SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston City Council voted Thursday to make a $15,000 contribution to the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority in order to keep the recycling center open.

Norm Steenstra, director of the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority, said he was asking South Charleston, Charleston, St. Albans and Dunbar to contribute funds in order to recoup operating costs.

The center has previously been self-sufficient with profits from recycling covering operating costs.

When the cost of cardboard and newspaper declined, the waste authority suffered, Steenstra said.

Steenstra said that all four cities have agreed to offer funds in relation to the amount of recycling that comes from that city. The funds will aid the program until September when the price of cardboard and newspaper is expected return to an amount that will support the program.

In other business, the city is drafting a resolution to show their support of the 2010 census through messages on bills sent out to residents and on the city's Web site.

Richard Hartman, senior partnership specialist from the U.S. Census Bureau, previously met with Mayor Frank Mullens in attempt to form a partnership with the city of South Charleston to support the upcoming census.

Hartman hopes the partnership, and others like it around the state, will encourage residents to participate in the census.

"We want to make sure that no one is missed," Hartman said.

The questionnaire, which will be mailed to residents on March 1st, will include 10 questions that gather data on the population.

Hartman said that the information provided through the questionnaires stays confidential for 72 years and cannot be viewed by any members outside of the census bureau. All employees of the census bureau must sign a lifetime confidentiality agreement to keep any information collected confidential or face a $250,000 fine and jail time, he said.

"It is protected and vital," Hartman said.

"You need accurate data on the population you're serving to address budgetary and policy issues."

City attorney Mark Carr is drafting a resolution to approve the partnership, which the council will vote on at the next City Council meeting.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston City Council voted Thursday to make a $15,000 contribution to the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority in order to keep the recycling center open.

Norm Steenstra, director of the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority, said he was asking South Charleston, Charleston, St. Albans and Dunbar to contribute funds in order to recoup operating costs.

The center has previously been self-sufficient with profits from recycling covering operating costs.

When the cost of cardboard and newspaper declined, the waste authority suffered, Steenstra said.

Steenstra said that all four cities have agreed to offer funds in relation to the amount of recycling that comes from that city. The funds will aid the program until September when the price of cardboard and newspaper is expected return to an amount that will support the program.

In other business, the city is drafting a resolution to show their support of the 2010 census through messages on bills sent out to residents and on the city's Web site.

Richard Hartman, senior partnership specialist from the U.S. Census Bureau, previously met with Mayor Frank Mullens in attempt to form a partnership with the city of South Charleston to support the upcoming census.

Hartman hopes the partnership, and others like it around the state, will encourage residents to participate in the census.

"We want to make sure that no one is missed," Hartman said.

The questionnaire, which will be mailed to residents on March 1st, will include 10 questions that gather data on the population.

Hartman said that the information provided through the questionnaires stays confidential for 72 years and cannot be viewed by any members outside of the census bureau. All employees of the census bureau must sign a lifetime confidentiality agreement to keep any information collected confidential or face a $250,000 fine and jail time, he said.

"It is protected and vital," Hartman said.

"You need accurate data on the population you're serving to address budgetary and policy issues."

City attorney Mark Carr is drafting a resolution to approve the partnership, which the council will vote on at the next City Council meeting.