COUNTY WASTE DISPOSAL CONCERNS CHAFFEE MAYOR

CHAFFEE -- Mayor Ron Moyers voiced concern Monday over Scott County's failure to join a regional solid waste management program, saying it could cost the city an additional $15,000 a year.

Speaking at the Chaffee City Council's regular meeting, Moyers said the county commission, as of Monday, had not become part of the waste management program. He said that six counties, including Scott County if it joins, would make up the regional program.

Moyers said he received an outline on the program two or three weeks ago from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Similar regional programs are taking place across the state, he said.

"From my understanding going through this manual, if our county does not become part of this solid waste management, it could cost us as much as $15,000 per year in addition to what we are now paying," he told City Council members and other city officials. "The state of Missouri is serious about this, and we better be."

The mayor admitted he didn't understand all the plan's details, and said the city's attorney, David Summers, would have to look at the outline. He said he wasn't certain if the increased cost would result from "tipping fees" or if the city couldn't dump its waste at a recycling center or landfill if it is not a part of the program.

Cunningham said his understanding was that if the city fails to become part of the program, the city could be ineligibility for state grants.

Moyers said he tried to contact county Presiding Commissioner Durward Dover over the weekend, but couldn't reach him. City Administrator Reece Brown and Ward 4 Councilman Tom Cunningham were asked to get in touch with the county's commissioners to determine their feelings toward the program.

"I know they've been opposed to it in the past," the mayor said, "but when it's going to start costing us money because of some unknown reason to us, I think we need to know what that reason is. I don't understand why they're being so hesitant about it, but we need to find out because it's a very short time for us to get into this as a county."

Moyers said the state requires a 20 percent reduction in waste through recycling by 1995.

Dover, reached Tuesday, said Cunningham and Brown had both met with the commission. A meeting of the county's mayors will be held on the topic in the very near future to "get a direction on what the cities want to do," he said.

"Each city of 500 population or more, their mayor will be involved and will certainly be welcome to speak to give some sense of direction. We'll do whatever they want to do. We want to know what the cities want."

The meeting, Dover said, would be held as soon as possible. Dover said Scott County was not represented last Thursday when officials of the counties of Pemiscot, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Stoddard agreed to the solid waste regional program.

Following Monday's meeting, Moyers said the state has worked on the program for the last year. A senate bill requires it, he said.

Also Monday:

Ward 1 Councilman Jerry Wolsey announced the city had sold its emergency preparedness truck for $3,000 to Hacker Plumbing in Cape Girardeau. The city bought the truck in October 1990 in the midst of the projection by the late climatologist Iben Browning that a major earthquake would occur along the New Madrid Fault on Dec. 3 of that year.

The council approved a building permit for construction of the new Chaffee branch of the First National Bank of Sikeston at Main and Yoakum. The bank's former building at that location has been torn down, Moyers said.

City Building Inspector Jack Limbaugh said construction on the new building would probably begin in 10 days.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Irmgard Chronister lauded work done at the city's animal shelter by city Police Officer Bill Thorne.

"It's clean; it's picked up. I wouldn't mind putting my dogs in there. That's how nice it is," she said. Chronister is in charge of the animal shelter.

Moyers introduced the city's new police chief, Jerry Bledsoe. Bledsoe started as chief Monday, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of former police chief Ivan McLain in December.