Minutes 05-26-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Pelissier asked if it would be problematic to add this language about meeting with the towns to discuss other community benefits. Her understanding is that they are raising the tipping for things related to the landfill from the environmental perspective, which is something they can do without the agreements of towns. This language gives a mixed message that the monies are for other community benefits. Commissioner Foushee said that this is so indicative of why the County has not done anything to this point, because they spend all of this time rearranging and rewriting without making a decision. She is prepared to call the question. VOTE: Ayes, 6; No, 0 (Commissioner Hemminger had already left at this point) RESOLUTION EXERCISING ORANGE COUNTY'S RIGHT TO INCREASE THE MIXED SOLID WASTE TIPPING FEE TO MITIGATE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND REQUESTING ORANGE COUNTY'S PARTNER MUNICIPALITIES ENDORSE THE USE OF REVENUES GENERATED BY THE INCREASED FEES FOR REMEDIATION EFFORTS IN THE ROGERS ROAD AREA WHEREAS, the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough (the "Partners") are Partners with Orange County in managing solid waste through the Agreement for Solid Waste Management (the "Agreement"); and WHEREAS, Orange County and its partners have, for many years, received comment on and studied issues involved in remediating adverse environmental conditions and other adverse conditions that may exist in the Rogers Road Area near the Orange County Landfill (the "Landfill"); and WHEREAS, Orange County and its Partners have been presented, through the years, with evidence purportedly linking the operations of the Landfill to adverse environmental conditions and other adverse conditions in the Rogers Road Area; and WHEREAS, in spite of Orange County and its Partners' best efforts, solutions to address adverse environmental conditions and adverse harmful conditions in the Rogers Road Area have failed to materialize to the extent necessary to properly address concerns and conditions of importance to the Rogers Road Area residents; and WHEREAS, Orange County and Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents who live in the Rogers Road Area have endured, among other things, adverse environmental conditions, poor living conditions, landfill related odor conditions, contaminated drinking wells and failing septic systems for many years; and WHEREAS, Section 4 of the Agreement authorizes Orange County to increase the Mixed Solid Waste Tipping Fee upon thirty (30) days notice to its Partners so long as the increase does not exceed ten percent (10%); and WHEREAS, Section 4 of the Agreement reserves unto Orange County the absolute right to adjust any and all rates and fees for the purpose of, among other things, paying "costs of remediating any adverse environmental conditions at any time existing with respect to the System"; and