County considering ending ATHC solid waste program
McLeod County is putting the Adult Training and Habilitation Center (ATHC) on a 30-day notice that financial improvements need to be made at a Watertown solid waste processing facility.
Meeting as the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, McLeod County commissioners heard last Wednesday that the Watertown facility is operating at a $26,000 loss.
The county and ATHC entered an agreement in January whereby the county would rent a facility in Watertown, and employ ATHC clients to process recyclable material as an extension of the McLeod County solid waste operation. The county and ATHC are currently in a six-month contract.
ATHC helps disabled adults find employment. McLeod County also hires ATHC clients, as well as clients from West Central Industries, at its Hutchinson facility.
McLeod County Solid Waste Coordinator Sarah Young said the county’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) committee is already having discussions with ATHC on how to correct the issues.
Don Hopp, the recycling manager, said the main issue is that the ATHC supervisors don’t take instruction from the county on how to process the material.
“They need to listen to me and let me do my job,” said Hopp.
For more, see the Aug. 3 print edition of The Chronicle.