MOUNT VERNON — A typically routine renewal of the Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow County solid waste management plan gave council members pause before they gave a first reading on Wednesday to legislation adopting the plan.
The plan historically has provided subsidies for solid waste drop-offs in rural areas throughout the counties. The cities of Marion and Delaware, which handle their trash/recycling programs, said they, too, should get the subsidies.
The 12-member DKMM board agreed and amended the plan, making money available to cities. Mount Vernon is not eligible for a subsidy because it uses individual private haulers for trash and recycling.
Councilman Chris Menapace questioned whether the city should pursue using a single trash hauler so that the city can apply for the subsidy. Councilwoman Nancy Vail reiterated her position that a single hauler is detrimental to free enterprise.
Haulers pay a $6-per-ton fee to deposit solid waste. This fee has not changed since 2008, but according to the plan, it has the potential to increase to $7 in 2026 and then remain flat through 2032. Mark Phillips of Mid-State Waste said that there is no control mechanism that says DKMM cannot raise the fee.
DKMM’s $6 fee is one of the cheapest. Ashland County’s fee is $11.50.
Phillips also said that if council decides to go with a single-hauler bid process, he will not participate.
“It goes against everything I believe,” he said. “Companies have the right to do business, and I do not want that individual right taken away. I will continue to promote free enterprise because that’s what works. The best way to control rates is free enterprise.”
In its legislative session, council took the following additional action:
- Passed interim appropriations of $5.9 million (8 percent of the 2019 projected budget), providing the city operating money for the first part of 2019
- Gave a second reading to legislation authorizing the Knox County Land Bank to sell the former fire station at 215 Ames St. on behalf of the city. A public hearing will be held Jan. 14 to get public feedback on the land bank’s involvement.
- Renewed the revolving loan fund through which Community Development Block Grant funds pass
- Appointed Colleen Clarkson to the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission
- Reappointed Gail LaBenne to the Historical Review Commission and George Curry to the Taxi Board
- Authorized supplemental appropriations, fund transfers, and bill payment
Parks and Lands Committee
Jim Brown of the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission reviewed 2018 activities. Highlights include:
- Planting trees at Mount Vernon High School for Arbor Day
- Distributing 50 dogwood saplings to community members at First Friday
- Providing lunch for Tour de Trees, an initiative that raised more than $75,000 for tree plantings in devastated areas
- Planted 93 milkweed at Ariel-Foundation Park in support of monarch butterfly habitat
- Contracted out for removal of 27 stumps and 130 trees
- Planted trees in honor of retired Councilman John Fair and founder of the commission Van Ross Wade
- Provided 78 trees through the Tree City Partner Program, in which the city provides the tree and homeowners water and maintain it
- Planted 75 native trees and 100 spruce trees in Ariel-Foundation Park
- Cleaned up debris and trees on New Gambier Road, will plant 24 new trees
- Career center students planted 3,000 daffodil bulbs in tree pits in the downtown area, 10 trees in the cemetery, and 13 trees at Dan Emmet Elementary School
- Planted 22 trees in two-block area of Pleasant Street as part of the brick restoration project
- Helped with clearing of Shellmar Park
