Allen County Commissioners approved a solid waste management plan Tuesday morning. A new plan is implemented every five years.
Public Works Director Mitch Garner noted Allen County owns 240 acres at a limestone quarry adjacent to the county’s landfill site. Approximately 70 acres of this has been filled, leaving 180 acres for future cells. This should serve the Allen County area for at least 50 to 75 years, Garner said.
In 2012, commissioners approved construction of two additional 10-acre cells within the next 15 to 20 years. One was constructed in 2014 at a cost of roughly $1.5 million. It is expected to be filled in less than a year.
“A new 10-acre cell should be completed in May,” said Garner. He added that 6,812 tons of residential waste from Allen County was transported by the city and private haulers to the landfill in 2023. This, combined with businesses’ waste, translates to 12,160 tons of trash generated from Allen County in 2023.
Commissioners were given an overview of changes that are expected to occur over the next 10 years. Garner noted this includes having a tire monofill and a new construction and demolition (C&D) site in approximately five or six years. “These should be completed before we do our next solid waste management plan,” he said.
Currently, recycling efforts are being made on a small scale. The landfill has obtained barrels to accept lithium batteries, including batteries from laptops, cell phones, toys and tools. “The hope is that effort will keep those out of the landfill and reduce the risk of fires,” said Garner. The landfill also currently accepts No. 2 plastic milk jugs and is working towards accepting other materials in the future, such as cardboard and newspaper.
“We will continue our recycling efforts and may add additional containers for other items in the next five years as those opportunities come along with partnerships,” he said.
IN OTHER NEWS, the commission declared April as both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Staff from Hope Unlimited and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) were on-hand to accept the proclamations.
In 2023, Hope Unlimited served 191 victims of sexual assault with 116 of those cases being from Allen County. It was noted that every 68 seconds, there is a victim of sexual assault.
Hope Unlimited’s outreach for Sexual Assault Awareness Month includes going to some of the area colleges throughout the month of April and setting up a booth to show the services it provides.
“Hope Unlimited also is a part of the Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART),” noted Hope Unlimited Child Advocacy Center Coordinator Donita Garner. “We go to the hospital and meet with sexual assault victims.” She added that Hope Unlimited helps victims find resources to help them with the court process, including crime victims compensation applications. “Then we continue with the therapeutic process,” she said.
COMMISSIONERS also approved three separate bids presented by Interim Road and Bridge Director Jeremy Hopkins. The first was for the furnishing and installation of a flatbed on the county’s 2011 F250 short bed truck. The two bids received were $5,025 from Jost Fabrication of Hillsboro and $6,924.90 from Kansas Truck Company of Wichita. The commission approved Jost Fabrication’s bid.
The commission approved a bid of $193,000 for asphalt overlay from Bettis Asphalt & Construction, Inc. The overlay will be for McAtee and Dodge drives.
The commission also approved a sole bid from Foley Equipment for $8,839.84 for repairs to the 980K loader at the quarry.
