Minutes 09-06-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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reference in the report can be found in permanent agenda files in the Clerk to the Board's office as well as part of the agenda abstract on the county website: www.oranqecounty.nc.qov INTRODUCTION In 1972, the north side of Eubanks Road became the site of a solid waste landfill operated by the Town of Chapel Hill. Orange County assumed operational control of the landfill as the result of an August 17, 1999 agreement between the Towns (Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough) and the County. The Historic Rogers Road Community has lived with this landfill for 40 years. Over many years, residents representing the Rogers Road area have voiced concerns about various operational elements associated with the landfill and the impact on the Rogers Road Neighborhood. The Neighborhood is geographically split by the Town of Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition Area and Town of Carrboro. Orange County, as the current owner/operator of the landfill, is taking the lead to make remediation improvement to the Historic Rogers Road Community. A number of local government initiatives have been implemented to improve the quality of life in the Rogers Road Community and they are as follows: 1. The Solid Waste Fund paid $650,000 to extend public water service by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) to the Rogers Road area. 2. Solid Waste installed gas flares to reduce odors. 3. The Town of Chapel Hill initiated bus service on Rogers Road. 4. Orange County initiated a no-fault well policy to deal with failing drinking water wells remaining in the adjoining neighborhoods. 5. The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved the appropriation of$750,000 from the Solid Waste Fund Balance in the Fiscal 2011/12 Annual Budget to establish a Rogers Road Remediation Reserve Fund and established a $5.00 tipping fee surcharge per ton as long as the landfill is operational to fund the Rogers Road Remediation Reserve Fund. The surcharge generated $216,462 for Fiscal 2011/12 and is estimated to create $222,500 for Fiscal 2012/13, which will bring the total amount available for the Rogers Road Remediation Reserve Fund to $1,188,962. 6. A partnership with Orange County and the University of North Carolina created a Landfill Gas to Energy Project that commenced operation on January 6, 2012 and will have an immediate and noticeable impact on the odor created by the operation of the landfill. The project will further provide a long-term renewable energy source to UNC, reducing dependence on increasingly expensive fossil fuels, and reduce carbon emissions. 7. On October 4, 2011 the Orange County Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to proceed with a "one-time" effort to clean-up illegal dump sites within three- fourths of one mile of the landfill boundary, at no cost to the individual property owners. At the January 26, 2012 Assembly of Governments meeting, the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Town Boards discussed the extension of sewer service and a community center for the Rogers Road Community. County and Town Attorneys have