Minutes 04-23-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Department on Aging; Department of Social Services; Animal Services; Health Department; and the School Capital Project Ordinance. e. Bid Award — One (1) Commercial Recycling Truck for Recycling Operations The Board awarded a bid for the purchase of a new Side Loading Recycling truck from G-S Products for a total cost of$208,025.92 and authorized the Finance and Administrative Services Director to execute the paperwork. f. Resolution in Support of the Proposed Old Well to Jordan Lake Scenic Byway The Board approved a resolution of support, which is incorporated by reference, for a joint application to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to designate a new scenic byway from Chapel Hill to Jordan Lake and authorize the Chair to sign. 6. Public Hearings a. Public Hearing to Consider Operational and Funding Options for Orange County's Solid Waste and Recycling Programs The Board held a public hearing to consider operational and funding options for Orange County's Solid Waste and Recycling Programs. Michael Talbert said eight possible options had been looked at and several of them, including the franchise option, had been eliminated at the April 9th meeting. This changed the purpose of tonight's meeting to a discussion of the three remaining options. He referred to the attachment that outlines these three options, which are: 1. A Countywide Solid Waste Management Authority - This would eliminate all 3R fees and would create a countywide authority under general statute 153A and would take two or more units to create such an authority. This could be put in place over the next 12 to 14 months. 2. A Solid Waste Tax Service District - This would act much like a fire district. The intent would be to keep the existing 3R fee and create a single solid waste tax service district. This district would include the towns and would keep in place the rural curbside service. Much of this could be serviced by county staff and the contracting out of urban curbside could continue. 3. Eliminate Rural Curbside Recycling —This would keep the basic 3R fee and would move forward with a system of convenience centers and drop-off sites. This is a significant departure from the current system. Michael Talbert said the recommendation is that the Board receive the Public comment on these three options and then advise the staff. He said there is anticipation of short term solutions between now and 2014. He hopes there will be a long term solution in place for fiscal year 2014-15. Frank Clifton said this issue has been considered very comprehensively and the best option for the county and the towns would be to move toward a Solid Waste Management Authority. He said there are interim steps that could be taken and the most appropriate would be a countywide solid waste tax service district. He said this allows the simplest implementation and allows the most flexibility. He said this could be a combination of a tax and/or continuing the 3R fee. He said there has been discussion of using reserves within the solid waste fund to secure a process for 2013-14. He said this is based on an estimated cost of$1.7 million to continue existing services in the County and the town. He noted that there is no authority to operate in Durham County.