WINTERSVILLE - The JB Green Team edged closer to consolidating its operations in the former Pietro DiNovo and Sons vehicle dealership building on Third Street in Steubenville Monday night.
The board of trustees is still reviewing details of remodeling plans for the showroom and is waiting for lease details from the property landlord.
According to board Chairman Bob Chapman, the property landlord has agreed to install new carpeting, a new HVAC system, paint the walls and build handicap-accessible restrooms as well as a new garage door for the former service area.
"We are still waiting for the final lease numbers, and we should talk to our architect Les Zapor about design plans," added Chapman.
Chapman indicated the board may have to hold a special meeting to approve the final lease agreement.
The board has plans to consolidate the Jefferson County and Belmont County operations at the North Third Street site, but Executive Director Cliff Meyer said the Belmont County staff is concerned about losing its community presence.
"Maybe we can staff their office one day a week to maintain that community presence. I believe the electronic recycling company in Bellaire has also offered free office space, so that is something we may want to look at," noted Chapman.
Meyer said the DiNovo building will also allow for a preventive maintenance program.
"We may also look at tying our motorized fleet into the city's preventive maintenance program or possibly the county's program. We need to look at different options to see what makes sense," said Meyer.
"Preventive maintenance is something our truck drivers should be doing before they drive those trucks," said Tom Gentile, a Jefferson County commissioner and board member.
Meyer also reported he is studying the recycling cell operations.
"We are currently shipping comingled materials to Neville Island and we receive no value back. We spend approximately $23,000 to send eight truckloads of recyclable materials to Neville Island. We need to look at the possibility of a compactor to increase what we send in each load," said Meyer.
"I am also looking at the stability of our operations. We have a very unique income stream. We are already seeing decreases in the amount of solid waste going to the Apex Landfill and the tipping fees coming to us," explained Meyer.
In other business, Chapman appointed Meyer; Dave Hays, the board's fiscal officer; and Cathy Davison, Steubenville's city manager and a board member, to begin contract talks with the Apex Landfill.
"The current contract expires at the end of the year, and we need to start those discussions," said Chapman.
Chapman also raised the idea of a solid waste transfer station that would allow local communities to ship solid waste to the Apex Landfill instead of sending waste to a West Virginia landfill.
Mark McVey, who served as acting executive director for the solid waste authority for the past seven months, thanked the support staff for making the annual Ohio River Sweep, "a very successful event."
The board met in executive session following the regular monthly meeting to discuss personnel and contracts.
