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