Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

POTOSI—The City of Potosi received a $49,122 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Scrap Tire Program to purchase benches and picnic tables for the Potosi City Park. With these funds, the city purchased 30 six-foot benches, 22 six-foot picnic tables, two eight-foot picnic tables and six eight-foot wheelchair accessible picnic tables to be installed throughout the park. 

“These additions and improvements to our park mean a lot to our city,” Potosi Chief Financial Officer Carey Rulo said via email. “Our city park serves residents of both the city and county, as well as visitors to our area. It is a gathering place for families, sports teams, friends and a variety of organizations and social groups in our community. This grant empowered us to finally retire many of our old wood tables that had become both an eyesore and a safety concern. It also allowed us to create more areas throughout the park to take a seat, rest, relax and enjoy nature and the company of others. We are very proud of our community and our park. This opportunity from the Department of Natural Resources has enabled the City of Potosi to follow one of our core tenants to always be seeking ways to improve the area for the benefit of our community.”

This grant program is funded through the 50 cent per tire scrap tire fee, collected by retailers, when a new tire is sold. This provides an opportunity for schools, nonprofit organizations and governmental organizations (other than state agencies) to improve parks, recreation areas, sports fields and playgrounds, while creating a market for products made of recycled material. 

MDNR is currently accepting applications through June 18, 2025. For more information on how to apply, visit https://dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/what-were-doing/financial-assistance-opportunities/scrap-tire-surface-material-grant. 

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) provided a letter of support for the city’s application. 

“Anytime the district can provide assistance in helping a city with a program that finds a new purpose for recyclable material, we will certainly help,” said Tammy Snodgrass, Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Environmental Manager and Assistant Director. 

MRPC provides the day-to-day operation assistance for ORSWMD.

The Ozark Rivers District includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities with populations of 500 or more. The district’s strategy for solid waste reduction, which has been individually adopted by all member governments and approved by Missouri Department of Natural Resources involves education and to reduce solid waste in member counties and cities. The solid waste district is tasked with reducing the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill by 40 percent. MRPC provides administration of the district and assists with a variety of implementation projects.

For more information about ORSWMD or waste reduction and recycling opportunities in the Ozark Rivers area, contact Tammy Snodgrass, MRPC environmental programs manager, at 573-265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.  Additional information can be found at www.ozarkrivers.org or http://www.facebook.com/ORSWMD.  

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing the unemployed, serves as chairman. A professional staff of 25 led by Executive Director Bonnie Prigge offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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