New trash set-up starts next month
A sturdy lidded cart and a recycling bin will be distributed to each home in Excelsior Springs this month. The cart pictured is one of the large versions, nearly 100 gallons, but most residents will get a smaller 65-gallon cart of the same design.
By ERIC COPELAND
Managing Editor
 Next month, Excelsior Springs residents can expect to see the future of trash collection in Excelsior Springs.
And starting the week of July 27, they’ll have to take part in that future. Virtually every aspect of the trash collection process will be changing. New wheeled trash carts will be picked up by an automated system on the trash trucks, and accordingly the crews that ride on the backs of the trash trucks will be no more.
Allied Waste, the city’s trash hauler, will begin picking up recyclables at curbside twice a month. And rather than waiting for yard waste pick-ups in the spring and fall, Excelsior Springs residents can take their grass clippings, leaves, brush and limbs of all sizes to a drop-off site three days a week from April 1-Nov. 30.
The yard waste program and the curbside recycling are voluntary programs―each household can decide whether or not to participate. They won’t have a choice, though, when it comes to the trash collection changes.
A flyer distributed through the mail last week outlined the program. Some residents may have lost the pamphlet in the mix of other mail, while others―like a writer whose letter appears on page 6 of today’s Standard―may have found some aspects of the plan to be confusing.
Every residence in Excelsior Springs will receive a 65-gallon wheeled trash cart during July, and all household trash must go into that cart starting the week of July 27.
A lengthy list of recommendations appear in the pamphlet distributed by the city. Some of these guidelines are obvious―no household hazardous waste (those materials, such as paint, oil, antifreeze, pesticides, etc., can be disposed of during special drop-off events organized through the Mid-America Regional Council), dirt, sod or rock, flammable materials or hot ashes/coals, pool supplies/chemicals or construction debris should be placed in the cart. Yard waste, also, should not be placed in the cart, but city officials are opening the new yard waste drop-off site on July 15.
Other directions are more specific. The trash carts should be placed at least one foot from the curb or street edge, at least five feet from any recycling containers (more on them later), and at least four feet from trees, poles and fire hydrants and 10 feet from parked cars.
Arrows on the cart indicate which side should be placed facing the street so the automated arm can pick it up and dump it.
All the household trash must fit inside the cart. The 65-gallon container is big enough to hold the contents of two or three typical trash cans. These carts are sturdy and lidded; lids should be kept closed to prevent trash from blowing away. Nothing should be leaned against the cart, and any bags left outside the cart will not be picked up.
Certain households may not be able to fit all their trash into a 65-gallon cart. A limited number of carts half again as big―about 94 or 95 gallons―may also be available for use, but most people will not need that much volume. In fact, many households can expect to see their trash volume decrease as they take advantage of the bi-weekly curbside recycling program.
Along with the trash cart, residents will receive an 18-gallon recycling bin. All recyclables (a list of recyclable materials can be found below) may be placed, unsorted, in this bin.
However, 18 gallons is not much volume―especially for bi-weekly pick-up. For this reason, the city is also issuing “recycling” stickers to affix to any existing trash cans that can no longer be used for trash pick-up. All recyclables will be sorted by hand at Allied Waste.
According to the pamphlet, the following may be put in the recycling bins:
? corrugated cardboard, paperboard or chipboard, cardboard soft drink and beer boxes, brown paper bags, mail and junk mail (remove plastic cards, stick-on labels and unused stamps) and paperback books
? aluminum, steel and food cans (including aerosol cans)
? cardboard milk and juice cartons
? newspapers, magazines, advertising inserts, phone books, catalogs and office paper
? plastics of types #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 (the number can be located within the “chasing arrows” recyclable symbol on the container itself), plus plastic buckets such as kitty litter buckets (maximum five-gallon size)
All containers must be empty and rinsed. Plastic bags, plastic film and styrofoam/clear polystyrene are not recyclable in this program at this time.
The yard waste drop-off starts July 15 and will be open April 1-Nov. 30 each year. Operating hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
All Excelsior Springs residents can use the yard waste drop-off at 1300 S. Marietta St. for free, and commercial businesses and those outside the city limits can use it for a fee.
All grass clippings, leaves, limbs of all sizes and brush will be accepted, but no bags―not even the biodegradable yard waste bags―will be taken.
For additional information, contact the Public Works Department at 630-0755.
Gatlin takes new role with company
By KRISTIN RULON
Community Reporter
After 22 years at Price Chopper #17 of them as the store director―Roger Gatlin is no longer managing Excelsior Springs’ Price Chopper.
Gatlin for the past few weeks has been in his new position with the company as a relief manager. He travels to Price Choppers located in the surrounding Kansas City metro areas assisting stores when a manager is on vacation or if the store is shorthanded.
The grocery business has been part of Gatlin’s life since 1965, when we worked for United Super which is where Aldi’s is currently located.
Gatlin believes the reason why Price Chopper brought in a new store director is due to Gatlin’s plans to retire in a year or two.
“They did have use for the position I filled,” Gatlin said.
He described his new position with the company as “different and kind of fun” and a “positive change.”
Gatlin, who has lived in Excelsior his whole life, has worked in and outside the city limits of Excelsior during his career.
“I liked working in Excelsior because of all the people I know from the community,” he said.
One of his favorite moments during his years as store director was being involved in the community and Chamber, Gatlin explained, and hopes to stay involved once he retires.
The new store director is Mike Wydick, who chose not to comment.
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DREAM plan kick-off tonight
The Downtown Strategic Plan will be the principal topic at a meeting set for 6 p.m. tonight in the community room at Excelsior Springs Hospital, 1700 Rainbow Blvd.
The plan is part of the DREAM (Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri) Initiative. The keynote speaker will be Mike Hurlbert of PGAV Inc.
Public input is vital at this stage of the initiative, which has been going on since Excelsior Springs was picked as one of the first 10 DREAM Initiative communities in 2006. The public is invited to attend tonight’s meeting and give their input.
For more information about the DREAM Initiative, visit www.dream.mo.gov. For more about Excelsior Springs’ DREAM program, contact City Manager David Haugland at 630-0752.
Richmond man drowns at lake
A 33-year-old Richmond man drowned at the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend.
Todd E. Cornine was with his wife and two other passengers at the four-mile marker on Glaize Arm, at Anderson Hollow. The area is commonly known as Party Cove.
According to the Missouri Water Patrol, Cornine was swimming when he went under shortly after 8 p.m. and never came up. He was not wearing any
flotation device.
His body was recovered in 16 feet of water just after 9 p.m.
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Office to close early on Friday
The office of the Excelsior Springs Standard and Town & Country Leader will close at noon Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.
Neither the Standard nor the T&CL will be affected by the closure. Ad deadlines for this week’s and next week’s editions remain the same.
More fireworks this weekend
If you didn’t get enough “bang” during the Waterfest fireworks display Saturday night, you can get another taste this Saturday night as the Elms puts on a July 4 fireworks display.
The lights and noise will begin at dusk, shortly after the end of the Missouri Wine & Foods Festival. That event will take place from noon-9 p.m. at the Elms, 401 Regent Ave. For more information, see the ad on this page.
Patriots Day Tea Party planned
A non-partisan Patriots Day Team Party has been planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, one week after Independence Day.
The event will be held at the Kearney city park, and there will be guest speakers. The public is invited to attend.
Tea parties to call attention to government spending occurred all over the U.S. on April 15. For information about this tea party, contact Rod Will at (816) 903-3701.
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