Agenda - 08-18-2009 - 4g - Laserfiche WebLink

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a move forward. The faculty members believe the amount of the funding is not adequate to carry out the study and to ensure the quality of the study. Community interest and concern regarding the topic of biosolid application to land remains high in certain areas of the County. Community activist groups have sponsored various listening sessions and distributed materials that advocate for specific policy changes at the state and local level based on the materials and information they have acquired. The Health Department is requesting permission to redirect the research study funds ($10,000) to support costs for holding amulti-county conference/forum on land application of biosolids. The forum would educate participants about various aspects of the current practice of land- applied biosolids from wastewater treatment plants. Both state and nationally recognized experts will present sessions on technology, research, health and environmental risk management of current practices. Afield tour of a local biosolids processing facility and an application site will be offered on a second day. The attached sheet outlines preliminary thoughts from the planning committee. The Planning Committee includes: • Tom Konsler/Greg Grimes, Orange County Health Department, Environmental Health Services • Dr. Fletcher Barber, Orange County Cooperative Extension Director • Dr. Jeff White, North Carolina State University Soil Science • Dr. David Lindbo, North Carolina State University Soil Science • Dr. Chip Simmons, North Carolina State University Bio-Ag Engineering • Gail Hughes/Kenny Ray, Orange County Soil and Water • Jon Risgaard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality • Carl Carroll, Alamance County Health Department, Environmental Health • Andy Seignor/ Terri Ritter, Chatham County Health Department, Environmental Health Tom Konsler and Greg Grimes, Orange County Health Department -Environmental Health Services, are providing staff support for the Planning Committee. County Enviromnment & Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil and Planning Director Craig Benedict have also been briefed on the upcoming forum so that their boards .can be appropriately advised and encouraged to attend. Re-direction of these funds would be used to defray the costs of the forum to keep registration fees low and encourage widespread attendance. Funds will support travel or honorarium costs for speakers, lunch, breaks, transportation to field sites, marketing, materials preparation, sound system. A specific budget will be developed as the planning committee finalizes the agenda. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The funds were encumbered in 2006. Redirecting their use would not affect the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year budget. It is likely that the entire amount will not be needed for this forum. Any unexpended portion of the $10,000 would return to the general fund (approximately $4,000). RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board approve the re- direction of funds for the biosolids research study to support acommunity-wide biosolids forum in an amount up to $6,000 with the remaining portion returning to the general fund.