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Commissioner Gordon asked if the SWAB has talked about a MRF. Jan Sassman said that they feel strongly that a MRF is necessary. Joe Clayton said that he has not seen numbers yet and there are a lot of MRF's. He said that numbers drive them, and one million people would be enough to drive a MRF. Commissioner Gordon said that she understood that the issues were casts and how many people would need to be involved and who would work in it. She understands that there are terrible working conditions. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he has visited MRF's in Greensboro, Charlotte, and Athens, Georgia and saw the types of people working at them. After those visits, he was not convinced that the County could afford a MRF or produce enough material to maintain one. He said that there was an exploitation of human beings at these facilities. He would never support something like this. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the money far the MRF would be taken out of the 3-R fee anyway. Gayle Wilson said yes and that they are in the middle of an analysis of looking at whether they should consider a MRF operated by the County versus using a merchant MRF through Greensboro or Raleigh. The merchant MRF looks good in the short-term, but they are continuing the analysis. Regarding the employee base, he said that they had assumed a living wage for the employees and a structure that had all modern environmental necessities. It will still be very unpleasant, but they would not consider anything but a thoroughly modern facility. Jan Sassaman said that one of the considerations of the SWAB is that if they are going to increase recycling, it has to go somewhere after the landfill closes. If the facilities are operated in the County, there is control over the issues of justice, ethics, environmental handling, and a good wage for people. Chair Carey said that this is one of the issues that will be addressed as the plan is updated. He thinks the staff has enough direction to proceed. He said that they do not have to wait until April to get started in developing the plan. 4. SWAB Presentation on Maior Issues Jan Sassaman made reference to the timeline on page two, which is a road map of when things should be attended ta. The C&D disposal facilities are an track. The present landfill for Municipal Solid Waste {MSW} will have to be permitted between 2005-2008, and plan to close and cap the landfill by 2010. As they ga off line with the present landfill they will need to get going with the waste transfer station. A site must be identified by 2005-2006 ar 2006-2007. This site must be operational by the beginning of 2010. Commissioner Jacobs said that he hopes that the methane gas group will have a SWAB member. Commissioner Jacobs asked B. J. Tipton what would have to be done with the University in order for her to become an official member. B. J. Tipton said that Gayle Wilson has spoken with someone at the University and initial talks have begun. She thinks the University has been operating on a good faith manner as if they have signed on.