By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

Curbside recycling could be a reality for the City of Burns if the management at 4R Recycling Center and C&B Sanitary can come to an agreement.
Wayne Baron, manager of the 4R Recycling Center, brought the issue before the Burns City Council at the Jan. 23 meeting. Baron said that since the center opened last year, there has been a lot of local interest in curbside recycling. Currently, locals can drop off their recyclables six days per week at the center. “The public has asked us time and time again to do curbside recycling,” he said.

However, Baron noted that in talking with Burns City Manager Justin Boone, he found out the city’s franchise agreement with C&B Sanitary doesn’t allow it.

Boone agreed and said that C&B Sanitary has all the curbside recycling rights. The city has nine years left on its 10-year agreement with C&B. But the agreement is subject to annual review.

Rod Dinsmore, owner of C&B Sanitary, was present at the meeting, and Councilor Len Vohs asked Dinsmore whether or not the business had any intention of instituting a curbside recycling program.

Dinsmore indicated that perhaps at some point in the future that could be a possibility.

“If these people,” Vohs said, indicating 4R Recycling, “are ready to do it … is there some way this can be worked out?” he asked.
“Maybe we can have a closed door discussion about this,” Dinsmore said.

City Manager Boone said he would arrange a meeting with Baron, Dinsmore and himself to see if they could come up with an agreement.
In other business:

• the council held a public hearing to obtain input on the updating planning ordinances.

Planning commission members John Reponen and Lee Williams were present to answer questions on the proposed changes. The planning commission held a public hearing regarding the same ordinances on Dec. 20, and after some discussion, recommended that the council approve the proposed changes.

Reponen explained that most of the changes update the ordinances to reflect changes that have taken place in the community. For example, he said the old language still refers to the Edward Hines mill. “It’s just an update to take us out of the Edward Hines era,” he said.

Councilor Vohs pushed to approve the proposed changes sooner rather than later because the council would still be able to make later amendments if some more changes were needed. He was concerned that outdated ordinances could make the city ineligible for potential grant funds.

However, city attorney Steve Finlayson didn’t feel the ordinances were ready for approval. He recommended the city hold the hearing open until the Feb. 13 meeting at which the council may act on the proposal;

• Burns Police Chief Rob Nou said that new officers Newton Skunkcap and Jeff Brewer will begin active duty on Feb. 6 and Feb. 19, respectively;

• the council went into executive session to discuss with counsel threatening litigation;

• the council heard an update from City Clerk Dauna Wensenk on the aircraft fueling ramp project at the Burns Municipal Airport. The Airport Committee met with engineers Fred LeLacheur and Tim Orthomeyer of Morrison Maierle to go over the project specs. The project is scheduled to go out for bid on Feb. 3.

Councilor Vohs reminded the council that the fire suppression issue at the airport should not be forgotten. In May 2006, the state fire marshal gave the city five years to come up with a more permanent fire suppression system at the airport.

The next Burns City Council meeting will be on Feb. 13 at Burns City Hall.