Duane Stanley has a solution to the nagging graffiti problems.

Clean it up or paint over it.

On Tuesday, Stanley, a Mower County Correctional Services officers, obtained the county board's permission to implement a response team to graffiti.

The MCCS and local law enforcement have teamed up with the Mower County Sentencing To Service program to combat the ugly art left on public buildings, Stanley said.

An unidentified supplier has donated 200 gallons of recycled paint to Mower County. Stanley credited Jeff Weaver, Mower County solid waste program administrator, with obtaining the paint for the county's use.

Graffiti is a recurring problem.

"I see it all over the community," Stanley said. "Alleys, streets, buildings. Everywhere."

Where possible, the STS crews under the supervision of Bill Klingerman will clean the graffiti from surfaces. If that isn't possible, they will cover it with paint.

The commissioners liked what they heard from Stanley.

Ray Tucker, 2nd District, made the motion, and Dick Lang, 4th District seconded it. All five commissioners voted "Aye."

Permits scrutinized

It was only a formality, but it didn't escape the county board's close scrutinization Tuesday.

Bill Buckley, environmental services supervisor, brought three solid waste permit applications to the commissioners' meeting.

They were for SKB Environmental, Veit Demolition Landfill Austin Facility LLC and Waste Management, Inc.

The commissioners peppered Buckley with questions about the applicants.

Both SKB and Veit operate demolition landfills, where solid waste permits are required. Waste Management, Inc. operates a cardboard/corrugated collection center near the entrance to Todd Park and also needs a solid waste permit.

The permits cost $100 each and there have been no complaints about the facilities, Buckley said. Satisfied with Buckley's answerers, the commissioners approved all three requests.

Only SKB Environmental had a representative present at the meeting. Area representative, Bill Keegan, expressed his appreciation to the board members for their approval of the application.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com