Walnut Cove residents will now have higher garbage pick-up costs after the town commissioners voted to begin a recycling program.

The town board voted unanimously at the August meeting to approve a resolution authorizing the program. The new recycling program will add $2.10 per month to each account to cover the cost of the two extra trips the garbage company will have to make each month. Although residents are not required to recycle, they are required to pay the added cost regardless. This will increase the monthly solid waste fee from around $9 to $11.

Another added cost to town residents is the $3.50 charge to purchase a recycling bin. The town will pay $3.50 for the remaining cost of the bin, effectively subsidizing the recycling program. A second bin is optional and will cost residents the full $7.

“I think everybody is pretty well in tune with the fact that we need to start recycling,” said Commissioner Deborah Cowan. “So I think it is a smart move on the town’s part to go ahead and encourage recycling by making it available to everybody.”

While generally 50 percent or less of municipal residents take advantage of recycling programs, Mayor John Hodgkin said four tons of landfill would be saved each month if 100 percent of people in the town would recycle.

The state has adopted a resolution that, as of October, plastic bottles and select other items are unlawful to throw away. Implementation of Walnut Cove’s plan will begin on October 1.

“It may be good if we let them know what we’re talking about recycling, because they may think only bottles. But it says aluminum; steel cans; newspaper; cardboard; green, brown, and clear glasses; plastic milk jugs; and bottles,” Polly Goolsby, commissioner, explained.

“It’s huge, and yes, it is more than just plastic bottles,” Hodgkin echoed.

Also during the meeting, the board discussed the town’s animal ordinance. The town’s most recent animal ordinance was adopted in February 2007, and Hodgkin argued that it is not enforceable. An animal ordinance was recently presented to the county and was tabled for future discussion.

The board discussed the issues of stray cats and dogs, spaying and neutering, and registering animals with the town. In the end, Cowan, a veterinarian, volunteered to head a task force to look at how Walnut Cove’s current policy may be updated.

Hodgkin said, “If somebody in the town has a passion about this and would like to see us improve the situation, we would certainly love for them to come aboard and get involved to help write this so that we get it right.”

The town also authorized the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments to provide water and sewer GIS mapping services. Kevin Webb said that GIS mapping would show town employees GPS mapping of the water system, which would save them a lot of time. The mapping will cost the town $50 an hour, not to exceed $10,000. This will save the town $50,000.

John Minieri, code enforcement officer, reported to the board on the status of the houses on 811 and 907 Main Street. Minieri said that most outside repairs were completed, but inside wiring was still a prominent issue that made the house uninhabitable. A tenant is currently living in one of the houses, which is a violation.

While Minieri and Town Attorney Kevin Berger said the town should no longer consider the houses as candidates for demolition, they should look at enforcement of other issues such as habitation. After discussion, the board voted to drop the demolition order and turn the issue over to Town Manager Homer Dearmin and Berger to handle.

Dearmin was out of town, so Hodgkin read the manager’s report in his place at the end of the meeting. One item noted was that the fire department accepted the fire contract with the town, and the first $9,000 has been dispersed. Also, the library settlement of liquidated damages did not go as planned, because the town found out during a meeting with the contractors that the architect had undermined the completion of the contract work. The town found they had no right to withhold the $24,000 from the contractor, but Brooks General Contracting allowed the town to keep $7,000 of the $24,000. The town has sent a letter to the architect requesting action.

The meeting adjourned without closed session. The next town meeting will be held September 1 at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Cove Senior Center.