Marion will eliminate city-sponsored recycling
With all the discussion about trash pickup, transfer station, and recycling the City of Marion decided Monday that recycling will have to go, because the other two are costing more.
John Stutzman of Stutzman Refuse Service was present to discuss trash pickup and recycling with the commission.
He was asked to make a proposal for Marion to utilize with the newly purchased transfer station and uniform charges across the county.
Stutzman made his proposal on trash service in Marion, which commission members concluded was more than they could afford to pay. Stutzman said his firm would provide once a week pickup in Marion and two sizes of automatic dumping carts. The city would continue doing the billing
Stutzman, who also provides the recycling service for Marion told how that costs him money. He said his firm continues to collect and recycle glass, but the equipment is expensive and "we are not promoting it." He said such recycling is expensive and "there is no incentive."
City Commissioners voted to continue local trash service much the same as now, with the addition of the county surcharge.
A resolution will drawn up for approval next week.
It calls for twice a week pickup in the residential area, free pickups of large items during the spring and fall clean up weeks, and furnishing trash bages where needed.
Recycling will be eliminated. It was mentioned that there is no revenue to the city for recycling, and that the local Girl Scout troop can earn cash by collecting aluminum cans.
A capital outlay fund will be established for the purchase of refuse equipment, including a new compactor truck which needs to be replaced soon.
The burn site on South Third is only partially funded by the fees being charged. Expenses exceeded revenues by 50 percent, City Administrator Dave Mayfield said.
The new city rate, which will be in addition to the county fee, would be $7 a month residential and reduction of the commercial monthly fee by $4.
In other business:
Warrants were approved as follows: payroll $20,297.65; and $55,547 general fund which included $37,572.86 for the city library depot remodeling. Only $5,000 remains to be paid on the library project.
Angela Lange was appointed city treasurer and Linda Holub as city clerk.
Librarian Janet Marler said nearly 200 attended the open house during the Christmas Tour. Many were from out-of-town.
Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, said the crews have been trimming trees, sealing street cracks, doing maintenance work, installing holiday lighting, and enjoyed a two day holiday. "It was a short week," Sanders observed.
A lease agreement for 10 years was signed on Bown-Corby School with Butler County Community College. The fee is $25 per year, plus the college provides all upkeep on the building, maintenance and janitorial service. The city provides insurance.
The city signed a resolution to participate in KMEA's mutual aid program, with city crews pledging to aid other cities during time of emergency, such as when power lines are down following a tornado, fire, or flood.
The city transferred $9,568.00 from the electric utility fund and $75,000 from the water utility fund to the bond and interest fund in order to make the January payment on street bonds in the amount of $104,042.50.
Police Chief Michel Soyez made the weekly police report, as published elsewhere in this issue.
Economic developer Susan Cooper said the sign contract with George Lay Co. has expired. She said the city can make big savings by owning the signs, and proposes adding two more. She will get bids on signs and designs which will be presented to the commission next week.
Mayor Eloise Mueller said the commission should approve the design, even though there is money in the budget for the signs. Cooper said they could be completed in about a month.
The meeting, which started at 4 p.m., was adjourned at 5:05. Commissioners Larry McLain, Jim Crofoot and Mayor Mueller were present.
