Published: June 22, 2009 10:49 pm      

Empire boy wants to ‘save the planet’

Commissioners hear about recycling effort

DUNCAN — One person can make a difference. Even if he is only 11 years old.

During Monday’s regular meeting of the Board of Stephens County Commissioners, the commissioners listened to a presentation about recycling by Jordan Setters, a sixth-grader at Empire Public Schools.

Jordan went to the meeting to ask if he and his family could put recycling bins at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center to collect aluminum cans.

“We’re really just trying to save the planet,” he said.

The idea Jordan and his parents, Matt and Melody Setters, was to use the green Waste Connections trash containers, or something similar, to collect the cans. The money made from selling the cans collected would be used to purchase more containers.

Jordan said it was his parents who gave him the idea because they had been involved in a recycling effort about 10 years ago in the City of Duncan.

Trying the approach of collecting aluminum cans at the fairgrounds was an approach Jordan came up with on his own. He said his parents were lending their support to help get the idea implemented.

Matt Setters said he wanted people to work together to take care of the planet.

“It’s strictly a community project,” Setters said.

Commissioners Darrell Sparks and Dee Bowen said they’d have to check with the fairgrounds manager Jeanne Bowden and the Stephens County District Attorney’s Office to make sure it would be alright to have the recycling program at the fairgrounds. Bowen said the commissioners have to check with the district attorney’s office so check on any liability issues.

“We’ll find out if you can do it,” Sparks said.

No action was taken.

The county commissioners also reviewed and approved a detention service agreement between Oklahoma Juvenile Justice Services Inc., and the commissioners board for juvenile services at the Garbled County Regional Detention Center.

The commissioners approve such agreements with multiple county detention centers every year. The board approved an agreement with Canadian County on June 1, that goes into effect July 1.