Mayors reconsider starting a recycling program

The Regional Board of Mayors will take another run at looking into a recycling program, they decided Monday.

The four mayors in charge of the Delano Regional Transfer Station said they would bring it up again with their respective municipal councils and report back next month.

The mayors had already approved the purchase of a $13,000 bin system to collect recyclable items, but each was to get their respective council’s approval for their share of the bin cost.

The first municipality to test this plan was Elmer City, whose share was $849.26. Its council decided not to participate because of the cost and the fact that its residents were close to the Colville Tribal Recycling Center and could take items there, 11 miles north.

Mayor Gail Morin said she would re-introduce the idea to the Elmer City council, which meets this Thursday.

Normally, all four councils have to favor an issue before it can move forward.

Others have had mixed reviews.

Coulee Dam seems inclined to favor recycling, and Mayor Greg Wilder had even indicated that the town might move forward on its own with some kind of effort.

Wilder on Monday, however, stated that he has a new council and would bring it up again. Coulee Dam has two new council members, David Schmidt and Keith St. Jeor.

Paul Townsend told mayors that he would bring recycling up with his Grand Coulee council and report back. Earlier, the council had been undecided on the issue. Townsend took over mayoral duties in late December.

Mayor John Nordine II, Electric City’s mayor, will air the issue out before the mayors meet again.

The discussion focused on the location for the bin, and the strongest site appeared to be at the transfer station, which is now open five days a week.

Wilder suggested the idea could be tested for a year, but if it was unsuccessful the bin could be sold.

The different municipalities’ share of the cost of the bin, based on the weight of material they sent to the transfer station in 2015, would be: at 23 percent, Electric City, $3,255.48; Grand Coulee, 40 percent, $5,661.70; Coulee Dam, 31 percent, $4,387.82; and Elmer City, 6 percent, $849.26.