New Bobcat, other equipment purchased with funding

By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-The Clay County Sanitation Department has added a new Bobcat to their fleet, which is one of many ways grant funding has helped the department upgrade their equipment.

The sanitation department’s Meghan Deckard explained funding had been received in three different categories, including a recycling equipment grant, a convenience center grant, and a used oil grant.

The S150 Bobcat was purchased with part of a $55,000 TDEC recycling equipment grant.

Additional funds from that particular grant were used by the sanitation department to purchase a lift gate.

The lift gate will safely allow the lifting of heavy items like oil barrels and rolls of paper.

Another item purchased with that particular grant was a rolloff container for the new Pea Ridge convenience site on Davistown Loop previously featured in the HORIZON, which was also made possible through grant funding.

The third grant obtained helped improve infrastructure and allows the main facility on Industrial Park Drive to collect more used oil than previously possible.

“Before we were only allowed to have 1,320 gallons of oil on site,” Deckard said.  “With the improvements, this plan will allow us to keep more oil on site.”

The improvements include new barriers around the oil tank and the container behind the building.

Deckard reiterated the fact the main facility on Industrial Park Drive is the only facility that will accept used oil, which is used to produce heat in the winter for the sanitation facility.

“Please only bring used oil with no other contaminates mixed in, like antifreeze, transmission fluid or water,” she said.  “These contaminates will damage our oil heater pump.”

Other sanitation department improvements include new signage at several convenience center sites and new decals for eight-yard containers.

“I am proud of Meghan and all of our sanitation employees,” solid waste board chairman Winton Young said.  “I also want to thank everyone who was involved in the process to receive these grants.”