BENTONVILLE — The county is developing a system through which residents can dispose of old materials.
Benton County Judge Dave Bisbee told justices of the peace during Thursday's Quorum Court meeting that county officials are working on the system, which will allow people to dispose of old items, such as mattresses, tires and metal items.
Bisbee described the proposed site for disposal of the items as a convenience center.
Bisbee's statement concerning the convenience center was in response to JP Dan Douglas' question on whether the county would hold a fall countywide cleanup.
The first disposal site will open this fall at the county Road Department on Arkansas Highway 102. The site will be open each Saturday in lieu of a fall countywide cleanup day, according to Bisbee.
Bisbee said he eventuallyhopes to establish four sites throughout the county, with each being open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday except on holidays.
County Administrator Chris Glass told justices he is looking at a fee schedule to see how much to charge for disposing of certain items - for example, old mattresses or La-Z-Boy chairs.
Glass said the county will not charge for metal items because the county will receive money back from recycling those items.
JP Kurt Moore recommended that the process be as convenient as possible because it costs the county more to clean up items dumped along roads.
Bisbee said getting the convenience center up and running is his No. 1 priority.
The center at the Road Department will serve as a learning process when the county moves to locate three additional sites in other parts of the county, Bisbee said.
He expects a hectic first day for the Road Department center.
"Please, everyone, don't come on the first Saturday," Bisbee said.
In other business, justices approved the first reading of an ordinance that would increase jail fees from $32.50 per day to $40 per day forprisoners whom the county homeowners' rights.
houses for cities. Watson said the plan
The ordinance must go would not impact a homthrough two more readings eowner's rights, but would and, if passed, will take ef- only give the county an opfect Jan. 1. portunity to apply for cer-
Justices also approved a tain mitigation funds.
resolution to accept a haz- "We are not setting any ard-mitigation plan, which policy for land use," Watson will make the county eligible said.
to receive certain grants One example of a success from the Federal Emergency story is that the Fort Smith Management Agency. School District applied for
Marshal Watson, director mitigation funds and was of the county's Department able to put a tornado safe of Emergency Manage- room in each of its schools, ment, told justices that all Watson said.
the school districts and The justices passed the municipalities, except for hazard-mitigation resolu-Bella Vista, have approved tion by an 8-2 vote. Three resolutions supporting the justices were absent.
mitigation plan. The justices' final act was
Two people spoke out a vote to change the location against adopting the miti- of their 6 p.m. Oct. 22 meetgation plan out of concern ing to the Siloam Springs that the plan would tread on City Hall.
News, Pages 1, 11 on 09/25/2009