~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Jefferson city council met Tuesday, Oct 22, and heard updates on automated trash pick-up, recycling, and the animal shelter.
Public works director Dave Morlan reported the automated trash pick-up system has proven to be more efficient according to time and tonnage studies, so Wednesday and Thursday routes are being combined starting Nov 1. The current Thursday route will be picked up on Wednesdays.
Council member Matt Wetrich reported an agreement with Carroll Redemption Center to pick up recycling from drop boxes to be located south of the water treatment plant. An 8-yard dumpster for cardboard will be available, he said and glass will now be accepted, as well pop and beer boxes.
Other categories of recycling remain the same: paper, tin, plastic. Information on acceptable recyclables is available at city hall.
Wetrich said the new agreement should be more cost-effective.” The councils of the other cities in Greene County will decide whether to recycle with Carroll Redemption and will pay for their own services.
Curbside recycling in Jefferson will continue.
Don Orris spoke to the council about the proposed animal shelter. “We’ve been working on this for five years,” he said. “We’re past $500,000. The Dept. of Agriculture has granted $34,000, but we’re running out of donation sources.”
Orris described possibilities in “charitable remainder trusts” where a landowner could donate a number of acres, retain the income from those acres while he or she is alive, and then the land would go to the city upon death of the landowner.
“The trust would be irrevocable and there would be fees to set it up,” Orris said. “The city could borrow money against the trust before actually receiving ownership of the land.”
Upon receiving ownership of the land, the city could rent it out and receive income from it, or the city could sell the land.
Orris asked council members if they would be willing to borrow against such trusts now for the building of the animal shelter, if there are landowners who would be interested in that arrangement.
The council referred the question to city attorney Bob Schwarzkopf. Orris and Schwarzkopf will be getting more information about the legalities and costs of charitable remainder trusts. They will also be looking into other types of property and assets in addition to farmland that owners could set up as charitable remainder trusts.
Orris said, “The largest donor will have the animal shelter named after him or her.” As previously described, other rooms in the shelter will be named for donors.
In other business, the council approved an engineering agreement with Bolton and Menk to develop a wastewater facility plan. An agreement was also approved for a water main improvement project for Chestnut and Adams Sts.
The council approved an addendum to the agreement with Bolton and Menk concerning the Greenewood and Central Avenue trail improvements plan already approved. The addendum adds re-surfacing improvements to the Daubendiek trail.
The council unanimously approved a resolution of support and commitment for Jefferson Main Street programs. This support is typically reaffirmed every two years.
The council did a third and final reading of ordinances to increase water and sewer rates by 3 percent. No objections from the community had been received since the first readings. The ordinances are now in effect.
During the open forum part of the meeting, a citizen asked about progress on plans concerning feral cats. Council members Darrin Jackson and Matt Gordon said they are looking at codes now and there are ongoing meetings about solutions. Their goal for making recommendations is spring, 2020.
Another citizen informed the council of problems near Washington Park with “kids driving golf carts” and “not enough stop signs.” The citizen was advised to call city police when a problem was observed.
