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Tom O'Dwyer said that he has served on the Commission for the Environment for <br /> three years and the Commission is asking the Board to reserve the funding for future research <br /> and to consider forming a task force to look further into biosolids and their use. He asked as <br /> an individual to revise the standards for the regulation of biosolids. He said that there are <br /> contaminants in the biosolids that are not being regulated. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that she appreciates the Board of Health's interest in this. <br /> She said that she had been serving on the Commission for the Environment before she <br /> became a Commissioner, and there are a number of parties interested in biosolids. She said <br /> that there is scientific data out about this topic that is concerning. She said that she has <br /> concerns about the different boards and departments who are interested in the same topics <br /> but not in a joint effort. She said that one of the priorities that the Board talked about at the <br /> retreat was better communication between the Board of County Commissioners and advisory <br /> boards and between the advisory boards. She would like a task force to discuss this issue. <br /> She also feels that it might be possible to find financial partners who may be interested in <br /> biosolids research. She would also like to defer the forum. <br /> Commissioner Hemminger agreed with Commissioner Pelissier. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Pelissier and said that the County <br /> Commissioners have had as a goal to try and get legislation to regulate the application of <br /> biosolids. He thinks that it would be better to put together people who may not agree so that <br /> the answers could be identified and some additional data could be collected. <br /> Commissioner Nelson agreed with everyone else and said that he is interested in <br /> drafting enabling legislation and making this a priority. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she agreed with what has been discussed by the <br /> Commissioners. She would like to take action to defer this forum and have the topic of <br /> biosolids at a work session this fall. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that he has heard a request for more public education on <br /> this issue, and this forum is designed to provide more public awareness. He does not know <br /> why this money has not been spent to this point and he said that there is money to have this <br /> conference with experts on this issue and the stakeholders involved. He said that a delay <br /> would leave them with no education plan. He would like to go ahead with the forum and invite <br /> people that have knowledge about this issue. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to <br /> defer action on the reassignment of funds for the biosolids study until the Board of County <br /> Commissioners has an opportunity to discuss this regional forum concept and to discuss the <br /> Commission for the Environment's April 20, 2009 memorandum on biosolids, which includes a <br /> request to form a multidisciplinary task force on the topic of biosolids; and to ask that this topic <br /> be placed on a Board of County Commissioners' work session this fall. <br /> Commissioner Nelson added an amendment to the motion to find out from the County <br /> Attorney about the County's legal options regarding this issue. <br /> Commissioner Gordon and Commissioner Pelissier agreed with the amendment. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Nelson, but he said to <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz that the Board of County Commissioners in 2006 had talked about this <br /> issue. He said that he hopes that when this comes back that it can be within a framework of <br /> how the County Commissioners can develop a strategy for achieving what has been on the <br /> legislative agenda for a number of years. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 6; No, 1 (Commissioner Yuhasz) <br />