News & Events

Two programs, one authority

By Summer Wallace-Minger, Staff writer
(originally appeared in the Herald Star)

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WINTERSVILLE — By the end of the year, Belmont and Jefferson counties’ Recycling and Litter Prevention Programs will no longer exist.

The two programs will be replaced by Keep Jefferson County Beautiful and Keep Belmont County Beautiful, two agencies operating under the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority. The two programs will be similar to their predecessors, even retaining the same staff members.

The recycling and litter prevention programs currently operate under their respective county commissions, but are entirely funded by the solid waste authority. The two commissions have agreed to dissolve the county programs.

The solid waste authority has provided more than $300,000 in funding to the two programs in the past year. The board of directors was in favor of the new agencies because the authority had no oversight concerning how funds were being spent by the programs under the county commissions.

Additionally, since the two programs are operated separately under two governmental bodies, it is difficult for one to lend aid to the other, especially in emergency situations, according to Patrick Lanaghan, solid waste director.

“The county line will no longer be a barrier to us,” said Lanaghan.

Lanaghan added once the programs come under the solid waste authority, in the case of personnel shortages or equipment malfunctions, one program could lend resources to the other because the authority has the primary responsibility for waste management and recycling in the two counties.

He added he will take over some of the administrative duties and the authority’s financial officer, Dave Hays, will take over accounting and financial duties.

Diane Julio, Jefferson program director, and Samantha Carroll, Belmont program director, said the move will allow them to spend more time operating the programs and educating the public.

The women are enthusiastic about the programs working together and the possible expansion of recycling and litter prevention services in both counties.

There will be no reductions or sudden changes in services, Lanaghan stressed.

The Jefferson program and authority will remain in its current offices, but the authority hopes to find a new office for the Belmont County program, which is located in Bethesda.

The authority learned in November 2005 that both programs would be losing approximately $56,600 each in Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant funding. At that time, the authority was providing $80,000 in funding to the two programs. The authority board members agreed to allocate additional funds for each of the programs, totaling more than $100,000 for fiscal year 2006.

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