Orange County NC Website
Rod Visser made reference to the segregation of the solid waste operations and the actual <br />collection operations. We need to make sure that if the Solid Waste department operates the site, the <br />services need to stay financially separate. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the tire fee required by the State. Gayle Wilson said that <br />there is currently a 2% tax on tires in the State and a significant portion of that is reimbursed to the <br />Counties on a per capita basis to pay for tire collection and recycling programs. It also allows the <br />collection stations to not charge a tipping fee. There is a sunset an legislation that reduces the 2% to 1 °~ <br />effective June 30th. If that is the case, there will be insufficient funds to fully pay for the tire program and <br />we may have to implement a fee to supplement the lost revenue. He has personally sent emails to the <br />legislators urging them to reauthorize the 2%. Orange County is now trying to eliminate another illegal <br />tire dump and it is working with the State. There is also a reserve fund at the State level to get rid of <br />illegal tire dumps. He has a commitment from a legislator and money has been set aside to take care of <br />this illegal dump. <br />Commissioner Brown questioned the State's purpose for lowering the tax on tires. Gayle <br />Wilson said that it was originally 1 %, but then it was lobbied and increased to 2°l0. Commissioner Brown <br />would like him to let the County Commissioners know about things like this so they can also send emails <br />and letters to the legislators. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Legislative Goals Committee could look at this. If the County has <br />already paid far it, there would be little incentive for the State to reimburse us. He encouraged Solid <br />Waste to track all of the other areas where we have legislative vulnerability. <br />Commissioner Gordon stated that when Orange County gets reimbursements from the State, <br />if they charge us a fee, we should consider refusing to pay this fee. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to the Solid Waste Management Agreement where it mentions <br />making a report. He suggested doing an annual report and educating the citizenry by sharing some facts <br />with them about solid waste. <br />Commissioner Brawn said that she thought that the Solid Waste Advisory Board was going to <br />do an annual report. The staff will work on getting this report done by the SWAB. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to the Regulated Recyclable Materials Ordinance. He said that <br />in the Hamebuilders Association newsletter, it explains the entire C&D recycling program. He is pleased <br />to see that the County Commissioners are ready to proceed with the RRMO. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he feels it is a good idea to start looking at the changes in the solid <br />waste master plan. He suggested working on this at a future work session. <br />Gayle Wilson showed some slides of the proposed facilities an Eubanks Road. <br />Chair Jacobs mentioned that Durham is interested in the possibility of working with us an <br />these solid waste issues. He suggested asking the County Manager to contact the Manager of Durham <br />to see if there are any opportunities for collaboration. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that she would be careful about this. She would be looking for an <br />economy of scale. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that Durham was finding itself in competition with a private <br />transfer station and is now experiencing some financial issues. They might welcome increased activities <br />on their transfer pad because they would be making up for some lost revenue stream. He thinks it is <br />