W.L. will recycle a new way this summer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - West Lafayette residents will be recycling a new way starting this summer. Residents will now set their recycling out on a weekly basis.

West Lafayette City Councilmen Peter Bunder said instead of separate containers, everything will be recycled at once, in one container.

"Make it easier for us to improve our recycling and save some money when it comes time to figure out how much is going to the trash transfer station.," he explained.

A presentation was given during the council meeting. Bunder said the new recycling program will not go into effect until this summer. He said this will be a new way in doing an old thing and it won't cost West Lafayette residents any more money.

The council also listened to a presentation on a new stormwater ordinance. It could cost the city 13 million dollars of capital improvements to meet new state and federal requirements for the city's stormwater system.

"It is good for the Wabash," Bunder said. "It is good for the residents because it is good for the environment. The only way it is bad for the residents is it is going to cost money. Probably cost four dollars a month for at typical homeowner."

The ordinance will come before city council this spring and the first round of billing would go out in July.

The City Council also passed a resolution to waive noncompliance relating to the tax abatement granted to SRJ Development who owns the Lake View Technology Center. It was in noncompliance due to a form in 2008.

"Because they forgot to file a form, it was to be granted in the second year," West Lafayette Director of Development Chandler Poole said. "So what we have done is to actually do the right thing and try to correct something that had happened."

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis gave his State of the City speech. He said the city has the resources in place and will move forward during tough economic times.

"Today, at the beginning of 2010, we are living within our means. We have reversed the decline in the General fund, the city's main operating fund. Our cash balance has been restored to a fiscally sound amount," he said.

Dennis said West Lafayette's spending in 2009 in the General Fund is down nearly two percent.