District looking into contracts

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In order to make sure everything runs smoothly, Jay County Solid Waste Management District is considering instituting contracts with local service groups.

The district’s board on Monday discussed the possibility of having signed contracts, a topic that came up because of a question last month about payment to one of those groups.

Also Monday, the board reviewed numbers for Tox Away Day.

The contract conversation got started after a representative of Penn Husky Hoosier Hotshots 4-H Club, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, who work at the recycling trailer in Pennville once a month, visited the board in September and said those groups had been having difficulty receiving payments that had been sent to Pennville Community Center. That issue was quickly resolved, with the board deciding it would simply eliminate the middleman and pay the service groups directly. But the issue raised questions with board members about contracts, insurance and liability.Board president Jeanne Houchins and vice president Randy Geesaman consulted with county attorney Bill Hinkle about the issue, with Hinkle indicating that the waste district’s insurance seems to be in order though it would not cover any injuries to members of service group working at the trailers. Board members decided Monday that it would be a good idea to have signed agreements with each of those entities in order not only to protect the district from liability but also to clarify responsibilities and details of payment.

The board asked district director Samantha Rhodehamel to begin drafting such a contract. It hopes to have something finalized and put into effect by Jan. 1.

Board members Barry Hudson, Chuck Huffman, Bill Gibson, Gene Ritter and Houchins, absent Mike Leonhard and Geesaman, also were informed that participation in Tox Away Day on Oct. 7 was similar to last year. The number of vehicles that visited the event was down to 347 from 381 in 2016, a 9-percent decrease, but the number of pounds of items collected was up by 3.5 percent (66,201.1 compared to 63,959 a year ago).

That total includes 7,800 pounds of paint, 7,259 pounds of oil and more than 1,400 pounds of pesticides.

“I would like to thank everybody. I really appreciate the work you guys did,” said Ritter, noting that he took a truckload of items to the event at Jay County High School. “I think it’s a great service to the community.”

In other business, the board:

•Heard from Rhodehamel that additional appropriations of $10,340 for the district will go before county council at its Nov. 6 meeting. The funds are for a new ramp/porch leading up to the district office as well as improvements to its driveway. She noted that the district currently has the funds to pay for those projects, but is requesting the additional appropriations in order to prevent going over budget for 2017.

•Learned from district educator Bettie Jacobs that about 200 reusable canvas bags, along with fliers about district events, were passed out at the October food tailgate at Jay County Fairgrounds.

•Paid claims totaling $38,053.16. The district brought in $18.320.61 in tipping fees on 10,574.67 tons dumped at Jay County Landfill in September, bringing its cash balance to $448,987.18.