Minutes 02-02-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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they will be getting back together in another month. The big issue is what happens in two years when the landfill closes. Commissioner Pelissier said that she was under the impression that the Board wanted to engage the elected bodies to have a conversation. She hopes that this also happens. Frank Clifton said that this could be done, but the elected bodies usually look to the staff for recommendations. Commissioner Pelissier said that she is not sure if they are ready to go to an AOG meeting yet. Regarding the possible public input, she is not clear on what the public would be asked. She has no idea what it would cost to modernize SWCC. She feels that the Board is being asked to do something prematurely. Frank Clifton said that staff just wants Board direction on these issues and the staff will continue to evaluate the issues. Commissioner Foushee said that since the County decided not to site a transfer station, then there are residual issues related to solid waste. One of the things that came forward was that, if this item were to be brought to the AOG meeting, that the Manager should be prepared to make some recommendation to the elected officials so that there would be some idea of how to move forward. She suggested waiting until the AOG meeting in September. Commissioner Yuhasz said that the work group did talk about fiscal issues and recognizes that the County cannot keep funding the SWCC at the current levels. He said that the purpose of the work group is to come up with a solution to provide long-term solutions that will allow the SWCC to stay open in some form in the future. He said that it would be helpful to get cost estimates for the neighborhood regional model for SWCC. Commissioner Foushee asked about the role of the consultants in these discussions. Gayle Wilson said that the minutes of the work group meetings are on the website and he will put the historical minutes on the website also. There is only one consultant being used (Resource Recycling, Inc.) and they have been utilized by the work group, almost since its inception for cost estimates, technical information for each convenience center, etc. Commissioner Jacobs said that it is a terrific accomplishment to achieve 54% waste reduction in Orange County. He is not interested in backing away from this accomplishment. He said that one of the reasons you have a consultant is that they bring an outside view and are independent of staff. He said that not adding more services runs counter to continuing to reduce waste. Commissioner Gordon said that one of the immediate things that need to be discussed is whether to go to the AOG in March versus September and what issue would be discussed. She wants to be prepared and clear. Frank Clifton said that the decisions that need to be discussed are as follows: relevancy and commitment of the 61% waste reduction goal with the towns; and the commitment of the towns, including UNC, to be part of a combined effort to go to Durham. Commissioner Yuhasz said that it is going to be difficult to reach as a County a 61% waste reduction goal without a consolidated effort from the towns. Commissioner Jacobs said that part of staff's recommendation regarding upgrades to the SWCC is to accommodate more recycling so that the waste stream could be further reduced. Commissioner Pelissier said that there is such an overlap of this Solid Waste Work Group and the SWAB, and this needs to be a focus at the Board's retreat. She thinks that the public truly needs to be engaged in looking at the options, but this needs to be clearly laid out with rationales and presentations. She said that this clearly needs to be done before any final plans about convenience centers are adopted. Commissioner Jacobs said that he appreciates the public for challenging the Board's assumptions. Commissioner Gordon agreed.