Minutes 04-23-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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use it live on the first part of the road. She wishes that the costs for these services were more transparent and she feels it is very confusing. She would like to opt out of curbside recycling and she said she is not in favor of a district tax. She said any decisions on new taxes or fees should be deferred until there is a more complete picture of the needed services, costs and benefits. She said she does not understand why the consent agenda lists the approval of a new $200,000 recycling truck when the decision about the recycling program has not been made yet. Bonnie Hauser read the following prepared statement on behalf of the Orange County Voice: First on behalf of Orange County Voice, we support the idea of a pilot task force to demonstrate that small haulers can safely use the county convenience centers. Thank you for hearing residents tonight. We realize that you have many service and fiscal challenges facing the county's solid waste operation. Funding for curbside recycling is one. The landfill closing, convenience center upgrades and the very real prospect that Chapel Hill may take over the urban curbside program are others. This has been especially challenging for rural residents who do not rely on curbside services. For years, we have been advocating for convenience centers, and to keep the county from expanding curbside services and fees throughout the county. We are committed to recycling, composting and waste reduction; we just don't all do it the same way. Curbside services work well in the towns and suburban areas but don't fit rural lifestyles. There is growing concern about the costs of service to rural residents. Convenience center fees and taxes are increasing and we still don't know how the landfill closing will impact the costs of service. Towns are advocating for their own citizens, and if the towns go their own way, rural residents could be burdened with the bulk of the county's solid waste costs. There has been no transparency about what citizens — rural or otherwise- can expect with respect to future services, fees or taxes. Looking at a new tax in a vacuum only confuses the subject. Tonight, we respectfully request that you delay any decisions on new solid waste taxes or services, until you have a full understanding of the going forward services, taxes and fees. To us, that includes knowing what the towns plan to do, and how much all solid waste and recycling services will cost moving forward. That context is essential for you to properly examine alternatives and assure us that fees and taxes will be fair and equitable — not just this year -but for the next 3-5 years. Please don't add any new taxes without transparency on services, costs and fees and costs for the foreseeable future. Thank you. Tom Strukmeyer said this issue impacts him on two levels, since he is a resident of Chapel Hill city, but lives in Durham County. He asked for clarification that residents in this position, regardless of what happens, will have to fend for themselves. He said he gets all services, except recycling, from Chapel Hill. He said he does not mind paying this fee and he would discourage any changes to this program. He said he is proud of his community and he hopes this won't be used as an opportunity to maintain the status quo. He feels that 100% recycling can be obtained. He said in his prior life he was a mariner and spent a lot of time at sea. He said that this gave him an idea of the global scale of the recycling issue. He would like to see Orange County become a national leader in reducing the waste that goes into the environment. Rob Taylor is a resident of Bingham Township and served as recycling manager for Orange County from 2005-10. He asked the Board to reject any option that eliminates curbside recycling in unincorporated areas. He said moving to carts would reduce collection