Kosciusko County Recycling Depot Director Tom Ganser speaks with the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District during a Dec. 20 meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District is planning to sell the property where the Syracuse recycling drop-off site is located.

During a Dec. 20 meeting, Recycling Depot Director Tom Ganser and Board President Brad Jackson said the district has received purchase offers for the 0.46 acre of land the Syracuse site is on. This announcement comes after the district voted in November to close all of its outdoor recycling drop-off stations.

Ganser said Wawasee Community School Corporation, the town of Syracuse, and a private entity have expressed interest in the acreage.

The district voted to engage in a sealed bid process for the land.

When asked about phone calls the depot’s received about the outdoor site closures, Ganser said conversations overall have been fairly positive, with many understanding the district’s contamination concerns. He also noted Stafford’s Solid Waste, Warsaw, is showing interest in offering recycling services to residents.

“It’s been as positive as it can be, I really haven’t had too much kickback,” said Ganser about the district’s decision to close the outdoor sites.

Ganser told the board all the clothing containers at the remote sites have already been removed by the district.

Outgoing County Auditor Michelle Puckett was also publicly thanked for her years of service to the district. Puckett will become the Kosciusko County treasurer in January.

“Michelle has been such a huge asset and I want to thank you for bringing me on and showing me the ropes,” said Ganser.

“I have been intimately involved with your financials for 20 plus years,” said Puckett to the board. “You guys have taught me so much about things that I never knew and I would not want it any other way than to have this group be my last official meeting as auditor.”

The district’s next meeting is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.