Riga recognizes scouts

Riga recognizes scouts

Members of the Riga Town Board recognized local Girl and Boy Scouts who attended a Columbus Day tour of the Mill Seat Landfill. During their October 9 meeting, council members passed a resolution forwarded by Council Member David Smith honoring the scouts who, "gathered at the Mill Seat Landfill in Riga and learned about refuse, recycling, green energy and generation of electricity with methane gas produced by the landfill." The resolution also stated, " ... the Otetiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 133 and the Genesee Council Girl Scout Troop 659, 779 and 508 has provided hundreds of Riga boys and girls with a special opportunity to learn important lifelong skills ... the need for environmental education and awareness is an important aspect of our future, and our local Scout troops are participating in education of our young people on the benefits of renewable energy." Smith attended the Scout Day tour of the landfill.

Riga Town Supervisor Pamela Moore mentioned a special patch that is available for young people that they can earn, in part, through a tour of the landfill. "The patch is multi-colored on a white background. It is available to Girl and Boy Scouts, Brownies, 4-Hers and other community organizations for children," she said.

Council Member Kenneth Kuter said, "It was commendable that Dave took part." Smith said 130 Scouts took the Mill Seat tour. "The program consisted of (Environmental Educator) Kimmie Romeo teaching the Scouts about recycling and all we can do to make a difference in the environment, how landfill technology has changed, and the methane gas to electricity conversion."

Scouts also learned about recycling computers and electronics, saw a video and took a 40-minute bus tour. "When departing the bus at the end of the tour, I handed them back pack bags with recycling calendars, pencils, pens, a poster, and a patch for their uniform," he said.

Waste Management's Cindy Jessop said the tours on October 8 were part of the 2nd annual Scout Day. "We show them a video on the story of garbage, which covers all components of trash, refuse, material that can be recycled and reused. All aspects of solid waste are covered. The Scouts tour around the site and see all the components involved. After the tour they receive a special Waste Management patch and if they are from Monroe County, the tour fulfills a requirement for a county patch from the Department of Environmental Services, " Jessop said.

She said the response to the tours has been great. "People are surprised. They don't realize what all is involved in waste management." She said people are impressed with," All that we do to protect the environment and our level of sensitivity to the environment."

A letter received from a Scout Master who attended the tour last year read, "The tour was informative, easy to understand and enjoyable. We were very impressed to see such a fine operation."

Jessop said if the Scout Day keeps growing in popularity, officials may choose to hold it again in the spring.

In other business, the Riga Town Board received the tentative 2008 budget. Board members scheduled four budget workshops to begin developing the spending plan: October 17, October 22, October 30 and November 5. The workshop meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m.