New recycling location available in Slater

General Electric announced a new public recycling service during the regularly scheduled Slater City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 17.

Denise Gordon with General Electric said GE will sponsor the project as part of its Eco Imagination Nation plan. A trailer will be available outside of the GE gates for participants to dump cardboard, paper, aluminum and steel. No plastic or glass will be accepted.

Mayor Stephen Allegri thanked Gordon for visiting the council and explaining the new service.

"Slater's environmentally conscious, as we are with everything," he said.

GE does not anticipate a problem with the service. However if participants misuse the recycling service, it will be discontinued.

"Most people that recycle are pretty conscious anyway," Gordon said.

Other business included an audit review from a representative from Wilson Toellner & Associates LLC. Slater's audit presented fairly. Allegri asked the representative to translate that reading into simpler terms. She said if Slater had been a student in school, it would have received an A for its audit.

"The auditors work with the city staff year round so we can continue to have a clear report," Allegri said.

Allegri thanked the citizens for acting responsibly during the Fourth of July season. He said there was fire in the sky, but most participants kept water ready in the event of an emergency. Allegri reminded the council that the City of Festivals will host the antique tractor pull on July 28 and the Fly In on Aug. 18., and he announced Barbara Akeman will be the 2012 Fall Festival grand marshal.

Allegri reminded the council that during extreme heat swimmers may use the Slater pool free of charge. Additionally, the library and city hall are available for cool down stations.

The meeting adjourned into executive session to discuss the house at 307 W. Parker St. During the June 19 meeting, Slater announced it would give the home away to someone who could repair the roof and pay the required property taxes. As GE continues to hire, the council hopes to implement affordable housing for working class families.

"We've got a lot of Section 8 housing that the working man can't afford to rent," Allegri said.

Council persons Terry Jordan, Jake Brumit, Cathie Jeffries, Harry Lightfoot, Matt Campbell and Brownell Bryant were present. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 7.