District may add to options

With their biggest event of the year upcoming, Jay County Solid Waste Management District’s board is considering ways of expanding recycling opportunities.
The board on Monday discussed the possibility of adding a second free shredding day in 2016 and contracting with an Indianapolis company for electronics recycling.
Board president Jeanne Houchins brought up the idea of holding a second free document shredding day with a goal of involving government offices and local businesses. This year the board held one free shredding day in May in conjunction with the free dump day at Jay County Landfill.
Dunkirk Mayor Dan Watson, who also serves on the board, suggested that the additional shredding day be on a weekday in order to allow better access for government offices and businesses. The board agreed that such an event is a good idea and plans to work toward holding one early in fall 2016.
Director Ronyelle Edwards told the board she has been looking into options to again offer electronics recycling.
Previously, residents could drop off items such as televisions and computers at the district office, 5948 W. Indiana 67, Portland. But that program was discontinued earlier this year because of the lack of a recycling company to handle the materials.
Edwards said after talking with personnel from other solid waste district’s she contacted Green Wave Computer Recycling, which will recycle such items at a cost of $249 per truckload. Board members Faron Parr, Doug Inman, Bill Gibson, Jim Zimmerman, Houchins and Watson, with Randy Geesaman absent, expressed support of the idea and asked Edwards to get more specific information about storage, labor and contract structure from the Indianapolis company.
Those discussions came with the district’s annual Tox Away Day, which allows Jay County residents to dispose of hazardous materials, scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10 in the East Jay Middle School parking lot.
Items accepted include paint, gasoline, oil, batteries, asbestos, pesticides, fertilizer and pool chemicals. Larger items such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, dryers, televisions, computers and microwaves can also be recycled.
The first four tires will be accepted for free with charges of $2 (car/light truck) and $5 (truck) for more than four. There will be a charge of $75 for all tractor tires (larger than 54 inches).
In other business, the board:
•Was reminded by Houchins that the probationary period for Edwards, who was hired in July, will be up next month. The board will need to approve her contract at its next meeting.
“I think she’s doing a great job,” said Houchins.
•Transferred $125,000 from its checking account to its savings account to bring the checking account under the $250,000 limit to which the district is federally insured. The savings account now totals $248,303.25, and the checking account is at $223,152.49.
•Heard from director Ronyelle Edwards that the district brought in tipping fees of $29,566 in August.
•Paid claims totaling $14,384.67.
•Transferred $200 from its postage fund to its office supplies fund to cover expenses through the end of the year.