Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 3, 2009 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 3- G <br /> SUBJECT: 2008 N.C. Big Sweep Caroline Parker Outstanding Achievement Award <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br /> Erosion Control Division <br /> ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> None Laura Blackmon, 245-2300 <br /> Craig Benedict, 245-2592 <br /> Ren Ivins, 245-2586 <br /> PURPOSE: To recognize Stormwater Resource Officer Terry Hackett of the Planning and <br /> Inspections Department, Erosion Control Division as the co-recipient of the 2008 N.C. Big <br /> Sweep Caroline Parker Outstanding Achievement Award. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Caroline Parker Outstanding Achievement Award is given annually to a <br /> N.C. Big Sweep County Coordinator who demonstrates outstanding performance in the annual <br /> statewide litter clean-up event. Terry Hackett co-coordinates the event in Orange County, along <br /> with Wendy Smith, Education Specialist for the Town of Chapel Hill's Stormwater Division. <br /> In addition to administering the County's stormwater program, Mr. Hackett is tasked with <br /> oversight and implementation of the Town of Hillsborough's stormwater program. Since these <br /> stormwater programs require public outreach and participation, coordinating N.C. Big Sweep, <br /> which promotes litter free watersheds, is a natural fit. It also makes sense to collaborate with <br /> the Town of Chapel Hill's efforts since its stormwater program also conducts outreach and <br /> education. <br /> Three hundred sixty-six (366) Orange County volunteers collected nearly 27,000 pounds of <br /> trash during the event on October 4, 2008. This included over 600 pounds of materials recycled <br /> by Orange County Solid Waste. The bulk of the trash came from the site of the Town of <br /> Hillsborough's Gold Park. An old dumpsite was located during construction by the general site <br /> contractor, Mainline Contracting. In fact, Mainline donated manpower and equipment to help get <br /> the heavier debris off the site. <br /> The number of volunteers and the amount of trash collected this year were both records for <br /> Orange County, which contributed to the pair receiving this award. <br /> N.C. Big Sweep is a grassroots nonprofit organization started 22 years ago as a component of <br /> the International Coastal Cleanup. It has grown into a statewide effort to clean up litter while <br /> educating the public. <br />