Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - While state legislators laid out a plan for waste reduction in 1991, suggested goals are not even close to being met.
The amount of waste products going into landfills was to be cut by 35 percent by 1996 and by 50 percent by 2000.
Marsha Eikenberry, director of the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District, appeared before the Winona Lake Town Council this morning and said statewide, trash has been reduced 24 percent.
"A lot of things have contributed to our failure," Eikenberry said. "One thing is the amount of trash we generate just keeps growing."
Eikenberry said 37 percent of the waste in the United States is paper, which is recyclable, and 17 percent is yard waste, which is renewable.
The reductions weren't made law in Indiana, however - they were given as suggestions.
The director said Winona Lake is doing a good job with its recycling program and outlined a program the town could adopt to further its progress.
"When you're picking up everyone's trash, whether they have five bags or one, it's not fair to the person who is recycling to pay the same amount," Eikenberry said.
She said trash pickup should be seen more like a utility and customers should pay for usage.
The pay-as-you-throw method of trash pickup she recommended would allow citizens to set out two bags of trash per week and purchase stickers for more than two.
"I think your residents will really appreciate it," Eikenberry said.
She also discussed the composting program sponsored by the SWD in cooperation with Dale Custer of Superior Excavating.
Custer has set up a yard waste composting site next to the highway garage on old U.S. 30 and operates the district's windrow turner, which he will lease for the next three years and own afterwards.
According to Eikenberry, Custer plans to sell the produced compost material.
Eikenberry asked the council to deliver collected yard waste to the county compost site.
"Eventually the town would receive revenue shares based on the percentage of material the town put into the site," she said.
Town planner Craig Allebach asked if a contract would be offered.
Eikenberry said municipalities would work out any contracts with Custer.
The council signed a 10-year cable television franchise agreement with InterMedia Partners Southeast. Insight Communications Co. will manage the day-to-day operations of the cable system.
The Ordinance (2001-2-2) will expire Oct. 31, 2010.
If the Federal Communications Commission finds that high-speed Internet services can be owned by the franchise, the town will be entitled to revenues from that development, too.
In other business the board:
• Heard from president Jeff Carroll regarding the package liquor store permit hearing in the courthouse on March 1 at 2 p.m. during the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission meeting.
"I encourage people, if they have an objection, to attend that meeting," Carroll said.
No-Rabb Inc. is applying for the permit to be used at 2303 E. Winona Ave.
• Heard from clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks that Lester and Kary Baster, owners of the property at 301 14th St., are in bankruptcy court and an order to cancel a $310 outstanding sewage bill has been ordered.
The council approved the order.
• Heard that Allebach will meet with a Federal Emergency Management Agency representative regarding compensation for snow removal costs. The town planner said he expects to receive about $1,700.
Allebach said he will meet with a real estate agent and attorney to discuss a purchase price related to the 800 Park Ave. property. The house and lot have been designated as a blighted area in a TIF district and stand on the northeast corner of the Village of Winona.
Town council members are Carroll, Jerry Clevenger, Rolly Ortega and Craig Snow. Also attending Tuesday's meeting were town marshal Malcolm Gilbert and street superintendent Bart Jones.
