By a vote of 3 to 1, the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District board approved the 2001 budget.

County commissioner and board member Brad Jackson voted against the budget.

"All along I've had a problem with the increase," Jackson said. "That's just me, I'm just one member."

Voting in favor of the budget were county commissioner Avis Gunter, Winona Lake Town Councilman David Delp and Warsaw City Councilman Joe Thallemer. Board members not present were county commissioner Eddie Creighton, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and county councilwoman Kathryn Teel.

The total 2001 budget was approved at $341,160, which includes money for the permanent household hazardous waste site facilities on Union Street, Warsaw, if approved. The 2000 budget was $289,615. SWMD Director Marsha Eikenberry said she will meet with the state tax board on the budget Monday.

Of the budget, approximately $261,000 is for providing services to the county, Eikenberry said.

In other business, Eikenberry reported:

• Allied Waste Industries donated $500 to the district for Eikenberry and SWMD Educator Sue Studebaker to fly to the National Recycling Coalition conference.

• Allied Waste Industries plans to file a petition with the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission for additional property at the landfill. The hearing, Eikenberry said, will be in October. The land they seek to rezone is to the west and north of the current operations. Eikenberry said the district will support the expansion of the landfill.

However, when contacted, a representative of the plan commission said they had no petition on file regarding the rezoning proposal for October's meeting. The information is "news to us," the representative said.

• In August, G&G Hauling was contracted to take a load of gravel to the Syracuse Recycling Station and filled in huge potholes that formed in the drive around the recycling station.

• The next board meeting will be Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at 112 E. Center St., Warsaw. [[In-content Ad]]