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Tonganoxie City Council wants public input on curbside recycling

By Shawn Linenberger - | May 20, 2014

Estuardo Garcia

Empty water bottles, detergent containers and plastic bags fill the plastic only recycling bin installed by Honey Creek Disposal inc. in the parking lot of Triple Creek Realty. Kevin Weldon, owner of Honey Creek Disposal, said he wanted the new recycling center to help Tonganoxie residents to start living a greener life and reduce the amount of waste put into the new 95-gallon trash containers.

Support for curbside recycling in Tonganoxie is evident on the City Council and among residents, but council members want more input from residents before making a decision.

Randy Weldon with Honey Creek Disposal told the council at the last meeting that, if interested, Tonganoxie could have curbside recycling, either citywide recycling or voluntary.

Cast your vote

The Mirror’s latest online poll asks whether readers favor curbside recycling. Vote in the poll on our main page.

Citywide services would cost the city $2.25 per residence; voluntary services would be $4 for each residence.

During open agenda at Monday’s meeting, Denise Bixby spoke in favor of the added services.

“I encourage you to consider strongly the recycling,” Bixby said. “It looks very encouraging and I just wanted to express my view.

“I’m hardly a green lover, but I’m shocked at the amount of things I’m able to get rid of.”

Council members Jim Truesdell, Bill Peak and Kara Reed said they’d heard positive feedback from people who support curbside recycling services.

Reed said she didn’t currently have a preference regarding mandatory or voluntary services, but said she wanted the council to make a decision in the near future.

Truesdell said he wanted input from residents before making a decision.

Assistant city administrator Jennifer Jones-Lacy said she could ask for feedback on the city’s website, tonganoxie.org, and post a question on the city’s Facebook page.

The city’s current contract with Honey Creek is $12.75 per house. The city charges $15 for trash services.

Weldon told the council at the last meeting that the current company-issued all-blue trash bins have a 95-gallon capacity. The recycling bins are 65 gallons and have yellow bins with photos and instructions about what can and can’t be recycled.

Honey Creek would be able to accept most recyclables with curbside recycling — newspaper, plastic, aluminum, tin, cardboard and even glass.

Recycling pick-up would be every other week. If a family’s recycling load for the two-week period doesn’t fit in the recycling bins, additional boxes can be filled with recyclables next to the bin.

The city’s current contract with Honey Creek doesn’t include curbside recycling, but residents can drop off plastics, cardboard and aluminum cans in its bins near Triple Creek Realty along U.S. Highway 24-40.

The council likely will discuss the topic again at its next meeting, which is 7 p.m. June 2 in council chambers.

Planning commissioners appointed to another term

The council appointed three planning commission members to new terms.

The council voted 3-0 to appoint Steve Gumm, John Morgan and Grant Watson, as their terms end this year.

Mayor Jason Ward and Councilmember Chris Donnelly were absent.

Council president Truesdell served the role of mayor.

Resident voices concerns about ordinance

A Tonganoxie resident asked the council for assistance regarding municipal court proceedings.

Steve Stein, who lives at 602 Yoeke St., told the council that he has made numerous court appearances for nuisance violations at his property.

He said the property needed to be cleaned up, but that he had addressed areas that the city needed to be improved.

However, he said more violations have come up and that he’s not been given the opportunity to properly represent himself in municipal court.

“I was tired of being told to shut my mouth,” Stein said. “I’m there to defend myself. I don’t’ have counsel.”

Stein also said he contacted Mayor Jason Ward to work with him on complying with ordinances. He claimed that City Attorney Michael Kelly made comments to him about getting the mayor involved.

Kelly and Stein then had a short exchange.

“I did no such thing,” Kelly said.

Stein said he faces $6,000 in fines, which he views as exorbitant. He asked the council for its help in the process, but City Administrator Nathan McCommon said that the council makes policy, and that any court proceedings were out of its jurisdiction.

The council asked Stein to meet with McCommon for further discussion on the matter. Stein’s next court date is today.