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with the County Commissioners about this. The citizens have also asked him that if a site is <br /> approved here tonight to move forward in superior court to obtain a restraining order and a <br /> lawsuit to have the approval overturned. He said that it is worth it to take the time to resist the <br /> impulse to get it over with. He asked the County Commissioners to engage in discussion with <br /> the citizens and to find the best site. <br /> Lynn Ramirez is a cyclist and lives near Maple View Farms. She chose this area <br /> because it is gorgeous and it is popular for cyclists. She is concerned that there are no bike <br /> lanes, but cars respect the bicyclists. She said that with no bike lanes and with two-lane roads, <br /> she can picture a big trash truck bearing down on the cyclists. This area is not meant for trash <br /> trucks going down this path. <br /> Alexa Ramirez said that she cycles in the area and the big trucks scare her. <br /> Buz Gayer said that he is also a cyclist. He said that the decision to put a transfer <br /> station in this area is not responsible. He said that to have all of the traffic going down Orange <br /> Grove Road is just a travesty. <br /> Lester Ray is the closest farmer to the proposed site and is the fifth generation farming <br /> the same land. He spoke about his experience on a committee with Bob Strayhorn in the 90's <br /> that was working to preserve rural character. He said that it was determined that the farmers <br /> do not need help to keep farming in Orange County, but they just need to be left alone. He <br /> asked the County Commissioners to reconsider this. <br /> Virginia Leslie said that she has emailed the Board about her concerns. She wanted to <br /> reaffirm that one of the things that the citizens keep hearing is about pressure and time. She <br /> believes that Gayle Wilson received a phone call today from a representative from Waste <br /> Management, Inc. From her understanding, Waste Management, Inc. has agreed to help <br /> Orange County in the short-term, medium-term, and the long-term with this issue, including <br /> waste transfer and waste to energy. She said that the time pressure is not as valid as it has <br /> seemed. <br /> Michael Hughes lives on Orange Grove Road. He said that the citizens have not been <br /> properly informed and the reports have not been promptly put on the website. He said that <br /> there has been some information that has not been available to the public. <br /> Board Discussion: <br /> Commissioner Nelson thanked the public for being good through the process. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that there are competing goals and there is no ideal site. <br /> She thinks that the narrowing down to the three sites is a compromise. She said that <br /> reconsidering the sites would mean that the County Commissioners would have to start the <br /> process all over again because of the criteria. She said that the thing with picking an industrial <br /> site is that Orange County is not an industrial county. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that he, Commissioner Pelissier, and Commissioner <br /> Hemminger have come into this process late and decisions were made early in this process <br /> and Olver, Inc. was given certain criteria and the sites chosen were based on the criteria. He <br /> said that none of the sites are ideal and he is not excited about putting a transfer station on <br /> site #056, but there is not another site that he has seen that he would be more excited about. <br /> He would like to continue to look for alternatives because the transfer station is not the ultimate <br /> solution to the waste responsibilities of the County. He encouraged the staff and the Solid <br /> Waste Advisory Board to continue to search for alternatives. He thinks that the time pressure <br /> is real. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that if the County Commissioners started the process all <br /> over again, it would take another six months to a year. This is a very difficult decision. <br />