Agenda - 06-05-2012 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

15 1 be some scientific evidence about what was coming out without having any acceptance of 2 responsibility. He asked the Attorney if it was possible to determine if one of these dumping 3 sites was for-profit. 4 John Roberts said that the State has mechanisms to pursue this, and he could work with 5 the State on this. 6 Frank Clifton made reference to the other issues and said that the Health Department 7 could test the wells if the property owners allowed it. Regarding the second issue of monitoring 8 wells, he thinks that this is a fairly sizable expense. He said that it might be useful to have the 9 Rogers Road Work Group discuss this possibility. 10 Commissioner Hemminger said that it is frustrating that the County is supposed to leave 11 this hazardous waste here due to federal regulations. There are more of these kinds of sites in 12 the County. She said that she would love to clean all of these sites, but she does not know how 13 it can be done. 14 Commissioner McKee asked if any involvement by the County of placing monitoring 15 wells around these sites incur liability to the County. 16 John Roberts said that a monitoring well, as long as it does not disturb material and it 17 only reads, does not cause liability. He would like to research this further. 18 Commissioner Yuhasz asked if the County could provide financial assistance to these 19 third parties for cleanup efforts without incurring liability as a County. 20 John Roberts said that he believed that there was some provision for contracting for 21 cleanup. He said that it could cause problems for the contracting party, but he will research it 22 further. 23 Commissioner Jacobs said that the County took a gamble with Fairview Park and had 24 the property tested, and it was benign. The County just swapped land with the Town of 25 Hillsborough.' It was not that the County left a hazardous ticking time bomb in the middle of 26 Fairview. He said that there are two separate issues: the Board of County Commissioners 27 could be aggressive and clean out any junk on ground level and above; and secondly, take a 28 more cautious, but progressive approach toward addressing the fact that there is a public 29 health issue. He thinks that it is not an option to just leave it. 30 Commissioner McKee said that he would like to commend staff for their well-reasoned 31 recommendations for cleaning up this area. He said that when he talked in the past about 32 cleaning up, he meant trash on the side of the street and not the hazardous waste cleanup. He 33 said that he will not place this financial burden on the taxpayers of Orange County to clean up 34 these sites with the liabilities that could occur. 35 Frank Clifton suggested that the County could assist by placing dumpsters, and this 36 would not disturb the site. 37 Commissioner Foushee said that this is an unfortunate situation that they find 38 themselves wanting to help the neighborhood but also to be responsible to all Orange County 39 citizens. She said that it would be irresponsible for the County to move forward to do 40 something without knowing all of the implications. 41 A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner 42 Hemminger to approve the manager's recommendation to authorize staff to proceed with 43 implementation of landfill neighborhood notification and clean-up activities to be funded by the 44 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund; and that the County begin to explore and assist with the public 45 health safety measures to protect the public from the two identified illegal dump sites that 46 require excavation, digging, or mechanical uncovering. 47 Commissioner Hemminger asked for a friendly amendment to add in offering free 48 testing to the residents of Tallyho and also consider putting in wells around these particular 49 areas. Commissioner Foushee agreed. 50 Commissioner Yuhasz asked for clarification for"assistance."