KCSWMD Discusses Policy Changes

Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District (KCSWMD) discussed resolutions to holiday and benefits policies for employees at a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Tom Ganser, executive director of KC Recycling, presented two resolutions to the board regarding holiday and benefits policies.
“We decided probably the easiest way to do this instead of just doing a whole book at one time … we would come to you guys with resolutions on the policies that we see could be updated to what the county or city has,” Ganser said.
He explained that once all the resolutions are worked through, the final handbook of policies would be presented again to the board and approved at a later date.
The first resolution would change the KCSWMD holiday policy for employees. Ganser explained that the board will be presented with a list of holidays that fall on weekends for the next year for approval. The list will then be shared with employees. The board approved the resolution.
The second resolution would change the KCSWMD vacation benefits policy. The employee handbook originally stated that employees would receive five paid vacation days after one year of employment, 10 days after two years and 15 days after eight years.
The resolution would amend the vacation benefits policy to match the county’s policy, which gives employees five paid vacation days after six months of employment. Employees then receive 10 days after one year through year four, 12 days for five to seven years of employment, 15 days for eight through 10 years of employment and so on, up to 25 days per year for 25 years of employment and more.
The resolution also outlines that unused vacation time may be used for up to two years after the year in question, which matches the county’s current policy.
Barry Andrew, board member, asked Ganser if the change would affect any employees in the current year by taking away or adding any paid vacation days.
Ganser explained that the changes will not take effect until next year.
“Really, there’s no change, except for that first six months' vacation time,” Ganser said. “I’ll be honest, I think that helps us recruit here.” He explained that new employees normally had to wait at least nine months before receiving any paid time off.
“That’s huge,” said Bob Conley, board president. “What do we do to retain employees? It’s getting harder all the time to get qualified people who want to stay.”
The board voted to approve both resolutions to the holiday and vacation benefits policies.
In other business:
• The next tire week will be Monday, Sept. 14, through Friday, Sept. 18, with an additional day Saturday, Sept. 12. KC Recycling will accept tractor and commercial tires 4 feet in diameter and smaller, with a maximum of six tires per person.
• KC Recycling will start shipping ink cartridges and vape pens to TerraCycle for recycling. Ganser said the company will take the entire vape pen, including the battery.
“I think it’s going to be wonderful,” he said, describing how KC Recycling previously had to break apart individual vape pens to remove the batteries and then run the vape cartridge through the special waste process.
• The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has offered to do an electronics take-back event with KC Recycling for rural communities. Ganser would like to focus on northern Indiana, not just Kosciusko County, with the event and thinks it will be a “great event.”
• After looking at three bids for a paving project, the board selected Super Seal as the least expensive option.
• Ganser reported that a three-year lease was secured with Camden Construction for the Quonset hut. Camden Construction will pay $750 rent for the first year, $800 for year two and $850 for year three.
• The board briefly discussed keeping the tax benefit and putting it toward other district expenses. No action was taken.