The city of Atchison and Atchison County have set tentative dates to finish and report data collection on several joint projects.

During their over two hour work session Monday night, County Commissioner set a goal of April 8th of next year to have a new contract for recycling while the city aimed for an April 1st goal to fully implement the proposed new trash pick-up and recycling system.

The group also discussed data collection that will begin at the transfer station Tuesday for the next 30 days.

Commissioners will use that data to determine if a ban of brush and clippings should occur with the transfer station.

County Commissioner Jeff Schuele said it’s an issue.

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County Commissioners also discussed the potential implementation of solid waste fees determining a goal of having a resolution for those, as well as one on brush and clippings by July 1 to satisfy state statute.

All Commissioners agreed that educating the public over the next several months is key to the program’s success.

Commissioners spent a large portion of the meeting discussing what way to fix River Road.

Discussion ensued on whether a short-term fix with chip and seal should occur or a long-term solution of asphalt which would cost more to fix the three mile stretch.

City Manager Trey Cocking said, discussing with Mayor Allen Reavis (Ree-vis), if the city agreed to the long-term solution immediately on River Road, it would alter other road priorities.

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City officials hope that a chip and seal solution now would work until a long term situation could be budgeted in two years.

They also talked about preliminary discussions that have taken place about the feasibility to have city and county offices in both city hall and the courthouse.

Cocking talks about their preliminary discussions with Treanor Contractors.

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The early end goal is to have a similar setup of having a government services center at city hall and a law enforcement center at the courthouse.

A reminder that this meeting was only a work session and no official action has been taken on any of these topics.

Officials hope to reconvene for another joint meeting by the end of June.