Agenda - 06-02-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 1 has worked well. He said the residents travel to do all their daily activities, and stopping at the 2 Convenience Center is just another item on their list. He said the potential reduction in services 3 to consolidate services only at Walnut Grove and the Eubanks Center would be a great 4 inconvenience. He said the current Orange County recycling rates of sixty -four percent are the 5 best in the State, and he sees no need to change something that is working. He said he would 6 rather see outlying Convenience Centers supported. He said instead of gold plating the 7 Eubanks Center the County should make better use of the funds by making improvements to 8 the Centers. He said Orange Public Transit is going to expand services to Efland, Cedar Grove 9 and Little River. He said it would be nice to have bus stop signs and rudimentary shelters 10 instead of building a massive upgrade to the Eubanks Center. He said it is important to 11 consider the impact of decisions. He said the needs of the Solid Waste Department are being 12 served and not those of the rural seniors. 13 Chair McKee said the Board normally does not respond to public comments but will do 14 so this time as they have heard comments similar to Mr. Castro's several times. He said he felt 15 it is important to take time to address the concerns. 16 Commissioner Jacobs said the BOCC worked extensively with staff to make sure 17 residents can still use their small recycling bins instead of the larger bins. 18 Gayle Wilson said as they implement the program, in the areas not served by curbside 19 recycling, a survey or two will be conducted to see what type of bin residents would prefer. He 20 said those residents preferring smaller bins that can be placed in a vehicle and driven to the 21 road way may certainly receive them. He said it is not mandatory to recycle, but staff would 22 encourage everyone to do so. 23 Gayle Wilson said for those that qualify for the handicapped program, the staff will 24 continue to come to the home to retrieve the recycling. He said the resident would not have to 25 bring anything to the end of their driveways. 26 Chair McKee said the fee is a combined one for curbside service and the Convenience 27 Centers. He said the recycling fee has been discontinued for the past two years. He said this 28 fee is a reinstatement of the previously discontinued one, and for those who were already on a 29 route the fee is a modest increase. For those who were not on a route, he recognizes the fee is 30 a bit more of an increase. Chair McKee reiterated that the BOCC usually does not respond to 31 public comments, but as there is a vote on this issue this evening, the questions should be 32 answered. 33 Norma White said she is here to speak on the behalf of the rural seniors. She said five 34 out of the seven townships are rural: Little River, Cedar Grove, Cheeks, Eno and Bingham. 35 She said roughly twelve to thirteen percent of the population of these townships is seniors over 36 the age of 65. She said they number about 4000, according to the 2010 census. She said the 37 number of seniors in all of Orange County number about 16,000, so the seniors in rural 38 townships constitute about twenty -five percent of all seniors in the County. She said seniors 39 are aging in place in their townships. She said the numbers will only increase by the next 40 census, five years away. She said seniors are trying to stay put in their homes, and this 41 practice should be supported when possible. She said the given rural condition is gravel 42 driveways from the homes to the main roads. She said moving any rolled item over such a 43 surface is difficult. She said she is glad to hear that, for those who qualify for the handicapped 44 program, staff will come to their homes. However, those over 65 years of age in the rural 45 townships should be able to opt out of the County arrangement for curbside recycling. She said 46 rural seniors dispose of their garbage and recycling differently by use of their cars and the 47 convenience centers. She said she hopes that Orange County will pay attention and help make 48 the lives of the seniors easier to deal with. 49 Bonnie Hauser said she likes the idea of the flat fee but feels that the rural services may 50 suffer as Towns start to add pressure on costs or fees. She said when the global economy