From the Lake Cities Sun:

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Hickory Creek council members recently approved a five-year curbside recycling contract with Waste Management that will begin in late October. Carts will be delivered in late October along with informational materials. Council member Chris Gordon, a personal advocate of recycling worked extensively in negotiations with Waste Management representative John Klaiber to bring the offering to the town.

"We had a lot of things to discuss, but when it come down to it, the situation was very favorable for our residents. I am pleased that we were able to strike an agreement and make this available," Gordon said of the contract.

The program will cost citizens an extra 59 cents per month on their current bill. Citizens currently pay $11.36 per month and will see their new bill in December will be $11.95. Senior citizens currently pay $7.90 now, and will see their bill increase to $8.49 per the new contract.

According to Gordon, the service includes a 35-gallon rolling cart with a lid. Carts will be delivered in late October along with an instruction sheet for ease of use. Gordon said citizens can recycle without sorting. Items designated for the program are glass, aluminum, paper and cardboard.

Recycle day is scheduled for Thursday, the same day as garbage is collected, and will be handled by a different crew than the one that collects garbage.

In addition to the recycling project, Gordon and Klaiber negotiated to provide the town free use of Waste Managements roll off 30-yard containers for special events, such as shoreline clean ups, and town beautification projects. In the past the town has paid approximately $125.00 each time a container was used.

According to the contract, Hickory Creek residents will also be able to visit the Lewisville landfill upon presentation of their WM bill. "I hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity and use the landfill if they need it," Gordon said.

One section of the contract which excited Gordon the most was the portion in which Waste Management offered to give the town a gift of $5000 to begin the planning and development of a new animal shelter.

The current animal shelter, located on I35E south near the Lake Lewisville Bridge will be demolished when the highway expansion project begins. In May voters denied a bond issue to fund a new shelter, and the town leaders will now look at methods to fund the shelter. "I really appreciate their willingness to give us this generous gift, and it certainly solidifies their 20-year standing relationship with Hickory Creek," Gordon said.