Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br />Commissioner Crowther made reference to the agricultural section of the report and <br />asked if they included forestry. Howard Lee indicated that there was little discussion in that <br />direction. <br />Commissioner Gordon commended everyone for their hard work . She suggested that <br />on page 11 under the general topic of infrastructure, adding a goal for transportation to employment <br />and training centers -- something like the EDC should work with appropriate groups to meet the <br />needs of transporting people to work and secure transportation of people to education and training <br />centers. She feels this is an important piece in facilitating citizens' ability to receive training and hold <br />jobs. <br />Chair Carey thanked all the members of the different task forces, the two co-chairs and the <br />Economic Development Director Ted Abernathy. He suggested that the Board receive public <br />comments at a public hearing. If any Commissioners wish to offer comments or changes to the plan <br />before it goes to the hearing, they should forward them to Ted Abernathy. Mr. Abernathy was <br />requested to put the action plan into a summary sheet for easy reading and understanding. <br />VI. RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS <br />A. LANDFILL SITING RESOLUTION <br />The Board considered adopting a resolution approving the selection of the site for a <br />future Orange County landfill. At their most recent meeting, the Landfill Owners' Group voted 5-2 to <br />approve a recommendation to the governing boards of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and <br />Orange County that a modified Site Orange County-17 be approved as the next landfill site in <br />Orange County. Specific conditions are detailed in the resolution. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked Wilbert McAdoo to explain the map which includes <br />conceptual site plan #1, #2 and #3. He noted that the fill area is 108 acres on option #1, 130 acres <br />on option #2 and 102 acres on option #3. <br />THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM <br />Roger Barr spoke against this resolution. He said that there is no question the County <br />needs a way to dispose of solid waste but he does not feel the County needs a new landfill. <br />Whether they need a new landfill has not been part of the public discussion. The Site Selection <br />Committee was forbidden from discussing this issue. The Landfill Owners Group has avoided the <br />issue. He feels there is a tremendous amount of landfill capacity in the southeast and in North <br />Carolina and in this area. Durham County Landfill is not taking in enough trash to meet their budget. <br />He made reference to the paper or disposal options and noted that the in-county plan is $600,000 <br />more expensive a year than other plans identified as alternatives. He asked the Board to carefully <br />consider if this landfill is necessary at all. <br />Linda Carver spoke against the resolution. She said that Orange County has been <br />known across the State as a very progressive County and a leader in many areas. A landfill where <br />garbage is buried is not on the cutting edge. She would hate to see Orange County have this landfill <br />and have to import garbage from other Counties in order to support it. While other counties are <br />recycling and doing more progressive things, Orange County has this expensive dinosaur that is <br />unsightly and ruining the lives of some citizens. She said that when site 17 was added, that area <br />was not represented on the Site Selection Committee. She questioned the size of the lots and why <br />when the size became smaller, they did not look for smaller sites in other places in the County. She <br />asked the County Commissioners to be sure before they start building this landfill that it is the right <br />thing for Orange County. <br />