TEXARKANA, Texas - During a meeting Monday, the mayor and most City Council members said they had heard from residents that continuing single-stream curbside recycling is worth the extra cost.
Mayor Bob Bruggeman cited a Texarkana Gazette opinion survey, input from local Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, and citizens' emails to him as evidence that the majority of the public is willing to pay a few extra dollars a month to be able to recycle mixed paper, metal and plastics. Ward 6 Council Member Jay Davis said his constituents "pretty overwhelmingly" support continuing the program.
Other council members said most emails from their constituents were in support of the program's continuation. Ward 5 Council Member Bill Harp said his input was about 60% in favor of an option that would allow Texas side residents to recycle mixed paper only.
No action was taken regarding the city's contract with Waste Management Inc., which collects garbage and recyclables in the city, though the Council announced that legal advice regarding the contract would be part of a closed executive session at the end of the meeting.
Because a Shreveport, Louisiana, processing plant stopped accepting mixed recyclables, WM since last month has been burying those items collected at Texarkana residences in its New Boston, Texas, landfill.
At the Council's Oct. 12 meeting, a WM representative presented it with three options for what comes next: Restrict curbside recycling to mixed paper at the same cost to residents, continue with single-stream recycling at an increased cost of about $4 a month or eliminate the service, saving residents about $3 a month.
The Council heard first briefings on rezoning plots in the 5600 block of Richmond Road to allow construction of a car wash and convenience store, as well as on approving a site plan for the project.
Another first briefing concerned amending a site plan for construction of an unattended fueling station on a plot on Chelf Road between Pansy Street and Collom Street.
The Council was also be briefed on amending a site plan to allow a building addition at 4824 McKnight Road.
The Council heard a first briefing on a site plan amendment to allow building a drive-through lane and pickup window at McAlister's Deli, 5001 Cowhorn Creek Road.
Another first briefing concerned establishing a 25 mph speed limit for segments of Galleria Oaks Drive, Christus Drive and Sam Warren Drive in the vicinity of Pleasant Grove Elementary School on school days.
The Council was also briefed on a resolution that would recognize the Texarkana Arts and Historic District Committee as the official advisory body for the downtown Texarkana Cultural District and allow the city manager to appoint a staff representative to the committee.
All the first briefings will be followed by public hearings and/or votes during the Council's next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 9.
The Council met in executive session to discuss renewal of City Manager Shirley Jaster's contract. They had not reconvened in public by Monday publication deadlines.