Agenda - 05-08-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 2 NOW, THEREFORE, be it proclaimed that the Orange County Board of Commissioners 3 expresses its sincere appreciation and respect for the Chapel Hill High School 4 Fencing Team, for the Tigers' outstanding achievement, and their inspiration to 5 youth across North Carolina through their dedication, teamwork, and athletic 6 prowess. 7 8 This, the 18th day of March 2014. 9 10 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to 11 approve a proclamation recognizing the Chapel Hill High School Fencing Team for winning the 12 2014 State Championship and authorize the Chair to sign. 13 14 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 15 16 5. Public Hearings 17 a. Solid Waste Service Tax District— Public Hearing 18 The Board conducted the first of two public hearings, pursuant to North Carolina 19 General Statutes 153A-302, to receive comments with regard to the proposed establishment of 20 a Solid Waste Service Tax District in unincorporated Orange County. 21 Chair Jacobs noted that there were lists of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) available 22 for the public in the back of the room. He said these are based on emails from citizens. He 23 said that the public hearing is not typically a question and answer time, though Gayle Wilson 24 may be able to answer some general questions. He said all questions will be noted for the next 25 public hearing and will be answered on the website prior to that. 26 Gayle Wilson gave a brief background of the curbside recycling program. He noted that 27 it was initiated in 1993 and funded by landfill revenue. He said a new method of funding 28 through a rural 3-R fee was approved in 2004, with an every-other-week collection program for 29 about 13,000 residents in the County. He said the County manager and the County attorney 30 expressed concern regarding the statutory justification for the fee and recommended that it be 31 eliminated in favor of other means of funding. He said the 2012 tax bill was the last time the 3- 32 R fee was assessed, and it was $38 per year at that time. He said the Board provided interim 33 funding from landfill reserves in 2013 and began consideration of various options to address the 34 funding problem. He said over 50 percent of residents participated in the program. He said 35 after considering and rejecting numerous alternatives, in December 2013 the Board indicated 36 intent to implement a Solid Waste Service District Tax as a means to replace the lost funding. 37 He noted the district map that shows incorporation of the existing 13,750 residents as well as 38 an extension of service to 1,650 more residents. He noted the upcoming availability of roll carts 39 in the fall of 2014. He said, if the service district is adopted, the estimated tax rate will be 1.5 40 cents per $100 assessed value. He said the Board has also discussed the possibility of an 41 "opt-out" or "fee for service" program. He said the rate for this is difficult to assess, without 42 knowledge of the participation. 43 Chair Jacobs noted that the public is welcome to discuss any proposed options or 44 funding alternatives. 45 46 PUBLIC HEARING: 47 Loren Hintz is Vice Chair of the Commission for the Environment (CfE), and he said the 48 CfE sent the Board a resolution last month in support of the service tax district. He encouraged 49 the Board members to review this document, as well as an attached commentary. He asked 50 the Board to create a solid waste service tax district to support recycling in the County. He