County leaders will look at recycling programs in other counties after a volunteer-led effort disbanded more than two weeks ago.
Commission Chairman David Lee and Road and Bridge Director Mark Griffith planned to travel to Coffey County to learn about their program, which collects recyclable material from residences and stores them at a facility near the landfill. The items are sold and transported to recycling companies.
Lee also contacted Anderson County to learn about its program. The county offers a recycle trailer where residents can sort and dump recyclable material. The trailer is moved to different communities on a rotating basis.
Allen County might want to start small, with a stationary bin at the landfill where residents can bring recyclables. Lee cited a recent editorial in the Register that made a similar suggestion.
“We’ll see if we can do something,” Lee said. “It might not be door-to-door service, but if someone is serious about recycling, maybe there could be a bin at the landfill.”
“Even if we have a bin at the landfill, it needs to be taken somewhere,” Commissioner Bruce Symes said.
All three commissioners said they’ve received numerous calls on the matter. A Humboldt woman attended last week’s commission meeting to ask the county to rethink their approach.
Allen County Recycling, an all-volunteer group, announced in late September it would cease operations. The group formed in late 2021 after Iola Rotary Club ended its volunteer-led program after 30 years.
Commissioner Jerry Daniels noted the county had offered to dedicate an employee’s time to help the recycling effort if the city would agree to do the same, but that didn’t happen.
A few hours after the county’s discussion on Tuesday morning, a group of about 20 recycling advocates attended an Iola City Council meeting to press city leaders on the matter, as reported in Wednesday’s Register.
Ambulance purchase
Commissioners agreed to spend $216,000 for a remounted ambulance through American Response Vehicles (ARV).
The company will take an older ambulance out of the county’s fleet and install the “box” onto a new chassis.
Commissioners voted to buy the chassis from Twin Motors Ford, even though it will cost about $2,000 more than if they purchased it through ARV. Commissioners agreed the difference amounted to about 1% of the total cost and they preferred to support a local business.
It will still take about two years before the ambulance can be delivered because of high demand and supply chain issues. Delivery for a new ambulance, though, would take about three years and would cost significantly more.
