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Reassessing recycling

Just one month after adding a $1 surcharge to monthly water bills for recycling services provided by FAYCO Enterprises, the Vandalia City Council has decided to take a second look at the issue.
During Monday’s council meeting, Alderman Steve Barker said that Greenville radio station WGEL reported that FAYCO had signed an agreement with Bond County through which it would pick up recyclable items there for up to $7,200 a year, much less than what the city will be giving FAYCO as a result of the water bill surcharge.
Then, later in the meeting, during the public comment section, resident Max Durbin again brought up that radio station news report.
With the expenses related to providing that service in Bond County, Durbin claims, “They are basically picking it up for nothing.
“What gives here?” Durbin said, referring to the amount that the city is giving to FAYCO for its recycling program.
“I believe we got snookered,” Alderman B. John Clark said, to which Alderman Dorothy Clark added, “I know we did.
“There was so much going on that no one was paying attention,” she said. “She (FAYCO Executive Director Kim Taylor) was talking about laying people off with a Now Hiring sign in the front yard the whole time she was up here talking to us.”
“We got lied to from day one, and some of us tried to stop it,” Crawford said.
“And now, here is the big issue, which is, even if we could do anything about this tonight, which we can’t, it’s going to be till March before we can get out of it,” she said.
Mayor Rick Gottman said that he wants to have City Administrator LaTisha Paslay obtain a copy of Bond County’s contract with FAYCO “for us to look before we move forward with anything else to make sure there are no other hidden things in that contract, and then we get back together to talk about our next step.
“I think we need to do our due diligence on this,” Gottman said.
He also wants Paslay to check with the county and city of Greenville to see if there are any other fees they pay for the recycling service.
Taylor was unavailable for comment this week.
Crawford asked about suspending any action by the city when residents fail to pay the surcharge for recycling, but Gottman said that ordinances currently on the books mandate action for nonpayment of bills.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the council voted 6-1 to approve a Tax Increment Financing grant of up to $79,125 for Austin Holdings for continued work on Howie’s on Main.
In its application, Austin Holdings states that the improvements to the former home of the Eagles Club, estimated to cost $158,250, will include the creation of a beer garden with a roof at the front of the building, remodeling of the basement and a concrete patio on the rear of the building.
Alderman Ken Hubler, who cast the lone dissenting vote on the application, said, “I think he (Chad Austin) needs to establish a little bit more before we give him any more.” Plus, he said, “We gave him double ($80,000) what he requested (the first time).”
In other action:
• The council approved a proposal from Hach for the annual maintenance of the lab equipment at the city’s water treatment plant, at a cost of $4,609.
• The council approved the replacement of the diffused surface aeration system at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, at a cost of $4,200.
• The council accepted the report from Hurst-Roche on the engineers’ annual bridge inspections.
• The council tabled action on bids received for the cleaning of the city water towers on Fillmore Street and Thrill Hill.
The city received bids from National Wash Authority of Morrison and SMAW Inc.-Roger Clark Welding and Fabrication of Vandalia, and Gottman suggested delaying action to get more clarification on the services to be provided by each bidder.
• The council approved Gottman’s appointment of former alderman Bret Brosman to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments.
• The council extended the city’s agreement with World Economic Development Alliance. For the fee of $4,950, the firm assists the city with its economic development recruitment efforts for retail industry.
Paslay said that the fee is lower than last year’s, and Gottman added that the firm is providing more services, including a year’s access to the firm’s retail network’s reports and key contacts.
• The board approved an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance governing yard encroachment.
The amendment states, “Utility buildings or sheds of 200 square feet or less may be located with a required side or rear yard, provided a minimum of 3 feet is maintained from the side or rear property line and the structure is clear of any easements. Acceptable building materials and finishes for these structures to be comparable to materials used to construct adjacent residential buildings.”
• The council approved the addition of firearm repair to the list of acceptable home occupations in the city. The request for the action was made by city police officer Jeff Tippen, who plans to operate a firearm repair business at his residence.
• The council approved the minutes from the Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting on Aug. 3. At that meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve Ashley Metzger’s request to add permanent makeup tattoo application at her business, All About You Day Spa.
• Aldermen talked with Dennis Grubaugh about several of his ongoing projects, with Hubler asking him about his plans to repair the east wall of his building in the 500 block of West Gallatin Street.
“I’ll take some money,” Grubaugh said.
The repair of that wall has been discussed at past meetings, with Alderman Andy Lester pointing out to Grubaugh that the city offered to pay the total cost of the work and that Grubaugh would not accept that offer, due to the fact that the city was willing to pay another contractor more than it would pay him for the work.
 

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