The Observation Deck

How does everyone out there feel about the City scraping the recycling program?

Rhonda Loje

My understanding is that a position will be cut not the recycling program. I was a little freaked over the rumor so I needed to find out. I'm sorry I don't have all the details but maybe someone from city council or the mayor could give us the details.

Before rumors get started, the City is not contemplating scrapping the recycling program, nor does adopt-a-spot need to be eliminated. We have one part-time position which was formerly funded by a grant, which the City has now lost. Council is deliberating about whether it is wise to replace the grant funds out of our general fund.

One of the problems with getting "free" money from government grants for additional employees is that when the grant is eliminated, the employees sometimes remain, and the City is left with the cost. With over 80% of our general fund consisting of personnel wages and benefits, Council is looking at establishing a more stringent policy for eliminating positions when the outside grants that created them are eliminated.

The proposed cut is the "Education Specialist." This position does good, but in the whole scheme of things some members of City Council think that it is imprudent to spend the same tax dollar twice.

For example, within the state education standards (www.ode.state.oh.us) it is mandated that science teachers instruct students as early as the second grade on topics including recycling and conservation. This education continues through the eleventh grade where students are taught about more complicated issues such as global warming and environmental protection.

So if our city schools are mandated to teach this information by the state, why is it necessary to pay $15K for a part-time city worker to do the same job? Let's not forget the other $35K in supplies that go along with the position. In hard times we have to make hard decisions, this is the least of them.

So if our city schools are mandated to teach this information by the state, why is it necessary to pay $15K for a part-time city worker to do the same job? Let's not forget the other $35K in supplies that go along with the position. In hard times we have to make hard decisions, this is the least of them.

Ryan thank you for clarifying. I agree that cuts need to be made and I don't think this cut will be extremely painful to our schools or city.

Does this mean we won't be getting the recycling newsletter from the city?

I have always found the information contained in those notices to be very informative and would appreciate their continuation.

Would those newsletters be part of the education (and cost) elements of the position?

Of course there are more questions following an answer. I want to thank both council members Demro and Fitzgerald for addressing the issue.

I attended the finance committee hearing this evening before the regular council meeting. I came away with some mixed messages. Council evidently wants to keep the Adopt-a-Spot and recycling program, but questioned both personnel and expenditures.

It seemed to me that council wants to stop funding the educational aspect of the program, which I think is a mistake for a couple of reasons. While teachers in the school system can provide various lessons regarding recycling, I doublt that they have the time to get as in-depth in their presentations as an outside specialist. When you're teaching children, they also gain an understanding from the bigger picture that tells them that the city thinks this is important and it thinks they are important, too. The education that the city provides to school kids isn't a full-time gig and that specialist does many other things.

Teaching the community about recycling and littering also shouldn't be geared enirely towards children.

Some of the questions regarding the program had to do with expenditures such as the chaise chairs (made from recycled material) that were purchased for Madison Pool. The funds for the purchases were partially from a grant, but the grant money was matched by the city. If the city had to purchase such things for the pool, the fact that someone found a way to help underwrite the expense seems smart.

I believe that the more the city can learn about purchasing various items (like the chairs or picnic tables) that are made from recycled materials, the better.

The program also spent money on promotional give-aways, such as ice scrapers, sponges and fans. These things are usually given out at community events, and it's an incentive to get people to come over to a booth and also pick up information about recycling (and keeping Lakewood beautiful). I doubt that that line in the budget is too large.

The program also purchased some billboard space in the city to promote recycling and prevent litter (one that I regularly see shows the Mayor recycling). That might be a place to make a cut.

I like getting the green newsletters and usually learn something new from them. I appreciate the Adopt-a-Spots. I think the leaf humas sales are wonderful. I don't know how some of the things like Adopt-a-Spot, Earth Day, Spring Spruce-up, the humas & plant sales - not to mention the newsletters - could happen without some help from the city.

I've lived here long enough to remember when we didn't have the "spots." It wasn't pretty. I remember how difficult it was to get a recycling program sarted. Back when dirt was young (and so was I) high school kids were trying to take things further than promoting a paper drive. We had to separate the glass into different barrels by color!

I know this budget process can be long and rancorous. I appreciate the fact that council is "looking under every rock."

Doing more with less and building a development fund at the same time isn't easy. Right now it appears that the finance committee wants to find $40,000 worth of cuts (or unexpected income) before the deadline to approve the budget.

Maybe the city can look a little closer and come up with a few things to streamline and maybe that $40,000 will "reappear" with tax collections.

This stuff isn't easy. It's ugly and can seem mean spirited. There is, however, nothing wrong with taking a hard look at how our money is being spent. We also need to consider how the expenditures can reap benefits.

Our recycling program and our Adopt-a-Spots bring Lakewood a lot of positive attention both from residents and non-residents (or potential residents) alike.

DL, thank you for the update on the meetings last night. I hope these programs can be saved. I know that these programs do a lot of good in the community. My oldest loves the environmental club at school and is so looking forward to Earth Day.Yes times are tight and cuts need to be made, I just hope these programs can be saved. I know that these programs do go after grants to keep their costs down, so it appears they are doing what they can do to save the city money. Let's just hope they can be saved.