Vanderburgh County Solid Waste Board elects officers, approves routine contracts and discusses storm-debris aid

Missy Mosby was elected chair of the Vanderburgh County Solid Waste Management District Board and Mike Gable was elected vice chair during the board’s meeting, which also approved routine administrative items and discussed possible financial support for storm debris cleanup in the city and county.

The board unanimously approved several items on the consent and business agenda, including minutes from the Nov. 12, 2024 meeting; a 2025 contract for legal services with Attorney Marco D'Elusio; an annual refreshment resolution to provide refreshments to recycling-event volunteers; permission for the district director to attend household hazardous waste task force meetings; a resolution formally approving district staff salaries for 2025; a parking-lot use permit request for the Robert Stadium lot for the spring “Toxaway Day” event; and the accounts-payable voucher.

Those approvals came with little debate. Director Gina (first name given in the meeting) proposed continuing Attorney Marco D'Elusio’s contract for legal services, and the board voted to approve it. On the refreshment resolution, Gina said, “This is a resolution that we pass every year. It gives approval for the district to buy refreshments for our volunteers at our recycling events.” The motion carried by voice vote.

The board approved the director’s travel to household hazardous waste (HHW) task force meetings, noting most meetings are virtual but some in-person meetings are typically held in Montgomery, Indiana. Gina said she “just need[s] approval to travel” to those meetings.

On staff compensation, the board approved a resolution required after advice from the Indiana State Board of Accounts to formally approve district staff salaries each year. The resolution adopted salaries already included in the 2024 and 2025 budgets: the director’s salary at $75,035.26 and the education and public outreach coordinator’s 2025 salary at $51,570. Gina told the board she had offered the outreach coordinator position to Emma Long Longberg, who has accepted and is expected to start in February.

The board approved a request to seek a parking-lot use permit from the Parks Department for the Robert Stadium parking lot as a possible site for the Toxaway Day spring event. Gina said the parks department has held events there before and the board signed off so the chairperson can sign the permit.

During “other business,” board members discussed whether the district should donate funds to help the city and county with storm-debris cleanup. No dollar amount was committed at the meeting; board members said they want to see estimates before formally committing funds. Robert Gunter, participating in the discussion, said the county previously spent “almost $50,000” on tub grinding after past storm events and said cleanup costs “possibly could” exceed $100,000 this time. The board heard a summary of logistics for a planned debris drop-off at the Fairgrounds (entry on the main entrance, flow that stays away from the main fairground area, and exit at the old state road location). The district plans several collection dates (Fridays and Saturdays) through about Feb. 1 and intends service for Vanderburgh County residential users only; attendees will be asked to show identification.

Board members said the county garage will haul collected material after the drop-off dates and that the county has an agreement with a private excavation vendor to remove loads to an offsite location. The board discussed options residents may use for recovered material such as firewood or chips; Gina said material not taken by residents could be removed by county crews or offered to the public for pickup.

No vote was taken on a donation at the meeting; members agreed to wait for cost estimates from city and county staff and to consider reimbursement or supplemental funding once numbers are available. The board adjourned after the agenda items were completed.