ShawneeDispatch.com

Some city officials say the city of Shawnee is being too cautious when it comes to expanding a parks recycling program.

The Shawnee City Council discussed the matter in depth Monday when Council member Kevin Straub suggested the city expand its parks recycling program from the two parks in which a pilot program is running to at least two to six additional parks. Though Straub got some Council and public support, a majority of the Council decided it was best to wait for more results before spending more money.

The pilot program began in March in Swarner and Stump parks, which are the most populated in the warm months because of their soccer fields. In July, with evidence that many were still throwing recyclables into the trash, the Council had voted to experiment with the way the recycling cans were signed and wait until the fall soccer season was over in November before determining the next step.

Council member Dan Pflumm said he didn't understand why the city wouldn't move forward with expanding the program if there wasn't a high expense.

Kelby Helwig, manager of parks and facilities, said that with the program showing spotty participation thus far, he thought it was important to continue to experiment and make sure people "bought in" to the program. He said the biggest soccer tournament of the year had been the previous weekend at Stump Park, but it only netted half a bag of recyclables.

Straub said that in the first few months, 14 percent of waste from the two parks was recycled, and that parks officials said it took little effort or cost.

He said the city recently had spent a good amount of money on a branding project and a study for the northern portion of Monticello Road, and he didn't see recycling as that large of a cost. He said he didn't want to expand it to all parks immediately, but in the next three months, he'd like to expand recycling to two to six more parks.

"If we get just 5 percent of people doing it, it's worth it," he said.

John Ross of Shawnee also spoke in favor of expanding the program immediately, saying he didn't understand how waiting for results would help the Council determine what to do next.

Other Council members said it was important to work through the pilot program to determine the best way to use taxpayer dollars as it was expanded. Council member Dawn Kuhn said by moving forward now, the city wouldn't know if it was spending money to the best of its ability or if it was just spending money.

"Let's figure out what the best purchase is we can make, so when we get into this for the long haul, we can do it right," she said.

The motion to delay expansion of the program to November was approved 6-2, with Pflumm and Straub voting in opposition.

In other business, the Council:

¢ Approved 7-1 issuing $4.2 million in federally taxable private activity revenue bonds for the Stag's Grove office building at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Halsey Street, with Council member Michelle Distler voting in opposition. Council member Mickey Sandifer said he was voting in approval because it would be a difficult piece of property to develop with its drainage issues.

¢ Approved an ordinance related to the declaration of disaster emergency.

¢ Approved an agreement with Johnson County Park and Recreation District for construction of a trail on city property.

¢ Approved a contract for $22,000 with Bucher, Willis and Ratliff for engineering services related to the 2008 bridge repair contract.

¢ Approved a contract not to exceed $59,603.50 with George Butler Associates Inc. for design, bid and construction services for the Northwest Woods storm drainage improvements.

¢ Approved a contract not to exceed $43,000 with Payne & Brockway for design, bid and construction services for the storm drainage improvements in the area of the 6100 block of Noland and the 6300 block of Melrose.

¢ Approved amendments to the comprehensive plan.

¢ Approved rezoning from single family residential to duplex for a lot at 5935 Pflumm Road.

¢ Approved renewal of a license for a pawn broker/precious metal dealer for Shawnee Auto and Pawn, 10704 Shawnee Mission Parkway.

¢ Approved semi-monthly claims totaling $2,802,058.

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