Minutes 02-02-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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within walking distance of each other. She suggested consolidating these. She said that there is never any pro forma incoming expense data presented to the Board before making a decision. Regarding the convenience centers, she said that they seem to be working fine and no changes should be made when there is no money. She suggested not using consultants and saving money by using staff. Commissioner Hemminger said that she is confused as to what they are supposed to be doing and she knows they have to file this report. She asked if anything needed to be done now. Frank Clifton said that the requirement is for the County and the towns to have a long- term solid waste plan. The State wants to know what jurisdictions are going to do with solid waste. He said that staff in these work groups are evaluating all options out there and developing a long-term sustainable plan. He said that there are issues that have long-term financial implications and the SWCC are part of the long-term plan; and if the SWCC are going to be there for a long time, then there should be a plan as to what they are going to be like for years to come. He said that he is not sure that the SWCC meet State requirements. He thinks, as time goes forward, that the centers need to be segregated into cost centers. One of the elements is do some more community outreach and get more community feedback. Commissioner Hemminger said that the feedback she has heard is that people want the SWCC but the County needs to run them more effectively. She also thinks that more input is needed from citizens. She said that if people can take their trash to a location then it is better in the long run rather than throwing it on the side of the road. Frank Clifton said this is a multi-year plan and if the County is going to be doing solid waste forever, then there should be a forever location. Commissioner Jacobs said that the next time this comes to the Board, he would like to get some information. First, he would like to see the percent of the waste generated in towns versus the rural parts of Orange County. Second, he would like to have information on the staffing of Walnut Grove SWCC. He said that he has never seen a traffic jam at this center. He would also like to see a history of filing of plans with the State and how closely the County has adhered to the schedule and what the penalties were from the State when the County did not adhere to the schedule. Regarding why changes are being made, he said that one of the charges to the Solid Waste Work Group and to the Board of County Commissioners during this budget cycle was to figure out how to afford to keep Bradshaw Quarry Convenience Center open. This seems to have gotten lost in the discussion. Commissioner Jacobs said that in November when the Board asked to get this topic on the Board of County Commissioners' schedule, the Board wanted to go to the Assembly of Governments about the whole arrangement of solid waste in Orange County. He said that some of the questions are whether the 61% waste reduction goal is still the goal of the municipalities, the status of the partnership, the viability of the 1999 agreement and whether there is still any commitment to this agreement, whether UNC should be reinvigorated to join the agreement, and whether the County is getting paid by the municipalities for the Greene Tract, as was discussed. He said that the basic idea is to have conversations with partners before making decisions about how to serve the public. He thinks that the County is going at this backwards and they need to start from the top and either reestablish the assumptions as a group (governments and the County) or each government can go their own way. He said that going through the transfer station process they found their partners being less than partners and this is not a viable partnership. He said they need to talk about their assumptions with their partners. Frank Clifton said that the Managers and the Solid Waste staff from the towns and the County did meet and discussed moving forward with Durham and about their partnership and