Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
townships should be able to opt out of the County arrangement for curbside recycling. She <br /> said rural seniors dispose of their garbage and recycling differently by use of their cars and the <br /> convenience centers. She said she hopes that Orange County will pay attention and help <br /> make the lives of the seniors easier to deal with. <br /> Bonnie Hauser said she likes the idea of the flat fee but feels that the rural services <br /> may suffer as Towns start to add pressure on costs or fees. She said when the global <br /> economy crumbled, Orange County quickly cut the hours at Convenience Centers and tried to <br /> close Bradshaw Quarry Road, which was a small and inexpensive center. She said this center <br /> remained open after public response. She said soon after that debate the County announced <br /> a program to overhaul and modernize all Convenience Centers. She said this came as a great <br /> surprise to rural residents who had fought strongly to keep a small center like Bradshaw <br /> Quarry Road open. She said the new $2 million Walnut Grove Center is impressive, but she <br /> wonders if a more modest center would have been sufficient. She said the new center <br /> planned for Eubanks will cost more. She said at the same time the County's plan to upgrade <br /> rural Convenience Centers has been deferred, with Bradshaw Quarry not on the list for <br /> improvements. She said there is community concern that after spending millions on Walnut <br /> Grove and Eubanks, that the County will close its rural centers under pressure about costs. <br /> She said perhaps the concern is unfounded, but actions speak louder than words. She said <br /> one way to alleviate community concerns is re-sequence the project and upgrade High Rock, <br /> Ferguson, and Bradshaw Quarry first, costing a lot less. She said if the towns decide to <br /> challenge the fees, it will not be at the expense of rural services. She said once the flat fee <br /> project is fully adopted, the plan for Eubanks can be revisited with the hope of doing a more <br /> modest facility. <br /> Bonnie Hauser said if there is County-wide curbside pick up then small haulers should <br /> be accommodated. She said local haulers use pick-up trucks to retrieve trash and recycling at <br /> homes in one trip. She said it is a wonderful option for seniors and these businesses are <br /> already serving the rural areas and their services are flexible, cost effective and a better fit for <br /> the rural areas. She added the process would work even better if the small haulers were <br /> allowed to use the Walnut Grove facility versus hauling waste to Durham. She asked the <br /> BOCC to commit to flexible, cost effective services for all residents. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if it is possible to extend the hours and services at the <br /> convenience centers. <br /> Gayle Wilson said yes. He said the idea can be discussed during the budget talks. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she served on the SWAG committee. She said she wanted to <br /> note that the Eubanks facility is a priority of the Town leaders as well as UNC. She said it is a <br /> well used facility. She said the Town is very supportive of the Eubanks Center upgrade. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the SWAG was also trying to make a recommendation for <br /> adoption in a timely manner so as to fit into all of the budget discussions around the County. <br /> He said that Carrboro was the most vociferous of having one fee but is expected to vote in <br /> favor of it this evening at their meeting; which is a significant accomplishment. He said most of <br /> the elected officials on the SWAG saw the importance of having a unified approach and <br /> stressing the commitment to county wide recycling. He said symbolically the one fee was <br /> preferred by the elected officials. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the SWAG is meeting tomorrow and will start discussing the <br /> interlocal agreement. He said staff had also been asked to provide a list of goals, and one <br /> reiteration of goals had been presented to the SWAG, to which the SWAG had responded. <br /> He said the group will discuss another reiteration tomorrow. He said by the end of the fiscal <br /> year the SWAG should be able to relate where these priorities are going. He said some <br /> priorities may not come into play for years, while others can be addressed immediately. <br />