MORGAN COUNTY — Morgan County is planning to have its recycling center reopen by May 1. Maybe.
During their meeting Monday morning, the Morgan County Commissioners voted to accept the contract from Best Way for providing recycling services for the county.
The new center will be located on Ind. 67 at Centerton, just north of the drive-in theater.
The acceptance comes with a couple of items that may need to be resolved with their contract.
Past history
Back in late 2023, the county discontinued its countywide recycling program due to several problems. The locations of the recycle bins were unmanned, and residents operated on the honor system of only putting recyclable materials in the bins.
Unfortunately, some people used the recycle bins for trash dumping — plus the fact the cost of the recycling program rose to levels the county was not wiling to pay, a cost made worse by the amount of trash being put in the bins. There were also complaints from residents living and working around the bids about the trash being left on the ground.
The county did keep one recycling location at the Morgantown Fire Station, which has stayed in operation and contracted through Best Way.
New contract
The contract approved by the commissioners Monday specifies the terms of the contract may change as the county finds out how much the center will be used.
Currently, the contract calls for five 30-yard A-frame recycle bins to be placed at the new location. Each bin is to be replaced three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Currently, the cost to replace a bin is $225 plus a $50 fuel fee for a total of $275. Also there is an $80-per-ton change for processing the recycled materials inside the bin. If there were three tons of materials inside the bin, the additional cost would be $240.
While the commissioners have agreed to the contract terms, they also agreed to an addendum to that contract.
As of Monday, the company had not seen or approved of that addendum.
The addendum calls for additional language in the contract that is required by law, including E-Verify for all new employees, a non-discrimination clause, and a clause that removed the company’s ability to pass on increases in the cost to the county due to increases in the cost to process the material — i.e. the cost of fuel, as one example. It also holds the company liable for damage caused by its vehicles in picking up and delivering recycle bins if that damage is caused by negligence of its employees or other representatives.
The addendum also specifies that since the company is dealing with a government agency that depends on appropriations to pay the bills, if the county council fails to appropriate the funds, the contract will become null and void.
The commissioners asked what happens if the company does not approve of the addendum.
County administrator Kyle Swalls said Monday he asked for proposals from four companies. Swalls said two proposals were submitted. Best Way was one company, and Republic was the second. He said Best Way has the lowest cost of the two.
Swalls said if Best Way does not accept the changes, they could go to the second company.
At this time, the county plans to have the recycle center open on Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed on Tuesday; open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday; Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Other business
- The commissioners approved allowing the prosecutor to apply for a grant to fund the victim’s assistance position, and for the Emergency Management Agency to apply for a grant to fund updates to the areas around the county that flooded.
The proposal is to set up monitor stations that will check for high water on the roads. If a road floods, the monitor will send a signal and automatically close the gates blocking the road.
- They approved a right-of-way deed for the Woodland Caribou development.
- They approved an engagement letter with Baker Tilly to monitor the interest the county is receiving off of the bonds that were issued for the new projects.
The government limits the amount of interest a government entity may earn off of bonds issued for a project. If the county receives more interest than allowed by the IRS, that money must be sent to that agency.
- Sheriff Rich Myers received approval to advertise for the construction of a new 80-by-60-foot evidence building. Myers said they need the new building to help with the storage of large items that must be held until trial.
He said the county council had approved the request for 2026.
- The commissioners signed a new contract with the Humane Society for animal care.
- They approved a contract with CivicPlus for work in making the county’s website ADA accessible.
The next scheduled commissioner meeting is Monday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 180 S. Main St. in Martinsville.
