KINGWOOD – The Preston County Solid Waste Authority agreed to purchase a new Kawasaki UTV and a five-ton trailer to help with litter cleanup.
Money for the equipment will come from a $13,707 Solid Waste Management grant. The trailer and four-by-four will be used by county Litter Officer Jay Sowers.
Board members voted to purchase both from Romney Cycles. According to Don Smith, who represents the Preston County Commission on the board, three verbal bids were received on both items. He said Elkins motors bid $8,100 for the trailer, Smitty’s Kawasaki in Buckhannon bid $8,225 and Romney Cycles bid $7,700.
Smith said two of the three verbal bids for the trailer came from Pennsylvania, He said Best Line Equipment bid $5,999 and Smouse Trucks and Vans bid $5,250. Romney Cycles bid $5,500.
The authority has applied for a Solid Waste Management Board Grant for fiscal year 2020. Smith said if approved money from the grant would be used to place recycling center bins at or near Alpine Lake. He said the county board will know within the next couple weeks if the grant was approved.
“We didn’t get it last year because we had three sites. This year we only have one,” Smith said.
No decision was made about starting a glass recycling program. Smith said he recently received information about recycling glass for landscaping.
“It was interesting because the sharp edges are ground off the glass and it can be used for landscaping. I want to look at it a little more,” he said.
Sowers said Terra Alta currently has only one person working with its recycling program. “This puts a damper on pickup around the county. I don’t want it (recyclables) piling up,” he said. “This could be a serious problem.”
Sowers also questioned the board about recycling locations for hardback school books. He said a local school wants to dispose of books and asked him where they could be sent. Charlie Pase said he took 15 tons from Preston County schools in the past. He said they went to what is now Nine Dragons Paper LLC in Fairmont. Sowers said the school also has shredded paper that must to dispose of.
He said the Preston County Office of Emergency Management is asking residents who live in the flood plain to secure everything on their property. This is required by FEMA and the county flood ordinance.
“Propane tanks and other items must be strapped down,” he said. Sowers said he recently hoisted a large tank that wasn’t properly secured up an embankment.
The next meeting of the SWA will be 7 p.m. Oct. 2.
