Getting Input on Recycling

As they await proposed agreements from the two agencies that provide local recycling services, city officials want residents to go online to say whether they are willing to monetarily support those services.
The city and FAYCO, which provides recycling for a wide variety of items, were to work out early this week which one would provide an online survey on its website.
Kim Taylor, executive director of FAYCO, suggested at Monday’s city council meeting that an online survey be developed as a way of getting residents’ opinions on a proposed monthly surcharge of $1.25 being added to residents’ water bills.
That surcharge would help to fund the recycling programs offered by FAYCO Enterprises and the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District.
FAYCO accepts recyclable items such as magazines, newspapers, cardboard, plastic, and steel and aluminum cans at 2022 Wagner St., and the SWCD office accepts electronic items such as televisions and computers on Wednesday afternoons at its office at Third and Johnson streets in Vandalia. If the surcharge is added to water bills, residents would continue to take recyclables to those locations.
The proposal for the surcharge was put forth during a meeting of the council’s cemetery and landfill committee meeting last month. At the conclusion of the meeting, Taylor and Karen Sanders of the SWCD agreed to have their legal counsel draft agreements for the surcharge that would be that the city’s legal counsel would review before a council vote on the issue.
Taylor told the council that FAYCO’s legal counsel should have its proposed agreement completed by the end of this week.
She suggested putting a survey on either FAYCO’s website or the city’s website, adding that she preferred the latter, feeling that it may be the more objective route.
Going with Survey Monkey, Taylor said, would provide an independent survey, and a final report would be provided.
Mayor Rick Gottman said the survey “would give us the feedback we need.”
Gottman said he has gotten input from a number of people, both for and against the surcharge.
Alderman Dorothy Crawford said that she has gotten about 10 phone calls, as well as face-to-face meetings with some residents who have said, “Oh, by the way, no.”
Alderman Russ Stunkel said, “Same here,” saying that he has received “quite a few phone calls.”
Alderman B. John Clark said, “Personally, I would like to see it, but the people who’ve talked to me don’t. I feel I’m representing the people; if they don’t want it, well, it’s kind of hard for me to support it.”
Alderman Andy Lester said that he has received “one negative call,” then expressed his personal opinion.
“It would be great to do it, but we’ve already increased the water bill once this year,” Lester said.
He said that instead of a surcharge, he favored donations for the FAYCO recycling and having SWCD bill local businesses for electronic items turned in.
Alderman Ken Hubler, chairman of the cemetery and landfill committee, said that from residents he has heard from, “it’s about 50/50.
“We’ve got to do something,” Hubler said. “That’s the big problem there, trying to make it fair for everybody.”