County examines future with West Central Solid Waste

Several years of not having to pay for an important service is a good thing, except for one factor.

What happens when it’s time to start paying again?

That will be the situation facing Putnam County leaders about a year from now when the time comes to decide on the 2021 annual contribution to the West Central Solid Waste District.

Currently, the county still has a $77,820 credit with the district, which also serves Montgomery and Parke counties.

However, with an annual contribution of $1.75 per person in the county, the credit will be reduced by $66,435 in 2020.

Having operated at a loss in recent years, the West Central Solid Waste board voted to raise the per capita contribution from $1.50 in 2019 to $1.75 in 2020.

That will leave just $11,385, making 2021 the year to pay the fiddler.

“Next year is going to be the year we have to decide how to fund this,” Commissioner Rick Woodall said Monday. “For the last six, seven years, nowhere in the budget of Putnam County is this part of it.

“At some point in the next year, we have to determine if this is a viable resource for the constituents of Putnam County.”

Among the services offered by West Central are the annual Tox-Away Days in all three counties as well as operating the yard waste site southwest of Greencastle.

Having taken some things of his own to the local Tox-Away Day in May, Woodall observed that there were eight semi trailers full of items such as tires and appliances, with more items sitting on the ground waiting for more trailers.

“They do, in my opinion, provide a service to the county,” Woodall said.

Given that continuing to do business with West Central Solid Waste will involve budget issues, the future of the relationship will be in the hands of both the commissioners and the Putnam County Council.