated with Craig Frazee of Dynamic Business Solutions, Portland, to bring the price down to $2,950 from an original quote of $4,375 that was presented last month. The board had already budgeted $3,000 for the project.
•Paid claims totaling $11,170.50. The district brought in $19,374 in tipping fees in February, and now has a total cash balance of $392,333.48.
•Received a thank you note from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, which staffs a recycling trailer as a fundraiser. The letter thanked the district for the opportunity to raise money for its Catholic Youth Organization to help pay for sending children to retreats and other events.