Scott County officials ponder ways to spend $5,000

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County commissioners are deciding on an appropriate use for the county's allocation from the Bootheel Solid Waste Management District.

During their regular meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed with Joel Evans, county developer, the annual $5,000 allocation the county is slated to receive provided they have an approved use for the funds.

In the past, the county has used the funding for paper recycling and roadside cleanup programs.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said it is important for commissioners to decide on an appropriate use so the county doesn't lose its annual share of Bootheel Solid Waste funding.

"We pay into that as members," Ziegenhorn said. "We used to get $10,000 but the workshops have taken a lot of the money."

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger asked Evans to contact Willard Adams, Bootheel Solid Waste's planner, to "see what kind of options we have -- give us three or four."

Burger said an idea he is in favor of is to dedicate the money toward cleaning up junk along county roads. He suggested the money could be used to pay the county's tipping fees when taking junk to solid waste transfer stations.

Ziegenhorn suggested using the money to fund another computer parts recycling collection may be of benefit for county residents as there was significant participation in the "e-cycling" held at Sikeston in December.

"I think there is a demand for it," Evans agreed.