Recycling returns to Mount Ayr
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Curbside recycling will return to Mount Ayr following action at the Monday, February 1 city council meeting.
After reviewing a new proposal from Waste Management, the council approved an agreement by which city crews will collect recycling and deliver it to a roll off dumpster in town. Waste Management will then transport the recycling to its facility in Creston.
Under the agreement, the city will pay Waste Management $29,763.36 to handle up to 85 tons of recycling annually. (City administrator Brent Wise advised the council that the city had picked up 83.09 tons over a 12 month period last year.)
Wise said the city will redistribute residential recycling cannisters beginning this week, with the first day of pickup to be Thursday, February 18 on the east side of town. Recycling days will be split between the east and west sides of town on alternating weeks.
No mention was made of any fee increases tied to the resumption of the recycling service at this time.
Further details about pickup dates, allowable recyclables and other recycling information will be released next week.
Law enforcement
The council reviewed the proposal from Ringgold County Sheriff Rob Haley regarding the continuation of providing law enforcement for the city of Mount Ayr.
Under the proposal, the Sheriff’s Office would continue to provide the service for a flat fee of $180,000 paid in quarterly increments.
The four-year contract will include a 4 percent annual increase.
Under the current agreement between the city and county, the city pays the salaries and benefits of two deputies, purchases and outfits two vehicles, and covers other related expenses in exchange for the equivalent of 80 hours of law enforcement per week at a cost of $195,440.
The new contract would eliminate the itemized division of expenses.
However, city clerk Amanda Cannon pointed out that without language that the agreement includes salary and benefits for at least one deputy, the city would no longer be able to levy additional funds to cover benefits costs, adding an estimated $30,000 to the $180,000 price tag.
Council members also questioned law enforcement needs specific to Mount Ayr as well as fees for dispatch service.
The council decided to seek a work session with Sheriff Haley to iron out the details of the agreement prior to considering acceptance of the proposal at their February 15 meeting.
Other business
In other business the council:
• appointed Fay Howie and Heather Gottemoeller to complete the terms of two members – Chandra Poore and Chanse Hall – who had resigned from the park board.
• hired Ranae Stewart as the city’s recreation director. The contract runs approximately 22 weeks through June 30 at a salary of $5,200. Stewart’s duties would entail field prep for the Little League season, not to include mowing. She would also have no responsibilities for adult softball or the swimming pool.
• approved two tax abatements: one to Steve Fetty for a new garage and the other to Ronald Conley for a new house.
• briefly discussed the development of a policy to deal with bills for unexpected excessive water usage.
