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As we celebrate Black History Month, I hope that this Board will write a new chapter in <br /> our County's history of placing ever new solid waste facilities in the Rogers-Eubanks area <br /> community. This Board has a unique opportunity to be positive history makers by refusing to <br /> continue burdening a predominantly low-income African-American neighborhood with the trash <br /> being produced by all of us. <br /> It is especially disturbing that over the past 10 to 15 years during which the County has <br /> known of the need for additional solid waste facilities, new upscale predominantly white <br /> neighborhoods including Meadowmont, Southern Village, and Waterstone have been built, or <br /> are in the process of being built. <br /> While these new mega-developments which attract residents from throughout the <br /> country have had similar sized school and/or park sites reserved on site or nearby, the longtime <br /> residents of the Rogers-Eubanks community continue to bear the burden of our trash. <br /> Dinners have been enjoyed and speeches have been applauded. Now it is time for this <br /> Board to take the lead in changing Orange County's history regarding the placement of waste <br /> facilities near low-income minority neighborhoods. Please restart the waste transfer station <br /> search by taking the Eubanks Road site off the table. <br /> She read a petition signed by Orange County residents that are opposed to continuing to <br /> have Eubanks Road on the table. <br /> Petition by Orange County Residents to the Board of County Commissioners to <br /> Eliminate Eubanks Road from Consideration for the Waste Transfer Station Site Search: <br /> For the past 35 years the present of landfills has degraded the quality of life for the <br /> predominantly low-income, African-American residents of the Rogers Road/Eubanks <br /> neighborhoods. These residents, whose neighborhoods have a rich heritage, have tolerated <br /> risks to their well water, odor and degraded air quality, noise, and pests brought by the landfills <br /> and other solid waste facilities. The detrimental effects of a nearby waste transfer station would <br /> continue this trend of having solid waste facilities in their neighborhoods —facilities which over <br /> the years have had a disproportionate and adverse impact. We the undersigned residents of <br /> Orange County respectfully request that the Board of County Commissioners eliminate Eubanks <br /> Road from consideration for the site of the waste transfer station and any other new solid waste <br /> facilities." <br /> Chair Jacobs said that this is not a "slow me down" tactic, but there is a civil rights <br /> complaint that has been filed, and as long as it is there, the Board will not discuss in public the <br /> position. The Board has expressed previously its inclinations, but upon the advice of the <br /> County Attorney, until such time that there is a remedy or a change, the Board will listen and <br /> continue with discussions. There is a special meeting on February 11th to deal with this issue at <br /> 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda <br /> below.) <br /> 3. Proclamations! Resolutions! Special Presentations <br /> a. Orange County Arts Grant Recipients <br /> The Board considered presenting checks to local artists and arts organizations receiving <br /> Orange County Arts Grants. <br /> Chair Jacobs read the names of grant recipients, as shown below: <br /> Grant Recipient: Attendees: <br />