Recycling changes coming

The answer to that recurring question, “can we recycle this?” will soon be changing in Richmond.

Richmond Sanitary District will purchase a compactor and a new baler with grant funding it has received, according to Pat Smoker, the district’s superintendent. Smoker updated Richmond Common Council members about his department during council’s Feb. 18 meeting.

Using the compactor makes selling and shipping unsorted plastics to a company with an automatic sorting machine feasible. Sanitary district employees currently collect recycling from Richmond participants one week and sort it by hand the next. Sorting limits what RSD can recycle because it has just five collection bins.

Once the new equipment is in place, the district will be able to collect Nos. 3 through 7 plastics as well as the currently collected Nos. 1 and 2. Smoker said it might take until next year, however, to have the equipment in place.

The change will also enable pickup each week. RSD is working with Wayne County to expand recycling outside of Richmond after Wayne County withdrew from Wayne Union Recycling Solid Waste Management District.

Expanded recycling lessens what’s dumped in the New Paris Pike landfill, lengthening its service time.

Smoker also told council that its new building at 25 N. Seventh St. will be open beginning March 3 to collect customer payments. 

Branding input

Richmond is beginning the process of rebranding itself, and the process needs resident participation.

Mayor Ron Oler said that participation begins with a perception survey available online. The survey asks questions like “how do you feel about Richmond as a place to live, work, or visit?” and “how effectively does the city communicate its vision for future development and growth?”

Other opportunities for input will follow during the four-month process.

Consultant Guide Studio is coordinating the branding endeavor.

6Main bonds

Council unanimously approved issuing up to $3.7 million in taxable economic development revenue bonds for developer Flaherty & Collins Properties to construct its apartment development at the former Elder-Beerman site.

The 6Main project will include 150 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and 3,200 square feet of retail space facing East Main Street. The bonds will be repaid using taxable increment finance funding from the downtown district including Sixth and Main streets.

Council member Gary Turner also informed members that the Redevelopment Commission earlier Feb. 18 approved covering its entire $4.5 million contribution to the development with cash because of taxable increment finance district revenue. The Wayne County Foundation had agreed to loan $1 million to cover the payment.

Golf adjustments

An ordinance amending the 2025 civilian salary ordinance was referred to council’s finance committee. 

The parks board approved restructuring the parks department’s golf division. The division will now have a golf operations director with a salary range of $57,970 to $72,462 and a golf greenskeeper with a salary range of $40,318 to $48,382. It previously had a golf professional division director with a salary range of $51,686 to $64,609 and a golf course superintendent with a salary range of $46,159 to $55,392.

Other actions

• Council appropriated $133,500 for Richmond Police Department to purchase three Ford Explorer police vehicles. Richmond Fire Department initially requested the appropriation for equipment, but RFD will purchase its equipment from its EMS fund.
• RPD was given permission to receive donations throughout 2025 for its Blue Angels fund, K-9 unit, police memorial monument fund, programs such as National Night Out and its haunted house, plus specialized training and programs.
• RPD will receive $3,500 from the Remember Officer Noah Foundation with council’s approval. The money will pay for a ballistic windshield to be installed on a patrol vehicle in memory of Elwood Officer Noah Shahnavaz, who died in the line of duty in 2022.