Recycling reinstated, but limited

ODESSA – The Odessa Town Council met Monday, May 24, in the community center and was also available via Zoom. Amy Gimmestad and Marlene Kramer were both absent, but a quorum was achieved by council members Landon Lobe, Vickie Iverson and Kelly Watkins, along with Mayor Bill Crossley.

Several townspeople attended to voice concerns about the recycling program having been canceled at the previous council meeting two weeks prior. After hearing the concerns of the citizens, the council reversed itself and agreed to continue to reactivate the program under different, less-costly guidelines. The bins will be emptied only once per month, on the second Wednesday of each month, for the rest of the year. Once the bins are full, citizens must wait until the next scheduled date for the arrival of empty bins. There is no need to call the clerk’s office to report the bins being full, since a firm date has been put in place for delivering empty bins. Do not leave recyclables on the ground outside the bins. Instead, take them back home and wait until the second Wednesday of the next month.

The management of Highline Grain Growers, Inc. has offered to allow its in-house IT personnel to assist the Town of Odessa with computer system upgrades at no cost to the town.

Public works director Rod Webster reported that the street/waterline project is starting June 1.

This year a total of 10 lifeguards work at the Odessa community pool, which open June 20, 2021. The crew consists of pool manager Katreace Boss, asst. manager Kaytlyn Shafer and lifeguards Christian Anderson, Alyssa McKinney, Destiny Wiles, Emma Caler, Hayden Schuh, Zane Hamper-Rosman, Peyton Finch and Dakota Steward. The pool is closed Mondays, with open swim hours Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adult swim takes place Tuesdays through Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. A season pass for an entire family costs $150 or for an individual $60. Daily swim passes are $3 for swimmers and $1 for non-swimmers. Two sessions of swimming lessons are offered this summer for $20/student. Lesson times have not yet been announced due to current Covid concerns.

Police chief Les Jimerson reported four hang-up calls from the same telephone number, citations issued for six speeders and one non-use of seat belt and two dogs at large. Nine letters were mailed to owners of nuisance vehicles, juveniles driving a golf cart on a state highway were told that by law they may only cross a state highway from one designated street to another (only licensed vehicles with safety equipment, lights, etc. may drive any distance on the highway itself). Jimerson also responded to a call about a verbal argument and to a reported fire pit.