Advertisement

The contract was increased by $90 to compensate for the increased cost of gasoline, District No. 9 Commissioner Joe Allen said. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, farmer Marv Rubingh will earn $500 per month to take away the fibers.

The Central Lake Township facility is open to all residents, commissioners said.

"When we started this going it was kind of a trial thing," White said. "We were recommending that the farmer use the paper fibers for his bedding. It is an asset. It is all cardboard and scrap paper and we are paying to have it taken out," he said.

White said he did not know of any recycling spots which paid to have the paper removed, adding it usually was the other way around.

County Coordinator/Planner Peter Garwood said the cost and whether or not it is taken depends a lot on the markets. He also said the price of paper recycling fluctuates greatly.

ÒHe just comes in and takes the paper one time a week,Ó District No. 2 Commissioner Eugene Dawson said, adding the amount usually consists of 10 to 12 hoppers.

"He chops it up and then uses it as bedding for his cattle. He does not sell it and he keeps it to the ground."

Dawson also said he did not pick up the cardboard dropped off there, as he didnÕt have a machine to chop the cardboard into the fine amounts necessary for bedding.

"He also has not had an increase in the past several years," Dawson said.

Blackmore argued that if the county paid Rubingh $500 to haul away the paper fibers from one center, they ought to do the same for the other center, located in Elk Rapids.

"It should be fair to everyone and I just don't see the fairness in this," he said.

Vice Chairman and District No. 7 Commissioner Laura Stanek stated the Elk Rapids facility is not open to the entire county.

"They are open for every one and Central Lake is open for paper only," she said.

Allen suggested the commissioners forge ahead with the agreement and added commissioners needed to keep a close eye on the solid waste discussions upcoming.

"We need to comply with the Solid Waste Plan," Stanek said. "If we did not have it we would not be in compliance with the Solid Waste Plan." Garwood said the plan was needed due to the fact haulers are taking refuse from the western side of the Antrim County to a landfill located in Leelanau County, and do to do so the county needed to have such a plan.