Beech Tree News Network

Move comes after court denies center's request to apply for a KY Pride Recycling Grant

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Butler County Fiscal Court voted 5-0 to close the Butler County Recycling Center during Monday night's meeting. Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill made the motion, and Third District Magistrate Allen Smith seconded it.

In the previous meeting on March 19th, the court denied the recycling center's request to apply for the 2024 Kentucky Pride Recycling Grant, which would have given the county a free piece of equipment (valued at $93,000) and an advertising budget ($8,000) at no cost to the county.  That motion was rejected on a 3-2 vote.  Magistrates Whittinghill and Smith voted yes, while Magistrates Kevin Phelps, Stevie Givens, and Dillion Bryant voted against it.

According to Whittinghill, there is no support (on the court) for the recycling center.  He suggested they close it, keep Corey Raymer as Solid Waste Coordinator to clean up dumps, and let him mow the three county parks - Woodbury, Leonard Oak, and Rochester with help from the jail.

A common compliant was the cost to run the recycling center.

"I hate to see the center close but all of stuff comes from the city," said Stevie Givens.

According to Dillion Bryant he agrees with closing the center and suggested that the city benefits the most. "The people that uses the recycling center are not the people doing the illegal dumps. Cleaning up the county is more important and makes the county money."

Judge/Executive Tim Flener said that cardboard is only bringing $80 a ton and paper $60 a ton.

"We have already pulled most of the trailers from the county and we need to pull the rest as soon as possible," said Allen Smith.

The court plans to sell the collected materials and bring in all the trailers by the end of April.