Last night's meeting was fairly long due to monies that are due for different projects and the fact that we needed to take out a tax anticipation loan until we start receiving monies again. Including "borrowing" $38.664.88 from the Shield's Farm Account. Leaving $100. I maybe mistaken and there might have been $99.00 more transferred leaving $1.00. It is never good when Peter steals from Paul, but since I have very little idea what is going on at the Farm, I can't determine a clear picture of possible dangers in such action.
I need to call a spade a spade. My mind last night was preoccupied with the draft letter that I wrote to Speedway concerning the high probability that there is waste, possibly radioactive waste on the site they wish to build. This issue has been weighing on me for a very long time. It is the information that I said in a previous blog that may be giving me more gray hair. This preoccupation coupled with the length of the meeting had me distracted from other issues like recycling by the Lion's Club which I will address next.
In my opinion it is despicable that Councilman Boyd tried to use the MS4 issue for an excuse to get the Lion's to move or quit recycling in Delmont. The area where the Lion's recycling materials are located must be relocated (at least temporarily) so that a retaining pond can be built in the stream as part of a grant that Delmont received. The recycling issue is much bigger than just our small community. A major problem right now is the economy is in a slow down and there is no current paper money in the activity. A major problem is very few people are able to think ahead and convert the future costs to quality of life, costs of remediation, loss of usable land (that has been dedicated to disposal facilities) into today's dollar. It is a sad state of affairs when it is cheaper, in some cases, to buy a whole new printer than to replace ink. What happens to all the junk printers? I have many moral and ethical issues when it comes to Environmental considerations. I believe in letting the free market work; yet, there is no such thing in reality. I also believe in smaller less governmental regulation and more responsibilities for the individual. Unfortunately, it seems that are educational system is encouraging youth to find someone or something to blame instead of teaching the virtue of responsibility for one's own actions. The only issue that I can see is physical objects making their way into the stream (ie; cans, storage containers, plastic, etc). The idea of any illicit discharge in any quantity of concern is totally ludicrous. That is my opinion based on 15+ years experience in environmental issues and interactions with Federal,State, and local authorities from all over the United States. The comment made about soap being a concern to DEP showed that an understanding of the issues just doesn't exist. This comment may have had some humor in a different context but was totally inappropriate as most of my counterparts were wanting to be done with recycling. This stance shows the ignorance of elected officials. Personally, I commend the members of the Lion's Club for their foresight and concern with the well being of future residence of Delmont. I told members of the Lion's leadership that I was going to look into a real solution with Waste Management, EPA, and DEP. The Lions giving up on Recycling in Delmont will have a huge negative impact on Delmont. Here is a short list; 1) Different organizations not benefiting from the financial as well as the camaraderie in working together for the good of Delmont. Yes, I know there is no money now, but that will change. 2) The residents of Delmont will be experiencing an increase in cost for trash removal, 3) It saves landfill space for the future. 4) If you think that regulatory agencies will ignore recyclables in regular trash when the prices go up guess again. Either residents, borough, or both will be paying some type of fine for improper disposal. 5) Once a service goes away the increased costs and the difficulty in regenerating interests makes it very hard to bring back if possible at all.
There is a lot more to discuss about the speed way issue and other challenges facing our small borough, but I need to get some of my thoughts out there for your consideration.
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