Commission discusses bicycle recycling program with public works head

New Linn County Public Works administrator J.D. Handly talked with county commissioners about the Lake Region's Adopt-a-Bike program. (Lake Region Adopt-a-Bike)

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff

LCJeditor@icloud.com

MOUND CITY – J.D. Handly, Linn County’s new public works administrator, broached the county commissioners for their opinion about the bicycle donation program at the transfer station.

Handly explained that the transfer station staff were segregating bicycles that came into the transfer station and then taking them to the Kansas Department of Corrections in Lansing or Ellsworth to be refurbished. He said it had been about five years since the county had taken any bicycles up to Lansing.

Handly said that when he checked with Lansing, they were kind of particular on what they want, nothing with rust. He said only about 17 or 18 were able to be salvaged out of the big pile of bicycles that the county had saved. He said they took them up and donated them last week.

Handly said that he was asking for a little bit of guidance from the commission.

“If you would like to continue that program, to me, it’s not a needed program,” he said. “That’s why I ask for your guidance when it comes to spending taxpayer money that is not needed. I think it’s a great program don’t get me wrong. But there will be an expense to it, our staff segregating the bikes, setting on the bikes for however long.”

Commissioner Jim Johnson asked if Handly took them (to Lansing.)

Handly said they took them to Lansing.

Johnson explained that Linn County belongs to the six-county Lake Region RC&D program and Donald Stottlemire, a Franklin County commissioner, is in charge of the bicycle recycling. Johnson said that he sits on that board and that Stottlemire gathers up the bicycles and take them to Ellsworth, Kan.                                                                

”I don’t know what’s been happening, but they take them. There’s a group, Stottlemire            and one employee up there takes them on a routine,” said Johnson.

Handly said, “I’m not leaning one way or the other to discontinue it or continue it. I’m perfectly happy with continuing or discontinuing it, whatever. It’s just in my mind that it’s an expense to the county and I just wanted the commission’s guidance on that if they continued that or not.”

Johnson said, they take them and then you can get bikes back through the soil conservation and distribute them around the county if someone needs one.

Commission Chair Alison Hamilton said that was her question because bicycles could be dropped off at the soil conservation office here in Mound City.

“So you’re trying to get out of holding them?” asked Hamilton.

“I’m not trying to get out, I’m just …..” said Handly.

Hamilton, “OK, I see that we have two options.”

Handly replied, “KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) hasn’t complained to us about the stockpile of them. We do have a trailer we could designate to them, to the bicycles if we wanted to. The reason I broached the subject is because it’s been five years since we took anything.”

Johnson said he would get Handly a phone number for Stottlemire so he can talk to him about it. He said he wasn’t 100% familiar with the way Stottlemire picks those up and things, but Handly can talk to him and reach out and see what it sounds like. It’s something that we let the ball drop on as far as notifying him that they were there.

“Okay, sounds great,” said Handly. “I’m all about the community helping kids and whatever. I just wanted to visit with you all and get your guidance.”