Board to study cost estimates on central recycling site

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

As landfills continue to quickly fill, Mike Prottsman, of Prottsman Sanitation, says an emphasis needs to be placed on recycling.

Prottsman Santitation, who holds the county?s sanitation contract, spoke with the Henry County Supervisors during its meeting on Thursday.

?There is plenty of room to improve how we do it (recycle) and how much is done,? Prottsman noted. ?I don?t think we will ever get to 100 percent, but I think it is a goal we should work toward.?

Currently, Prottsman estimated 40 to 75 percent of recyclables are being mixed with solid waste trash.

During the discussion with supervisors, Prottsman proposed setting up the Mt. Pleasant recycling center as a central drop-off point for rural residents with all services throughout the week. Establishing the central site in Mt. Pleasant would eliminate the four recycling drop-off points for rural residents. He said the four recycling sites are not large enough to handle a recycling increase.

During Thursday?s regular meeting, supervisors took the first step in establishing a central recycling site in Mt. Pleasant, receiving cost estimates from Derek Wellington, county IT coordinator, on transforming the Mt. Pleasant collection site to a central drop-off point.

Wellington said cost estimates for the expansion run close to $46,000. ?These are all estimates, not solid, firm quotes,? Wellington said. ?There are some things we don?t know yet.?

Supervisors tabled action on the quotes for more study until the Aug. 9 meeting.

Wellington urged supervisors to not put the project on the back burner. ?If you are wanting this before fall or winter, you have to move quickly. There are a lot of contractors who are a month out.?

The board wondered if expanding Mt. Pleasant to a central recyclable collection point would change terms of the contract with Prottsman.

Shelly Barber, county auditor, said she did not think it would. ?We basically pay him to haul and the tipping fees,? she said.

During Thursday?s meeting, county officials gave their monthly reports.

Sarah Berndt, who directs the five-county (Henry, Des Moines, Lee, Louisa and Washington counties) jail transition program said, ?the last month has been all about jail diversion. This week we are training the second community transition coordinator. I think we are going to have an awesome program.?

Elley Neuzil, one of the program coordinators, said that currently the program is a post-booking program. ?We determine what needs they might have and try to eliminate barriers they might face when released from jail.?

She said the coordinators have formed strong relationships with the people the coordinators are working with. ?I think we will be able to make great connections and grow the program,? Neuzil stated.

Adults age 18 and over who have been assessed for needing transition link services while they are in jail, awaiting sentencing or discharge from jail are eligible for the program.

Some of the services offered include functional assessment and evaluation, job development, medication prescribing and management, mental health outpatient therapy, vocational services, finding and applying for housing, substance abuse treatment and applying for Medicaid.

Coordinators of the program may follow up with clients for up to six months after discharge from jail.

In other officer reports, Shirley Wandling, county recorder, said deer hunting tags go on sale Aug. 15.

Barber said that nominating petitions for any independents wishing to run for county or state office may be filed beginning Aug. 8. Papers must be filed by Aug. 31 for inclusion on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

In final action, the board approved the appointment of Sharon Walden to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission.

Supervisors meet again in regular session Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 9 a.m., in the courthouse.