Without full support, the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District board approved the first reading of the district's 2001 budget at their Wednesday meeting by a vote of 4 to 1, with one board member abstaining.

Commissioner Eddie Creighton voted against the budget while commissioner Brad Jackson abstained.

The total budget is $341,160. And while the bottom line figure is the same as the original budget proposed last month, District Director Marsha Eikenberry told the board some line items were changed prior to it being advertised. Eikenberry met with the state tax board representative Wednesday morning.

The changes in the proposed budget are due to the district possibly leasing and/or purchasing a permanent household hazardous waste collection site at 220 S. Union St., Warsaw. With the site, the contract the district has with Stafford's Solid Waste for waste management would increase financially.

Line items from the originally proposed budget that would decrease include supplies, professional services, communications and transportation, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other services and charges.

Increased lines from the proposed budget from last month would include a $37,416 increase for recycling service and a $12,600 increase for building rental.

Creighton was opposed to the budget because he was not sure if the permanent household hazardous waste collection site should be leased at all or contracted. He also said he wasn't sure if providing household hazardous waste recycling six days a week was any better than just one day a week.

Eikenberry said, "I don't think anyone's going to commit to a building and equipment for just two to three years." She also said that whether it's six days or one day, it will cost the district approximately the same amount of money.

The current property owner, Tom Buchan, would lease the office building and the Quonset hut behind it to the district for approximately $1,600 per month for five years with the option for the district to buy the property from Buchan after two years. If they don't buy the property, the district could renew the lease for another five years after every fifth year.

The current district office is being rented for $550 per month.

If the district were to move their offices to the building and have collection at the site, one of the recycling stations in Warsaw could be moved to Pierceton and another would be eliminated.

Warsaw mayor and district board member Ernie Wiggins said they can put the money in the budget for the property lease, and if they decide later not to lease the property, the money doesn't have to be spent.

Jackson said he doesn't want to see the budget increase. He said the district's board has grown at a pretty rapid rate over the years. He also said he wants to see more discussion on the building first.

In other business, the board heard a presentation from Association of Indiana Solid Waste Management Districts Executive Director Mark W. Davis, Bloomington.

Eikenberry told the board the insurance company that pre-approved her for health insurance declined her because of an inhaler her doctor prescribes for her asthma. She is investigating other options.

Members of the district board include Kosciusko County Commissioners Avis Gunter, Brad Jackson and Eddie Creighton; Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins; Warsaw City Councilman Joe Thallemer; Kosciusko County Councilwoman Kathryn Teel; and Winona Lake Councilman David Delp. [[In-content Ad]]