COG to propose to run recycling

By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Council of Governments wants to take over the county's recycling and solid waste office.
Members voted Wednesday to put together a proposal and give it to county commissioners.
COG Director Robert Callen said he should have the proposal ready in the next month.
"It's a way of enhancing the COG with some added duties and bringing in some finances," he said.
COG members and the county have been at odds recently over a proposed countywide recycling project.
COG, which consists of elected officials from most of the townships and boroughs, wanted the county to buy a VQuip System, a patented system compatible with Mercer County's drop-off recycling program.
But the previous board of commissioners decided to go with a system that cost less than the estimated $500,000 for the VQuip System. The bins and trucks have already been ordered.
Commissioner Dan Vogler, who took office last month, said commissioners are just turning their attention to countywide recycling. They had been busy with the closing of the county nursing home and revamping the 2004 budget.
Advertising costs
Vogler said commissioners have some questions about this new system's cost. They have yet to approve a purchase order for 20,000 refrigerator magnets for $6,000 and 20,000 brochures for $17,000 that are meant to promote the countywide recycling program.
"I think when the new commissioners saw that, six eyebrows went up. It's not coming from the general fund. It's a grant, but it still ultimately comes from the taxpayer," Vogler said.
Officials said countywide recycling appears to have been held up because decals for the bins are still being designed. The county bought 64 bins. County officials received a $1,038,000 state grant for the program.
COG member Norb Kendall, a Wilmington Township supervisor, said he's been unhappy with the operation of the county recycling and solid waste office. He said the office has not gone after fees from rubbish haulers in the county, and he's upset the county did not use the VQuip System.
Kendall said he's also unsure that COG would keep the county employees if it takes over the office.
"We want to do it right, and we want to do it effectively," Callen added. "The customers [local municipalities] sit here at the table, and if they don't like it they can change it. [With the county,] there was just no accountability."
cioffi@vindy.com