District board of directors met for regular meeting
The Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Rachel Rothacher, administrative assistant, effective Nov. 1. Rothacher has been employed by the district for 10 years. She has accepted a position with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
“We are certainly going to miss her and wish her the best,” said David Held, JSW executive director.
The board also did the following:
—Learned the 2025 solid waste plan update schedule will begin Jan. 1; the draft is due April 20, 2026; final due to OEPA on July 22, 2027; and final approval deadline on Oct. 20, 2027. The policy committee will tentatively meet Jan. 10 at 10:30 a.m. The plan expands 10 years and is updated every three years by GT Environmental Inc.
—Heard the tipping fee revenue is down by 3.43% in 2024 from 2023 through August.
—Heard grant program updates. The sheriff department in the three counties will each have one full-time deputy, the health department will have four employees and the Household Hazardous Waste Community Collection will have two sites. The host community cleanup grants will give $2,500 if approved. Six applications for the grant have been received.
—Heard upcoming changes will be the Recycling Makes Sense grants (curbside) reimbursable in 2025, the yard waste host site block grants will be discontinued in 2026 and the mini-grants will be discontinued in 2025.
—Heard the Ohio EPA community and littler grant application opened Oct. 2, and the deadline is Dec. 1. If awarded, the project start date will be April 1 and will require board approval.
—Approved the district residential scrap tire collection program. Residents must make an appointment, identification is required, 10 tires per person per year maximum, and all residentially generated tire types except for agricultural and semi (on or off rim). Current sites are Canton Recycle Center, Massillon street garage, New Philadelphia street garage and Wayne County old bus garage.
—Approved the 2025 health department, sheriff department and host community cleanup grants.
—Heard any changes in the tipping fees would be made by the policy committee at a financial meeting in May.
Other information
The board congratulated the 2024 master recyclers. They participated in a six-week course.
The board thanked Tuscarawas County Commissioner Chris Abbuhl and Wayne County Commissioner Ron Amstutz for their years of service. They did not seek reelection.
The next meeting will be held Jan. 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the district office at 9918 Wilkshire Blvd. NE in Bolivar.
