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environmental priority in Orange County. (Consensus on this approach among the towns may <br /> evolve into a protracted process; a timely decision would be essential to success.) <br /> 2. If no town is willing to work with the County on the Solid Waste Management <br /> Authority approach, then a county-wide Solid Waste Tax Service District approach is the more <br /> comprehensive and flexible option. It can provide services via County staffing, franchised, <br /> contracted, optional or mandatory programs or otherwise formulated approaches to both solid <br /> waste and recycling services as long as services are delivered and funded on some basis <br /> county-wide in the unincorporated areas of the County and can allow one or more towns to opt <br /> into the District once created. (This approach could include some combination of the Basic 3R <br /> Fees along with a county-wide tax.) <br /> 3. If either the Solid Waste Management Authority or the County-Wide Solid Waste Tax <br /> Service District approaches are not acceptable, then some configuration of a modified <br /> franchise approach to providing both solid waste and recycling services within the <br /> unincorporated areas of Orange County on a voluntary participation basis offers a solution. It <br /> allows existing participants in the unincorporated areas to gain the services (and pay for them <br /> directly) and does not require persons not using the services to pay for services they are not <br /> using (even though the services are available). Towns can pursue individual franchise <br /> agreements for services and/or be included in the County's efforts if they choose. (Again, the <br /> Basic 3R Fees could remain in place to support convenience center operations.) <br /> He said that the third option is more complicated due to the requirement to send out <br /> individual notices to each property owner involved, which would be 13,000 plus notices. <br /> He said that, in concept, the issue is to address what is in front of the Board now; but <br /> the reality is that there is an opportunity to pursue a more comprehensive approach and long <br /> term solution. <br /> He pointed out that this is not a staffing issue with the County. He said that the <br /> employees at the landfill are being transferred to other open spots. He pointed out that the <br /> County currently contracts the curbside services within all three towns. The county crews only <br /> pick up at multi-family units and governmental buildings, and the other areas are on month to <br /> month contracts for curbside recycling pickup. <br /> Chair Jacobs said, after receiving a letter from Mayor Stevens, he asked Mayor <br /> Stevens if he were amenable to working with Orange County. He said the Mayor indicated, <br /> yes. <br /> Chair Jacobs spoke with Mayor Chilton yesterday and was told that he was interested <br /> and Chair Jacobs received a letter last month indicating that the Town board would be <br /> interested in maintaining the same system and was interested in working with the County. <br /> Chair Jacobs said he had lunch with Mayor Kleinschmidt last week and brought up this <br /> issue. <br /> He said that if a tax service district is to be considered, that would involve the towns. <br /> He would like to talk to the three Mayors to flush out what would be possible. <br /> Frank Clifton said if a solid waste authority or tax district were implemented, it would not <br /> apply until the next fiscal year. <br /> Commissioner Price asked what would happen to private haulers under options 2, 3, <br /> and 4. <br /> Frank Clifton said there could be more than one hauler, even under a franchise <br /> situation. He said either the authority or the tax districts can maintain services as they are <br /> now, though the fee structure may have to change. <br />