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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUBI 2008 DECCITY OF COLLEGE STATION both city councils of the $13 million construction contract of the Twin Oaks Landfill. However, until the lawsuit is dropped, College Station cannot move forward with the Bryan’s proposed plan to turn methane gas generated by trash at the landfill into power. College Station Mayor Ben White said, “We have continued to negotiate with Bryan in good faith, to reach an agree- ment. However, at this time, it is not wise for us to enter into an agreement with a party who is suing us.” Glenn Brown, City Manager, adds “It would not make sense to expand our business arrangement with the City of Bryan for the landfill until the core is- sue of who will be in charge of daily operations is resolved.” College Station has operated the land- fill on behalf of both cities since 1990. In related news, the current Rock Prairie landfill has an estimated 24 Inside College Station From the City of College Station, home of Texas A&M University • College Station, Texas There has been much talk in the media lately about the city’s landfill operations and the partnership with the City of Bryan. Please allow us to share some news and updates on the related facts. The City of College Station, is the managing operator of the Brazos Val- ley Solid Waste Management Agency (BVSWMA) through an Interlocal Agreement signed with the City of Bry- an. The agreement was signed nearly 20 years ago when Bryan’s landfill was reaching capacity, and it made economic sense for the two cities to share a landfill. College Station has successfully managed the Rock Prairie Landfill, located in the city limits, to all the standards of Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). College Station continues to attempt to resolve remaining issues resulting from Bryan’s lawsuit during the sum- mer. Much has been accomplished, highlighted by the joint approval by months of remaining capacity. A re- cent flyover indicated to BVSWMA of- ficials the landfill had an estimated 24 months of capacity if current perfor- mance levels are maintained. This is 25% more than the original estimate of 18 months. Pete Caler, BVSWMA Director, said, “This is exciting, as it gives us more time to complete construction of the new landfill and continue to provide reliable service to all our customers in College Station and Bryan.” Below are a few BVSWMA facts: College Station has operated • BVSWMA for nearly 20 years. The current landfill is located in • College Station. The new landfill will be located • in the city’s “ETJ” – an area that could be annexed in the future. Since 2005, BVSWMA has • implemented a methane gas collection and destruction system. The landfill currently operates at • the lowest possible pollution and greenhouse gas emission levels. Any “methane-to-power” • operation will not further reduce the methane gas emissions. BVSWMA continues to earn • “carbon credits” for removing greenhouse gases from the environment. These credits can be sold on the open market to businesses wanting to offset their own emissions. For more about BVSWMA and landfill issues, go to: www.cstx.gov/landfill December 2008 City Clears Air On Landfill Issues aerial view of Rock Prairie Landfill w w w . c s t x . g o v Energy Conservation/Rebates 979 764-3724 Wind Watts/Wind Power 979 764-3535 cstx.gov/ucs e-Bill Signup 979-764-3535 cstx.gov/ucs e-Payments 979 764-EPAY (3729) epay.cstx.gov Credit Card Payments 979 764-3535 24/7 Utility Dispatch 979 764-3638 For more information contact your Col- lege Station Utilities Energy Conserva- tion Division at 764-3724. City Earns State Award ––– College Station’s “Coffee with the May- or” program was presented the 2008 Municipal Excellence Award in Commu- nication Programs at the recent Texas Municipal League Annual Conference and Exhibition. “Coffee with the Mayor” is an open dis- cussion with residents in a comfortable, informal setting. The mayor selects the topic and target group for these free monthly sessions. To extend the dialogue to a broader audience, sessions are videotaped and broadcast on the city’s cable-access channel, CSTV-19. The city also has a special webpage for the program, www. cstx.gov/coffee. The Texas Municipal League is a vol- untary association of more than 1,200 Texas cities. Its primary objective is to serve the needs and advocate the in- terests of Texas cities. The City of Col- lege Station is a member of the Texas Municipal League. Vehicle Burglary and Theft Prevention ––––––––––––– Two of the most common crimes occur- ring in the College Station area in re- cent months are vehicle burglary and vehicle theft. Below are some sugges- tions for your daily use in an effort to CITY OF COLLEGE ST A TION INSIDE COLLEGE STATION DECEMBER 2008 • PAGE 2 Use Enlightened Lighting –– Lighting your home or office can account for anywhere from 20% to 50% of your electrical consumption. Making use of compact fluorescent lamps (fluorescent lights adapted to screw into standard lamp and fixture sockets) can reduce the load of standard incandescent lights by 75%. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) also help reduce unwanted heat during hot summer months. Think about this: • A 25-watt compact fluorescent light produces as much light as a standard 100-watt incandescent. • Burning four 25-watt fluorescents is the same cost as burning one 100 watt incandescent. • Compact fluorescents have a rated life of from 6,000 to 10,000 burn hours versus a rated life of only 750 burn hours for incandescents. • CFLs last between 4–7 years in normal household use. • Compact fluorescents are available in numerous styles including three-ways, floods, dimmable lighting, and bug lights. reduce these offenses in your neighbor- hood and throughout the city: Never leave keys in the vehicle • and always lock the doors. Remove items (purses, ipods, • CDs, books and computers) from the vehicle or put in a place out of view. Park in lighted areas, garages • or driveways where your vehicle can be viewed periodically. Watch for suspicious activity • around your neighborhood and in shopping center parking lots. If you see or hear something suspicious take the time to check it out and call the College Station Police Department. Emergency: 911 Non-emergency: 764-3600 For more information contact the Spe- cial Services Division, Sgt. Janice Kemp at 764-3624. Christmas Tree Recycling –– ‘Tis the Season to TREEcycle! Curbside Collection December 29 - January 9 (979) 764-3690 Drop off--January 10 Stephen C. Beachy Central Park 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (979) 764-3486 Residents can recycle their cut Christ- mas trees by placing them on the curb on their scheduled recycle day (Decem- ber 29-January 9) or by dropping them off at Stephen C. Beachy Central Park on January 10. Un-flocked trees ONLY. All decorations and stands MUST be removed. Why recycle your tree? It saves valu- able space at the local landfill and to produce tree chip mulch which is used throughout the parks system. Plus, YOU get a free tree seedling.