The Vandalia City Council on Monday night agreed to add $1.25 per month in fees to the bills of City Water Customers to pay for recycling. $1 of the increase will go to FAYCO for their recycling program, while the other 25 cents will go to the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District for their electronic recycling program. During discussion on the matter at Monday night’s meeting, Alderman Andy Lester said his first reaction was that he was against the added fee, and he said his second reaction was that it may not be fair for those that don’t use the recycling to have to pay for it. But, Lester says it’s necessary. Lester compared it to taxes that individuals pay for programs they may not use—such as the library or the school district. Lester said Vandalia is the only entity to keep it going and they should give it a shot. Alderwoman Dorothy Crawford said the response she has gotten has been overwhelmingly negative. Crawford said as council members they are two different people—their individual self and the city council member representing their ward. Crawford said as individual she does support the program, but could not vote yes with the negative response she has received. Crawford said she believe there should be a county-wide solution to paying for the program. Alderman Mike Hobler said he was voting yes to keep the program going until another option for paying for it would come up. The council approved both the general fee for FAYCO and the electronic fee for the soil and water conservation district by 5 to 3 votes—with Lester, Hobler, B. John Clark, Russ Stunkel and Ken Hubler voting yes and Crawford, Joel Rebbe and Steve Barker voting no.