Editor:

In previous correspondence I have addressed what I had hoped was a new era of cooperation between the County administration and the City of Wilmington. Recent events, involving the county Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) indicates the expectation was over-optimistic.

The mission of the SWMD as expressed by the combined Delaware, Knox, Marion and Morrow county district: “To manage the District’s current and long-term solid waste disposal needs in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner while reducing reliance on landfills by implementing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling strategies.”

The major source of financing for the district comes from the Wilmington landfill’s disposal and generation fees that total $7.50 per ton. These fees are added to the disposal costs of all county residents and businesses.

Clinton County’s SWMD is one of the few standalone small-county districts in the state. As a result of the small scale, the SWMD cost per unit is above the state average.

For example: Our district has the third highest percentage of budgeted personnel costs of the 52 Ohio districts. Clinton County has one of the 10 highest generation fees in the state. Most government entities try to have a 25 percent-of-budget carryover to cover unexpected situations. Our SWMD has a 220 percent and growing carryover.

A way to mitigate these high charges and expenses is for Clinton County to join with one or more neighboring counties to form a joint district.

Fifty-three other Ohio counties have done this to good effect.

Abutting counties’ fees are much lower. Brown County’s fees are $1.50 per ton, Clermont $3 and Fayette charges $5.

A merger would reduce cost to all residents and business with little or no effect on the mission.

The county administration would lose nothing with a merger because the SWMD is an autonomous department that relies on collected fees for its operating funds, and has no impact on the county’s budget.

On the other hand, the residents and businesses in the county could save as much as $200,000 in annual fees.

It’s up to the Clinton County Commissioners to seek a merger partner and help the residents and businesses.

Paul Hunter

Wilmington