By James Beaty
The city of McAlester is getting ready to get into the business of recycling.
McAlester city councilors voted unanimously during their regular Tuesday night meeting to partner with KIBOIS Community Action on a cardboard recycling project.
The plan calls for KIBOIS to provide a recycling center at 609 E. Peoria Ave., known as KIBOIS Area Rural Enterprises.
Acting City Manager Pete Stasiak outlined the project, championed by Ward 3 City Councilor John Browne.
“This was brought before the council about a month-and-a-half ago,” Stasiak noted.
The plan calls for the city of McAlester to provide a currently unused cardboard baler that is in storage at the airport, Stasiak said.
KIBOIS Community Action is to provide the employees.
The plan calls for KIBOIS to pay the city 25 percent of the profit, he said. City councilors also decided it would be a good idea for the city to request quarterly reports on the financial status of the operation.
Stasiak also said he would like to see the proposed contract be in place not for a calendar year, but until the end of the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30. That way, any new contract could be entered upon at the beginning of the fiscal year, he said.
Mayor Kevin Priddle noted that the city will provide insurance and maintenance on the city’s equipment. In addition, KIBOIS Community Action is expected to acquire a second baler from one the customers who will be purchasing the recycled cardboard.
Priddle said the concept looked like a good idea.
“This is one of those ‘I can’t think why we shouldn’t do this’ things,” he said.
No exact starting date of the recycling center was discussed during the Tuesday night meeting.
The plan calls for KIBOIS to provide the concrete pad and cover at the recycling location, to provide three-phase wiring and provide lighting.
In addition, KIBOIS is to provide all of the employees for the project, and they will not be considered employees of the city of McAlester.
KIBOIS is also to secure a hauling company to pick-up the cardboard, as well as a job coach for the employees.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.
com.
