Should trash from outside county be allowed?
Commission discusses options
Staff reporter
A trash can of worms was opened Monday when Marion County Commission discussed options regarding out-of-county solid waste.
Interim transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt reported to the commission that a city had informed Schmidt that it was considering providing trash pickup services and wanted to bring the refuse to the county's transfer station.
County clerk Carol Maggard told Schmidt she would need a list of households and businesses that would be participating to charge an annual fee similar to solid waste fees charged to county residents which would be more than amount county residents currently pay.
After much discussion, the commission determined there were two separate issues — the city's responsibility to pick up the trash and the county's responsibility, if so desired, to dispose of it.
Schmidt asked the board if it wanted out-of-county trash.
Commission chairman Dan Holub responded "trash is trash."
However, Commissioner Randy Dallke said he didn't know if it was fair for county residents to pay for the disposal of out-of-county trash.
Maggard said there was some out-of-county trash already being accepted.
Schmidt will contact the city with the information provided by Maggard and report at a later date.
In other business:
— County economic development secretary Teresa Huffman requested permission to use a county-owned bus for tourism promotions.
County emergency communications director Michele Abbott-Becker said the bus was given to the county by the City of Hillsboro as a command center for emergencies or disasters but the county now used a trailer for those purposes.
Huffman credited Marion Chamber of Commerce Secretary Margo Yates with the idea of using a bus for tour groups and could be used in the entire county.
Seats were needed and Huffman said she was seeking bids for paint.
"Maybe the community could help to name the bus," Huffman said.
The commission said it was open to the idea and for Huffman to seek estimates.
— Schmidt asked for direction regarding the possible procurement of a machine to cut rubber tires. Currently the transfer station collects the tires and pays for disposal.
He had checked with other transfer stations and found most cut the tires and haul to landfills because it was cheaper.
A machine that would cut the tires in quarters would cost $6,500, Schmidt said, and it would increase the county's cost $37 per ton to dispose.
Dallke asked Schmidt the amount paid in 2006 for tire disposal. Schmidt said he would check and report at a later date.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa had the low transport fuel bid of $18,469 for 19,000 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel at an average of $2.42 and $1.94 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro also presented a bid of $18,769 for the same amount of fuel.
