The Renew the Blue Committee and Blue Springs School District’s efforts on recycling are paying dividends!  The data is very impressive.  Imagine the mound of trash that was kept off of the steps of city hall!  Through this effort, the idea of “environmental responsibility” is being realized in Blue Springs.  The BSSD School with the most recycled material should receive a presentation of an “E-excellence” award!

With 327,490 lbs recycled per quarter!  That’s over a million pounds annually!  Annually that amounts to nearly $8000.00!  This is really encouraging news.

Following is detailed information about the material recycled by the School District during the first quarter 2010:

Mayor Ross, along with the majority of our city councilmen, are working together to effectively handle the large and small issues of city government in Blue Springs.

Our council is most efficient when all of our elected leaders are respectful to each other and are willing to listen to each point of view on every issue. It is through careful consideration and thoughtful evaluation of all available information that great decisions take place on behalf of our citizens.

Our city’s charter defines three geographic districts from which our city councilmen are elected. Two councilmen are elected to serve the residents of each district. Councilmen are expected to respond to issues within their own district and to seek the advice of our professional staff. As a matter of protocol and courtesy, information is typically forwarded to the appropriate district councilmen if they are contacted on issues outside of their own district.

The primary issue at the Nov. 16 council meeting resulted from a citizen complaint regarding a potential code violation. A permanent outbuilding, in place for several years and constructed from what appeared to be a former portable container, was the basis for the complaint.

While the issue itself was relatively minor and easily addressed, the larger discussion was how the complaint was brought to the attention of the city and how it was handled by the District 3 councilmen, Ron Fowler and Sheila Solon, who represent the southern part of the city. The property in question is in the far north end of the city, an area represented by our District 1 councilmen, Jeanie Lauer and Lyle Shaver.

E-mails copied to the city clerk and comments made in the council meeting suggest that our District 3 councilmen directed staff to take action regarding this issue, without involving the District 1 councilmen. When Mayor Ross requested an explanation from Fowler and Solon as to why the issue was not directed to the appropriate councilmen, their answer was ambiguous at best. What is very clear to me from their comments is that our District 3 councilmen believe that it is their job to personally address issues not only in their district but throughout the entire city. This line of thinking is disrespectful to the voters who chose their elected representatives.

Our District 1 and District 2 councilmen addressed this issue in a professional and respectful way. Councilman Kent Edmondson was again a calm voice of reason in the meeting, despite Councilman Fowler’s repeated interruptions. Our city attorney,  Bob McDonald, showed patience and restraint as he explained the legal basis for his response.  The meeting is available for viewing on the City Website at http://tinyurl.com/bscc091116.

People who are willing to serve, to give of their time and work positively for the common good are sometimes difficult to find. In Blue Springs, our councilmen are compensated for their service, both with salary and benefits. It is our responsibility as residents to ensure that we are getting what we are paying for in our representatives. Candidate filing for the April election of a councilman for each of the three districts begins Dec. 15 and ends Jan. 19.

Household Hazardous Waste Recycling

Household Hazardous Waste 2009 Events

The 2009 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) events are quickly approaching. The Blue Springs HHW event will be held April 18, 2009 (8am – noon) at Pink Hill Park. We are in need of approximately 15 volunteers. Breakfast, snacks and a light lunch are provided for volunteers. Volunteers must be age 18 or over to help with unloading cars. Please call 816-220-4504 to sign up to volunteer or if you have any questions.

The Blue Springs event is a full HHW event. This means that the following items will be accepted: automotive products, antifreeze, batteries, CFL light bulbs, fertilizers, flammables, fuels, hazardous cleaners, hazardous liquids, household cleaners, lawn & garden products, paint, pesticides, photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, solvents, thinners, and used oil.

Blue Springs residents can attend any mobile event or either of the two permanent drop-off facilities in Kansas City or Lees Summit. The event dates, locations and times are listed below. Any event that includes the initials ABOP in parenthesis means that only Antifreeze Batteries, motor Oil and Paint are accepted. Please bring an ID with proof of residency.

April 4: Independence 9 am–1 pm

April 18: Blue Springs 8 am–Noon

May 16: Harrisonville 8 am–Noon

May 30: Lone Jack (ABOP) 8–11 am

June 6: Gladstone (ABOP) 8 am–Noon

June 27: Grain Valley (ABOP) 8–11 am

August 1: Belton 8 am–Noon

August 15: Platte County 8 am–Noon

September 12: Cass County (ABOP) 8 am–Noon

September 26: Kearney (ABOP) 8 am–Noon

October 10: Riverside 8–11 am

October 24: Liberty 8 am–Noon

Dropping off materials at a regional drop-off facility helps avoid waiting in line at events. Be sure to call and schedule an appointment if you plan to go to a drop-off facility:

• The Kansas City HHW Facility is located at 4707 Deramus (just south of the Chouteau Bridge in the east river bottoms) 816/784-2080. They are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Appointments are required.
• The Lee’s Summit HHW Facility is located at 2101 SE Hamblin Rd. (at the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park) 816/969-1805. Appointment required. Open on first Saturday of the month, 7 a.m.–Noon; third Wednesday of each month, year round, 2–6:30 p.m. (paint only on Wednesdays). 100-pound limit per visit.

A brochure listing information about the Household Hazardous Waste Program is available online at http://www.marc.org/Environment/SolidWaste/pdfs/hhw_brochure.pdf

This past Saturday, the city held its 2nd Electronics Recycling event. Nearly 300 residents showed up at Pink Hill Park to drop off old electronic equipment, TVs and computers. I want to thank those of you who volunteered to unload the equipment from the cars. Without your support, this event would not be possible.

Saturday October 18, 2008 from 8am to Noon at Pink Hill Park!
  www.bluespringsgov.com/electronics08