A name change of the fairgrounds Convenience Center with a greater focus on recycling has been put on hold.
“Have you thought any more about the signs?” asked Steve Hillis, Warren County Sanitation director to members of the county Health and Welfare Committee. “Even if we do it, I know I have to wait until the budget passes.”
Currently, the county is in the process of generating a proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18. Toward that endeavor, department directors have to submit all financial information – their projections on what their departments need to complete the 2016-17 year and a proposed budget for the upcoming year.
A measure to change the name of the facility to “Warren County Recycling and Convenience Center” was approved by the committee, but has yet to receive funding – an estimated $851 to purchase the signs – or approval of the name change by the full Warren County Commission.
“So we aren’t going to be able to do it until the next budget year,” said Commissioner Blaine Wilcher.
The proposed 2017-18 fiscal year consolidated county budget is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the County Commission during its July 17 session.
“That’s two months away, depending on if we pass a budget or not,” said Commissioner Michael Martin. “It depends on if they’re willing to pass a tax hike or cut the budget. If there is no tax hike, we will have to cut the budget for the county. We have to go in there and cut, cut, cut.”
The signs will take a month to make, said Hillis, pushing the name change even further out and only if funding and commission approval is secured.
The name change was suggested by Diane Stanley, Mary Don Bixby and Pat Bigbee as a way to encourage people who use the Convenience Center to consider recycling.