MONROE - The Green County Transfer Station has many supporters and a possible brighter future.
A majority of about 30 people attending a meeting, hosted by the City of Monroe, to discuss the transfer station Wednesday, Oct. 23, signified their desire to "keep the transfer station open," in response to Monroe Mayor Bill Ross's inquiry.
Ross called the number of hands raised an "overwhelming majority."
"It gives us a sense of where we want to go," he said. "It feels good when people come out and are of like mind."
The municipalities will have to make some changes, however, to get more refuse to the station to lower the monthly bills coming to them.
Transfer station manager Randy Thompson verified that more volume, which would generate more tipping fees, would do the work to lower costs for everybody. Municipal users who contract with the station are picking up the extra operating costs not covered by the current tipping fees.
When one large, private solid waste hauling company started to bypass the county transfer station in late 2011, "that changed the landscape totally," Ross said. "But I'm not saying the Solid Waste Management Board hasn't done a great job."
A survey sent out last month by the city to about 26 municipalities that do or could use the transfer station, showed that three of the 12 respondents would be willing to adopt a local ordinance to require use of the county transfer station for all trash picked up within their boundaries. Four respondents said their municipality would be unwilling, and three were not sure.
The City of Monroe was not included in the survey. The city does not have such an ordinance.
Ross said it is up to the city aldermen to decide what to do about passing an ordinance that would require all trash from the city, regardless of who is hauling it, to be taken to the county station.
County Clerk Michael Doyle said the Green County transfer station is under the county's guidance only because certain needs, such as liability insurance and employee benefits, can be accessed affordably through the county, but the costs are paid by the users of the station. The station's budgeted expenditures are not included in the county tax levy.
Ross noted, and Thompson confirmed, the transfer station operates at a financial level that is only meant to break even.
"It's the only competition in the county," said Harvey Mandrel, a county supervisor and member of the SWMB. "All the private companies are ready to pick up the money that's out there."
All citizens in the county have a right to use the transfer station, he added.
The county board of supervisors' chairman, Art Carter, appoints members to the Solid Waste Management Board, but Doyle and the SWMB chairman, Nate Klassy, said Carter would welcome municipalities' recommendations for appointees.
Klassy also invited people to attend the SWMB meetings, "to come listen, ask questions, and we can give them some answers." The SWMB meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at the transfer station.
Ross said the next step for every municipality now is to concentrate on their 2014 budgets.
The idea of starting an intergovernmental commission is not a dead idea, though. The concept, Ross and City Attorney Rex Ewald pointed out, is useful for any number of issues or purchases.
An intergovernmental commission will create "buying power, if you get together," Ewald said. He also noted that the commission arrangement does not require hiring another person to act as executive director.
A majority of about 30 people attending a meeting, hosted by the City of Monroe, to discuss the transfer station Wednesday, Oct. 23, signified their desire to "keep the transfer station open," in response to Monroe Mayor Bill Ross's inquiry.
Ross called the number of hands raised an "overwhelming majority."
"It gives us a sense of where we want to go," he said. "It feels good when people come out and are of like mind."
The municipalities will have to make some changes, however, to get more refuse to the station to lower the monthly bills coming to them.
Transfer station manager Randy Thompson verified that more volume, which would generate more tipping fees, would do the work to lower costs for everybody. Municipal users who contract with the station are picking up the extra operating costs not covered by the current tipping fees.
When one large, private solid waste hauling company started to bypass the county transfer station in late 2011, "that changed the landscape totally," Ross said. "But I'm not saying the Solid Waste Management Board hasn't done a great job."
A survey sent out last month by the city to about 26 municipalities that do or could use the transfer station, showed that three of the 12 respondents would be willing to adopt a local ordinance to require use of the county transfer station for all trash picked up within their boundaries. Four respondents said their municipality would be unwilling, and three were not sure.
The City of Monroe was not included in the survey. The city does not have such an ordinance.
Ross said it is up to the city aldermen to decide what to do about passing an ordinance that would require all trash from the city, regardless of who is hauling it, to be taken to the county station.
County Clerk Michael Doyle said the Green County transfer station is under the county's guidance only because certain needs, such as liability insurance and employee benefits, can be accessed affordably through the county, but the costs are paid by the users of the station. The station's budgeted expenditures are not included in the county tax levy.
Ross noted, and Thompson confirmed, the transfer station operates at a financial level that is only meant to break even.
"It's the only competition in the county," said Harvey Mandrel, a county supervisor and member of the SWMB. "All the private companies are ready to pick up the money that's out there."
All citizens in the county have a right to use the transfer station, he added.
The county board of supervisors' chairman, Art Carter, appoints members to the Solid Waste Management Board, but Doyle and the SWMB chairman, Nate Klassy, said Carter would welcome municipalities' recommendations for appointees.
Klassy also invited people to attend the SWMB meetings, "to come listen, ask questions, and we can give them some answers." The SWMB meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at the transfer station.
Ross said the next step for every municipality now is to concentrate on their 2014 budgets.
The idea of starting an intergovernmental commission is not a dead idea, though. The concept, Ross and City Attorney Rex Ewald pointed out, is useful for any number of issues or purchases.
An intergovernmental commission will create "buying power, if you get together," Ewald said. He also noted that the commission arrangement does not require hiring another person to act as executive director.