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Landfill/weed director announces retirement
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| By: Ryan D. Wilson, Staff Reporter |
October 27, 2009 |
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After 24 and a half years working for the county, Landfill/Noxious Weed Director Gailen Tyrell is retiring. Tyrell informed the county commission Monday that he intends to retire on Jan. 1.
Tyrell started working for the county at Clay County Park in Wakefield. He said when he started, it was not his intention to work for the county for over 20 years.
"I'll be honest with you, when I started, it was only going to be a little while," Tyrell told commissioners. "I stayed because I ain't a damn quitter and I hadn't got my certification. But by the time I started, then I got certified, I felt comfortable enough to stay."
The landfill may not be glamorous, but it provides an essential service. Commissioners said they appreciated his years of service.
"We'd all be in a world of hurt without it," Commissioner Jerry Mayo said.
Commissioner David Thurlow said he appreciately how "efficient" Tyrell had been in running his department, particularly when setting the budget. Tyrell said he would be glad to help again when next year's budget came around.
Under Tyrell's leadership the landfill department has consolidated the landfill and noxious weed departments, started a recycling program, and introduced chemical mowing.
Tyrell recommended that Debbie Charest, a landfill worker who had recently taken the position of director assistant, be promoted to the director position. Charest had previously been employed at the landfill as office manager/shop clerk, and the department will advertise to fill that position with Charest's impending promotion.
After much discussion, the commission agreed to appoint Charest to the position of director effective Jan. 1.
Commissioners said they looked forward to working with Charest, who will be with the landfill department five years in January.
The council also agreed to send Charest to a landfill management conference in Salina next week.
Charest said she won't have the expertise that Tyrell has. Tyrell said he didn't either when he first started the job, and he will be glad to help out if needed part time, whether that be as consultant or to run a mower. He even offered to come back at a lower hourly rate than he makes now.
"But I don't want to work 30 hours a week," he said.
Tyrell reported a few other projects his department is working on as it closes out the year, including working with the city on picking up recycling, and putting up the new recycling storage building that will be complete by the end of the week.
In other county news:
--Tyrell reported that the four-in-one printer/copier/fax machine needs to be replaced. Two quotes had been received. Permission was granted to purchase a copier that will work the best for the landfill.
-- Clay Center City Manager Cheryl Beatty requested assistance with demolition of four properties in the form of a discount on landfill fees. Commissioners said they could waive landfill tipping fees, which amounts to $1 a ton of the $20 a ton for construction and demolition material.
-- Commissioners also referred Beatty to a demolition grant through the North Central Kansas Planning Commission. Beatty said there were 20 houses on the list that were in such bad shape they should be condemned, so it would be a multiyear project.
-- The commission received a letter from the Clay Center Rural Fire District announcing the resignation of Norman Rettig from the board of directors and recommending of Dan Spellman to fill the vacancy. Commissioners approved the request.
-- Highway Administrator Steve Liby reviewed quotes from Husker Steel on two bridges using the materials the county has on hand: 45,857 for a bridge east of Idana on the black top road and $48,841for a bridge on Buffalo (Blackwood) Road. Commissioners gave permission to accept both quotes for the two bridges scheduled in 2010.
-- Commissioners approved purchasing a print head for the Tango ID Badge Printer at a cost of $599 as a repair on the printer.
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©Clay Center Dispatch 2009
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Mitzi Tyrell |
Oct, 28 2009 |
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The following is a little additional and corrective information on Gailen's career.
Gailen started as the Noxious Weed Supervisor in 1985 in a small office in the basement of the courthouse with limited equipment to do his job. During his tenure as Director he has slowly and stedily developed a fleet of needed vehicles and equipment to run an efficient operation. Over the years because of his ability to wear "many hats" he has consolidated the landfill operation for the county and overseen and implmented, by all mandated regulations, the opening of the new landfill north of Clay Center. Take note that many counties surrounding Clay Center are not full fledged landfills but only transfer stations. Gailen was/is persistant in obtaining grant monies to help develop and maintain a full service landfill and recycling operations.
The recycling program started from the ground up in Clay County and Gailen coordinated a one stop drop off for the initial turn-in which produced a tremendous response from Clay County. In an effort to provide convenience of recycling items Gailen introduced a monthly pickup at the outlying towns of Morganville, Green, Wakefield and Longford. Longford later went on to have its own recycling trailer. He implemented pickup of recycling items at local businesses and encouraged schools, other county offices and the city to evidently begin a city recycling program. Gailen established a Household Hazardous Waste pickup bi-annually so that people did not have far to go to get rid of hazardous materials in their homes or farms.
His vast knowledge of heavy equipment operation, mechanics, budgeting and other tasks to numerous to mention allowed him to run things efficiently and always within budget.
Many people do not realize how much certification and training is required to become a Noxious Weed Director. He is the only man I know that can figure in his head how much of a certain chemical is needed at what rate of speed to get desired results. It amazes me!
Gailen and his crew also have been instrumental in snow removal for the Courthouse, Health Department and KSU Extension office;always ensuring that walkways were clean for employees reporting to work.
Gailen DID NOT start by working at the Clay County Park but did sit on their board for many years and helped implement policy, etc.
All this was accomplished while farming full time and raising a family to which he never missed a ball game or school function that he needed to be at.
His wife and children would just like the general public to know what we have known for years--Gailen is a hardworking, efficient employee who always gives his best AND HIS SHOES WILL BE VERY VERY HARD TO FILL!
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