Solid Waste Board Restores Budget Amounts
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
After considerable cuts to the solid waste management district budget last month, the board restored allocations to several funds Tuesday.
In May, board members trimmed $51,000 from projected spending because they believed the district's increased levy would not be approved at the state level. Reassessment rules have kept most taxing entities at 2002 tax rates. This ruling, it turns out, does not apply to the solid waste districts.
District financial controller and county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell reminded the board that only 45 percent of projected allocations will be available around July 30.
"Because of resubmitting the information, the state says you may collect $162,621. That restores budget amounts cut at the last meeting," Mitchell said.
Board member Ron Truex suggested this would be the time to re-establish glass collection at the district's recycling stations, holding to the reduced budget in all other respects, "until we see how much money we really have."
Executive director Sue Studebaker said there were too many problems with glass collection because of contamination. She said people toss mirrors and light bulbs into the bins, ruining that load. Also, most recycled materials facilities do not want colored glass.
Board president Brad Jackson said the recycling stations are the most public service the district offers and that the absence of glass collection a common complaint.
Truex said he remembered when cutting glass collection was just a tragedy. He withdrew the motion to reinstate glass recycling, however.
Several accounts were increased: $1,000 back in the educator's salary for expenses; $5,000 to household hazardous waste; $2,000 to recycling station improvements; $5,000 to temporary employment.
Jackson asked that Studebaker assume much of the educator's responsibilities because of her teaching background.
"You need to be in front of people (talking about the district's services). When you're in the classroom, I'm proud to be a part of the solid waste district," he said.
The board signed an amended contract with Allied Waste Industries increasing tipping fees 50 cents per ton collected from out-of-county ($1.80) and out-of-state ($2) trash. The district also will receive a $15,000 stipend from the company for household hazardous waste programs.
Although the new terms and payments are retroactive to Jan. 1, the increases will not be realized until the proposed landfill expansion is approved. The company is in the permitting process to expand by 64.9 acres to the west of the existing landfill. The proposed property is along the east side of Packerton Road between CRs 700S and 800S.
The increases could bring the district an additional $20,000.
The board also:
• Heard a part-time employee has been hired, who works about 20 hours per week.
• Heard Studebaker has 60 hours compensatory time.
• Reviewed a quote from Eric Bolt Construction to replace the front steel door with another.
Solid Waste Management District members are: county commissioners Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex; county councilman Tom Anglin; Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins; Warsaw councilman George Clemens; and Winona Lake councilman David Delp. Anglin and Wiggins were absent. [[In-content Ad]]
After considerable cuts to the solid waste management district budget last month, the board restored allocations to several funds Tuesday.
In May, board members trimmed $51,000 from projected spending because they believed the district's increased levy would not be approved at the state level. Reassessment rules have kept most taxing entities at 2002 tax rates. This ruling, it turns out, does not apply to the solid waste districts.
District financial controller and county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell reminded the board that only 45 percent of projected allocations will be available around July 30.
"Because of resubmitting the information, the state says you may collect $162,621. That restores budget amounts cut at the last meeting," Mitchell said.
Board member Ron Truex suggested this would be the time to re-establish glass collection at the district's recycling stations, holding to the reduced budget in all other respects, "until we see how much money we really have."
Executive director Sue Studebaker said there were too many problems with glass collection because of contamination. She said people toss mirrors and light bulbs into the bins, ruining that load. Also, most recycled materials facilities do not want colored glass.
Board president Brad Jackson said the recycling stations are the most public service the district offers and that the absence of glass collection a common complaint.
Truex said he remembered when cutting glass collection was just a tragedy. He withdrew the motion to reinstate glass recycling, however.
Several accounts were increased: $1,000 back in the educator's salary for expenses; $5,000 to household hazardous waste; $2,000 to recycling station improvements; $5,000 to temporary employment.
Jackson asked that Studebaker assume much of the educator's responsibilities because of her teaching background.
"You need to be in front of people (talking about the district's services). When you're in the classroom, I'm proud to be a part of the solid waste district," he said.
The board signed an amended contract with Allied Waste Industries increasing tipping fees 50 cents per ton collected from out-of-county ($1.80) and out-of-state ($2) trash. The district also will receive a $15,000 stipend from the company for household hazardous waste programs.
Although the new terms and payments are retroactive to Jan. 1, the increases will not be realized until the proposed landfill expansion is approved. The company is in the permitting process to expand by 64.9 acres to the west of the existing landfill. The proposed property is along the east side of Packerton Road between CRs 700S and 800S.
The increases could bring the district an additional $20,000.
The board also:
• Heard a part-time employee has been hired, who works about 20 hours per week.
• Heard Studebaker has 60 hours compensatory time.
• Reviewed a quote from Eric Bolt Construction to replace the front steel door with another.
Solid Waste Management District members are: county commissioners Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex; county councilman Tom Anglin; Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins; Warsaw councilman George Clemens; and Winona Lake councilman David Delp. Anglin and Wiggins were absent. [[In-content Ad]]