TYLER (KYTX) - After 26 years of service, Solid
Waste Director Dan Brotton retired Thursday. A celebration will be held from
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park
Drive.
Brotton has
exemplified the City's Called to S.E.R.V.E. motto by leading the Solid Waste
Department's efforts to pay off Solid Waste bonds, remaining debt free through
today and rebuilding a commercial solid waste business in 1987. In 1992, he was
instrumental in establishing a free recycling drop-off center and in 1995 he
established the grassroots-based Keep Tyler Beautiful Program to promote
anti-littering campaigns and waste reduction, along with beautification and
education programs throughout Tyler. He created a garbage truck buy-back program
so trucks are purchased and then sold back to the dealer after a 36-month period
for nearly 75 percent of original cost. During this time the trucks are under
factory warranty, greatly reducing maintenance costs to the
City.
Brotton has
been essential to ensuring that Tyler has landfill space for the next 100 years
by purchasing land with future expansion in mind, creating a landfill trust fund
by working with Republic Services, and securing a landfill expansion permit. He
also teamed up with Republic Services and East Texas Renewables to construct a
methane gas processing facility in which methane gas produced by the landfill is
sold to heat houses.
Brotton's
influence on the City goes beyond Solid Waste. He coordinated the establishment
of the City's Geographic Information System (GIS) Department that led to a first
of its kind partnership with Smith County and the 911 District. He started an
amortization fund for City vehicle replacement in 1988 which was fully funded by
1996. He also implemented the aerial photography project, rebuilt the Code
Enforcement Department and worked with the City's fleet manager to launch a
compressed natural gas facility.
"Dan has been
a tremendous asset for the City of Tyler and we will miss his leadership," said
Mark McDaniel, Tyler City manager. "On a personal level, I will greatly miss
his business acumen and his servant leader's heart."
Dan Brotton
