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Planned improvements to make recycling more convenient
By Lynn Hotaling
With the January advent of a new solid waste contract, recycling is expected to become easier for county residents.
County commissioners voted during their Aug. 17 session to move forward with a commitment to Republic Services, parent company of present hauler and staffed-recycling center operator GDS. Part of the new deal is revamped recycling bins, county Manager Ken Westmoreland said last week.
According to Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan, the biggest complaint citizens have had with regard to recycling is the inconvenience of having to place items one at a time into the appropriate bins.
“I’m glad to see this,” McMahan said. “We want to encourage recycling, and we need to make it more convenient.”
Westmoreland said that all recycling bins will be modified to provide larger, lower openings as well as shelves for users to rests containers on while tipping recyclables into the bins.
“It has been too hard to recycle in the past,” he said. “The idea is to make recycling more user-friendly.”
In addition, the new contract specifies replacing compactors at all SRC sites to totally-contained models. This change is to eliminate the possibility of the liquid spills that sometimes occur, Westmoreland said.
Republic will provide the county with hauling, equipment leasing and SRC-site staffing at a cost of $36,912.25 per month.
The new contract also grants the county a little more flexibility in that it’s a four-year deal with a four-year renewal option instead of the current five-year agreement that had a five-year option.
In other action Aug. 17:
– Commissioners approved a bid of $97,924 for a new roof at the Jackson County Public Library, which has been plagued with leaks for the past year.
That contract will go to low bidder T.R. Driscoll of Horse Shoe, and the bid falls within the amount budgeted, according to Westmoreland.
– Commissioners discussed two revolving loan matters in closed session before approving one new loan and renegotiating another.
Officials granted a $148,000 loan to Smoky Mountain Bio-Fuels, an alternative fuel company that will be located in the Jackson County Green Energy Park at the old landfill site in Dillsboro.
Headed by Sam Gray and Al Bagley, both of Webster, the new business expects to be in operation by Oct. 1 and has secured several contracts, Westmoreland said.
According to Westmoreland, it will be a 5 percent loan payable in monthly installments over the next 12 years.
The other loan action concerned QC Apparel, which is located in the former Buster Brown plant. Commissioners agreed to restructure QC’s existing loan in a manner that will allow he company to make payments based on cash flow, Westmoreland said.
That loan is $358,000 at 3.5 percent over 36 months and has a balloon payment at the end, Westmoreland said.
– Commissioners took no action with regard to their proposed participation with a sewer line planned in Whittier.
According to Westmoreland, the Whittier Sanitary District secured a $3 million grant almost five years ago to construct a line to provide sewer service to the Gateway and Whittier areas. After the project was initially delayed due to environmental and archaeological concerns, costs rose and an additional $750,000 or so was needed to construct the line, he said.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee, who would like to see infrastructure developed along the U.S. 441 corridor, agreed to put in some $260,000, and the Church of God Assembly, which expected to expand its summer camp, offered the same amount, Westmoreland said. At that point Jackson County agreed to put in the remaining $260,000 specifically to provide sewer service to Smokey Mountain Elementary School, he said.
The project appeared ready to move forward when the Church of God withdrew its offer of funding without an explanation, Westmoreland said.
The Whittier District has decided to put the project out for bids and see if it can be accomplished with the money available, the county manager said.
– No action was taken with regard to the old Love Cemetery that’s located behind Andy Shaw Ford and Sonic.
County Cemetery Board Chairman Alvin Frady has asked the county to take control of what he regards as an abandoned cemetery that contains the graves of Confederate soldiers. However, according to county attorney Paul Holt, the cemetery is not abandoned in the legal sense despite its neglected state.
– Commissioners heard from Savannah Fire Department Chief Darrell Woodard, who advised county leaders that the department is working on plans for a substation on Pumpkintown Road. A 1.62-acre site has been donated, and firefighters are planning to approach lenders for financing. According to Woodard, the department should be able to arrange a loan and get the building up with the first payment not due until next year. He asked county leaders to include some money to help with the project in next year’s budget.
McMahan said the county could make no commitments at this time but would take a look and try to help when they started discussing next year’s budget.
– Commissioners unanimously approved Cingular Wireless’ application to locate a cell tower in the Qualla area off U.S. 441 at Sheeprock Cove Road.
– Commissioners agreed to a request from residents of Mountaineer Road in Whittier that the road be added to the state maintenance system. A resolution to that effect will be forwarded to the Department of Transportation, McMahan said.
– Commissioners postponed appointments to the Jackson County Airport Authority, Transportation Study Task Force and to the Cemetery Board. They reappointed Elmer Hooper and appointed Russ Bauer to the Transit Board.
– Commissoners cancelled their Sept. 4 meeting due to Labor Day but will hold a work session Monday, Sept. 11, and meet in regular session on Sept. 18. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m.
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