Bid to Eliminate Solid Waste District Defeated

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The Lake County Council’s two Republicans say it is time to disband the Lake County Solid Waste Management District and redistribute its duties to other county offices.

Republican Councilmen Dan Dernulc, of Highland, and Eldon Strong, of Crown Point, voted against the waste district’s budget Tuesday during the first reading of the 2018 budget ordinances. The budget passed 5-2.

The agency’s 2018 budget proposal calls for $5.7 million in funding, officials said.

Councilman Dave Hamm, D-Hammond, and Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, represent the council on the 27-member waste management district board.

Dernulc said the work accomplished by the board could be absorbed by other county entities, such as public works or county commissioners. He objects to the separate tax levy for the district.

“I don’t think we need a solid waste board,” Strong said. State statute creating the solid waste board said counties may establish a board, not must establish, a waste board, he said.

According to the district website, it was established Feb. 5, 1991, in response to House Bill 1240 requiring counties to form solid waste management districts. Lake County “developed a comprehensive plan of education, recycling assistance and technical assistance for both industry and the public to reduce waste by 50 percent by 2001, a statewide goal.”

Strong said the 27-member board was too large and is no longer necessary. Staffing could also be reduced by consolidation, he said. The district currently has a staff of 10. Positions include an executive director, assistant director, business operations/government affairs director, field operations program manager, driver/operator, office manager, sustainability/education awareness coordinator, environmental education center coordinator, education and public information programs manager and education assistant.

“The groundwork has been laid. Now it is just administrative stuff,” Strong said.

Courtesy: https://wasteadvantagemag.com