Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1990 TAG: 9003212011
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
The board authorized County Administrator Randy Arno to contract with Pat Therrien of Copper Hill to operate the center.
Therrien made a presentation to the board at its regular monthly meeting. Her plan emphasized education, financial self-sufficiency, increasing materials handled and reducing solid waste.
Therrien will replace Bruce Neira and Dennis Lucera, who have operated the center at the landfill since its inception 1 1/2 years ago.
Neira and Lucera gave the county 30-day notice that they intended to withdraw from the operation of the center in late February.
The county was negotiating with Neira and Lucera, said County Attorney Marc Small. "They decided not to pursue it any further. I don't think they were unhappy with us as much as they thought they couldn't make any money at it. . . ."
Because of the withdrawal of Neira and Lucera, the supervisors realized this may be their last chance to have an individual operate the recycling center as a business.
"If it fails this time, we'll have to take it over," said Supervisor Lowell Boothe. "It's our responsibility as a county, regardless what it will cost us."
State mandates require localities to recycle 25 percent of their solid waste by July 1992.
Contract details remain to be worked out. Small said it would be similar to the contract discussed with Neira and Lucera. Under such an agreement, the county would receive 5 percent of the first $10,000 of net revenue of the recycling center and 10 percent of additional revenue. This would be in exchange for allowing the center at the landfill.
Therrien anticipates taking over operation of the center next week. Among her first moves will be expanding the center's hours and establishing collection sites at locations throughout the county.
The supervisors also received the $8.2 million budget approved by the School Board Friday.
They also voted to spend up to $3,245 for shrubs and trees for the courthouse lawn. The appropriation was made at the request of the Floyd Woman's Club for its courthouse-area beautification project.
The board scheduled a special meeting for April 10 at 7:30 p.m. to work on budget matters. The next regular meeting is April 16; there will be public hearings on the six-year road plan at 1:30 p.m. and on proposed amendments to the subdivision ordinance at 4 p.m.
by CNB