Minutes 05-17-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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By the way, as you discuss the project and funding, please realize that there are questions about timing of the project and funding. So, in addition to what mitigation actions you intend to support, the community is anxious to hear when the work would begin and how long it will take. It is our hope that the work will begin immediately after the project is approved and be complete before the landfill is closed. Thank you." James Barrett read a prepared statement: "On behalf of Justice United and Orange County Voice, we want to thank the Board for finally taking the steps to make this right. We offer the support and assistance from our organizations to shape the plan and engage the support of the community at large. As you know, based on interviews with over 1,000 people in Orange County, Justice United has taken this on as a priority initiative. We hope that you agree that it is a high priority for the county to finally settle our account with the Rogers Road Community, who has held the burden of our trash for 40 years. It will take all of us — citizens, county staff, and elected officials to make this happen 0 and you have our support. We all thank you." Will Raymond is a citizen in Chapel Hill. He thanked the Board of County Commissioners for taking this issue on. He is concerned about some of the language and it sounds like some sort of backsliding to the other municipalities. He wants to make sure that the County realizes that it is their deal —they took it on and it is their responsibility. Regarding the statement about direct and indirect issues that are not relevant to the landfill, he reminded the Board that part of the principles and provisions of the Rogers Road Small Area Task Force Report that the Town of Chapel Hill put together, it is anticipated that there might some kind of legal obstacles to addressing some of those issues. He thinks that there should be specificity to understand these legal obstacles. He said that the community has determined what is part of the Rogers Road Community and what the boundaries are. He asked the staff to defer to the community about what they consider the boundaries are. Regarding the pump station issue, OWASA is just participating with an agreement that the County has with the municipalities in terms of urban services boundary. The municipalities have agreed not to sprawl. He pointed out that in the recent Corps of Engineer request that UNC is putting forth for Carolina North, on page 45, there is a description of a pump station along Bowman Creek to assist that project. If it is good enough for UNC, it is good enough for this neighborhood. He reiterated what Mark Dorosin put forward, which is that there is a binding framework. He thanked the Board and said that he is optimistic that there will finally be some progress. Frank Clifton clarified that the volumes at the landfill are for the municipal haulers and the extra 48,000 tons includes trash that other people bring to the landfill. Secondly, the purpose of the Oversight Committee is to bring forth a specific set of priorities and recommendations and not to rehash everything that has been done. The purpose of this group is to bring a list of options for the Board of County Commissioners to consider. He said that the County was provided a proposed release with regard to the various illegal dumpsites. The problem is that the County does not have the authority to waive federal and state regulations. There is also a limited ability for the County to waive its own ordinances. Realistically, there has to be some revenue stream to fund these things. He said that the County has the option of raising the tipping fee 10% in any given year. This is where the $5 came from. The other aspect is that there has to be 30 days' notice before this is done. Commissioner McKee asked about Option 1 of extending the life of the landfill and if this is the only option that does not require State approval. Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson