The Board of Commissioners took the first step toward withdrawing Montgomery County from the West Central Solid Waste District, a move officials say will save thousands of dollars on hazardous material disposal and recycling.
“I don’t know, over the 10 years of being on the commissioners, I think this is something we’ve talked about probably eight out of the ten years,” commissioner Jim Fulwider said Monday before the board unanimously approved a resolution declaring the county’s intention to end the membership.
The board must adopt a second, nearly identical measure re-affirming the plan and triggering a standard financial review process to formalize the withdrawal. The county seeks to leave the organization by year’s end and start its own district with the City of Crawfordsville.
West Central Solid Waste is the sponsor of annual Tox-Away waste disposal events in Montgomery, Parke and Putnam counties and provides recycling drop-off centers in rural communities. More than a dozen recycling program grants were awarded in 2019 to schools in the district.
Montgomery County paid $66,717 this year to participate in the district, a nearly $10,000 increase from 2019. A report presented to the board earlier this month shows the county could save more than $24,000 a year with its own system.
The county argues it shouldn’t have to pay so much in annual contributions when the district has more than $1 million in cash reserves. The district has gradually reduced the balance in recent years.
“We could talk about the opportunities to change the direction of that district, but that’s a horse that’s not coming back to life,” said commissioner John Frey, expressing support for a separate district.
West Central Solid Waste Director Jane Collisi didn’t immediately respond to a phone message and email seeking comment.
Commissioner Dan Guard, who proposed ending the partnership, said a new district would benefit the county financially. Guard represents the commissioners on West Central Solid Waste’s board of directors.
“I think we save money even if we don’t save money, and we’re in a wash that we are in a situation where it’s our own district and we’ve created our own rules and we can govern ourselves and I think it’s a good move,” Guard said.
