Thursday, April 5, 2007

County may host regional hazardous waste program

by Kenneth Lassiter

County commissioners decided Monday that if Jefferson County does play host to a regional household hazardous waste program and administrates it, the other four counties involved will need to foot the bill to make the program viable.

Commissioners discussed the financial side of the plans with Mark Richards, auxiliary services director, Monday. The county operates a household hazardous waste program and was approached by Brown, Doniphan, Jackson and Atchison counties in regard to starting a regional program, as those four counties do not have such a program in place.

In a case where Jefferson County administrates the program, Richards factored the costs for the first year at $156,882, including grant funding and with each county footing about $32,000 for the first year and between $24,000 and $28,000 for the next four years.

Jefferson County currently spends roughly $9,000 annually on its household hazardous waste program. A proposal for the Glacial Hills Resource Conservation and Development program to administrate the program was not advocated by commissioners as it would have raised Jefferson County’s annual costs for the program to $21,000.

In the county’s proposal, Jefferson County wouldn’t pay for the program with the other four counties and, officials hope, grant money footing most of the bill. County Counselor Jan Hayes suggested Richards adjust the dollar figures upward to cover all the costs of administering the program.

Richards said he also had a 20-feet-by-30-feet addition to the county’s household hazardous waste facility factored into what would be the grant request. Each of the other four counties would have a satellite location for the collection of household hazardous waste and Richards said Jefferson County would help take care of licensing needs.

Commissioners suggested Richards plan for the possibility of building a separate building for the new program, and those costs were also adjusted upward. Commissioner Francis Grollmes expressed reservations with the idea. He said he didn’t want the county to “create a headache” for itself and was concerned that the county would build a new building and, in five years when the agreement on the program expires, the other counties may back out and leave the county with another building to maintain.

Commissioners David Christy and Don Edmonds said they weren’t as concerned there as a new building could help the county address future space needs. The adjustment of costs on the program had yet to be presented to the other counties as Richards had plans to do so in a Monday afternoon meeting.

Commissioners said a possibility exists that none of the other counties will want to pay for the program. Edmonds suggested Richards present the proposal and, if it can save Jefferson County $9,000 and help the other counties, he would support it. He said if the proposal came to the point Jefferson County was going to have to raise its contribution by $10,000, he wouldn’t be in favor of it.

Richards said after Monday afternoon’s meeting regarding the program proposal, the other county officials planned to discuss the figures and plans with their own county commissioners and meet again at an undetermined time to revisit the issue.

Commissioners also met with Undersheriff Jeff Herrig regarding the possible purchase of an x-ray machine and metal detector for the courthouse. Herrig said Shawnee County is updating its equipment and is selling the metal detectors and x-ray machines from its courthouse.

He said one x-ray machine has a $1,000 reserve on it on its on-line auction while a metal detector has a $500 reserve. Herrig confirmed the equipment was in working condition. Commissioners took no formal action on the matter.

In other business Monday, the commission:

• Reviewed and approved vouchers.

• Met with Eloise Tichenor, planning and zoning director. Commissioners approved plats for Roit, Bob’s Nob Acres, Ousdahl and Denneler Heights subdivisions.

• Heard an update from George Pogge, road and bridge superintendent. Pogge updated commissioners on county bridge projects. He said work on the Lecompton Bridge was moving along well. Christy asked about a fire at the site and Pogge said a pile of driftwood against one of the southern piers had caught fire and caused superficial damage to the pier that was minor in nature.

• Met with Pogge and Hayes in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel.

• Met with Eileen Filbert, health department director, and Hayes in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel. Filbert said that because an evening clinic at the department wasn’t being used by the public, it would be discontinued and the department’s hours would be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Met with Richards and Hayes in executive session for 10 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel.

• Heard an update from Susan Newell, 911 director. Commissioners approved a proclamation making April 8-14 National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Newell read the proclamation, as it recognizes the dispatchers for their role in public safety. Newell said the county’s dispatchers would be honored in the department during the week in question. Newell also said she planned to replace a phone system in the dispatch area, although plans need to be finalized with emergency management director Doug Schmitt.

• Met in executive session with Chris Schmeissner, geographic information services and information technology director, and Hayes for 30 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel.

• Discussed changes to county policies with Hayes.

• Met in executive session with Jan Hayes and Mike Hayes, county attorney, for 20 minutes to discuss matters of attorney-client privilege.

• Signed shared sick leave donation forms, a letter to Cingular Wireless regarding the addition of two cellular towers in eastern Jefferson County, and a beer license for Kaw Valley Grill in Perry.