Bainbridge council talks Cleanup Day at recent meeting

BAINBRIDGE -- After seeing great success with last year’s town-sponsored Cleanup and Tox-Away days, council members at Bainbridge have decided to capitalize on the still-fresh idea, announcing during Wednesday’s public session that it is again time for a little spring cleaning.

Offering the trash-removal opportunity exclusively to Bainbridge residents, the council would like to encourage all of its citizens to do away with any large trash and “all unwanted junk” on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bainbridge Town Hall, located at 201 N. Grant Ave.

With industrial-sized dumpsters returning and volunteers available to assist, Cleanup Day will be the lone event this year as opposed to years passed when Cleanup Day was accompanied by Tox-Away Day. Although Tox-Away Day will not take place in Bainbridge this year, it will still occur in Greencastle on the same day and at the same time (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at the Area 30 campus, located at 1 N. Calbert Way, Greencastle.

Board president Jerry Lents spoke highly in favor of Cleanup Day in Bainbridge, noting that Clerk-treasurer Monica Bray has been mailing out fliers to residents.

“If a resident does need assistance -- if they have something they can’t pick up or something like that and need help -- call town hall and we’ll get your name on a list,” Lents said. “ (Bray) has done an excellent job with this.”

Bray, who has taken point with the event, said donations of one’s time and effort are encouraged.

“We’re also looking for volunteers,” Bray said. “Anyone who wants to help will be welcome and will become part of the event.”

According to the town’s website (townofbainbridge.com), “hazardous household chemicals, oil, oil-based paint, batteries, pesticides, computers, televisions, tires, fertilizers, air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers will not be accepted.” However, these items and more will be accepted at the Area 30 site with two items of note -- televisions of any size will be accepted for a fee of $20. West Central Solid Waste will also accept tires of any size on a sliding-fee scale.

Also, Bray went on to include the announcement that plastic bottle caps are still being sought by Bainbridge Elementary School for its recycling program.

In a separate but related matter, two additional tox-away days will be taking place this summer around the region. West Central Solid Waste District will be hosting similar events at North Montgomery High School just north of Crawfordsville on June 24 and again at the Parke County 4-H Fairgrounds in Rockville.

For more information on the event in Bainbridge, or to arrange assistance with large-trash removal, contact the community’s town hall at 522-6238.

In other business:

• A Utility Board report was given to the board Wednesday: this year’s “cold patch” was delivered Wednesday morning and streets will begin to see pothole repair soon; the town’s sewage plant is now operational; light and power pole inspections were recently administered; and mowing for the town has begun.

• Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick delivered his monthly marshal’s report. A total of 38 dispatched-runs took place between March 8 and April 12 with an increase in traffic during the summer months expected to cause that number to rise; the purchase of a gun safe for the police department within Town Hall was discussed and ultimately turned down by the board despite a comprehensive pitch by the marshal; upcoming security cameras for Town Hall were discussed and are looked forward to by many; a minor accident involving a police vehicle will be resolved after three bids to repair the vehicles are obtained by Fenwick; recent training for Fenwick and his deputies went well; and emergency generators for Town Hall (to be used as a shelter for Bainbridge residents in case of emergency) were discussed -- three government-provided generators will be delivered soon.

• Jeff Modlin, a former police officer for the Bainbridge and Greencastle communities, was approved as the town’s second reserve deputy.

• Tom Hagymasi was approved to fill a vacant position on the Zoning Board.

• The next regularly-scheduled public session for the town of Bainbridge will be Wednesday, May 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Bainbridge Town Hall.