Minutes - 20020523 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

of the ordinance implementation include equipment that has been bid with prices expiring soon. The budget assumes that the equipment is in operation. Time will be needed for construction of facilities. Also, there is insufficient regulation of cardboard recycling. Staff is proceeding at this point with the assumption that the Board would like them to go forward with the first timetable, which contemplates an October 1, 2002 implementation of the RRMO. The second alternative provides for a timeline of February 2003 for implementation. Rod Visser explained that the money for Solid Waste is allocated from a fund called the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. There is no money spent from the County's general fund other than paying for the solid waste that the County deposits at the landfill that is collected at the solid waste convenience centers. Commissioner Carey asked about the RRMO bidding process. Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones said that the bids have been in place for some time and will remain until June 30th. After that time. she feels we would have to rebid. Commissioner Carey asked and Rod Visser said that it is a question of providing information to the County Commissioners and allowing time for discussion and decision. Commissioner Halkiotis said that the County needs to do some additional work on educating Orange County citizens an what it really costs to recycle. He said that there is an assumption that this is a free service and it pays for itself. Commissioner Halkiotis asked what the County is spending at this time far contract grinding. Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson said that they contract out grinding three times a year for yard waste. With the new C&D ordinance, grinding clean wood waste and pallets, it would increase the contracting to about five times a year. Last year's budget included $80,000 which did not include the pallet and clean woad waste grinding. Commissioner Halkiotis asked how much mulch has been sold this year. Gayle Wilson said that mulch sales are about double this year at about $150,000. Commissioner Halkiotis said that we need to encourage more organizations to buy mulch from Orange County, because the more we get other organizations involved, the more we make it a local commodity, and the more it benefits the community. Gayle Wilson said that once the new C&D facilities are constructed and open, we will go from selling mulch on Wednesdays and Saturdays only to selling it at all times that the landfill is open. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the tipping fee and asked about the rationale for not increasing the fee. She thinks we should consider writing a letter to the Towns if the fee is the decision of the County Commissioners. Rod Visser said that it is absolutely the County Commissioners' decision as to whether to raise the tipping fee. He said that one of the major rationales is that there is some consideration on the budgets for the municipalities and also for the County. Another consideration is the comparison of our tipping fees to other public and private facilities in the area. Gayle Wilson said that Orange County's C&D tipping fee is the highest in the immediate region. The next closest is $3 less. The current tipping fees are $45 per ton for mixed solid waste and $41 per ton for C&D materials. Commissioner Brown said that she is very concerned about the entire Eubanks Road Solid Waste Site and haw it affects the surrounding area. She said that it would be better if it were in the County's control. Gayle Wilson said that we operate only the recycling part of the landfill and try to remain somewhat separate from Public Works' operation. He said that this site is taken into account in the master plan. The master plan shows that when the transfer station is constructed, the convenience center would be relocated on the south side of Eubanks Road.