Agenda - 12-03-2007-6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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~_ THE YTNIVERSITY I of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL November 9, 2007 Laura Blackmon, Orange County Manager 200 South Cameron Street Post Office Box 8181 Hillsborough, ETC 27278 ' Dear Laura: s~ ~~~oa~ r ASSOC~ FOR q NOIt 1 9 2D~a5 so, CE CHANCELLOR SERVICES GILDING T gZ9.96x.7x44 Iooo F 9ig.g6x.o647 NC 27599-=000 I am writing to express my dismay with your decision to cancel our November 8 meeting regarding potential cooperative arrangements for use of the gas from the Eubanks Road Landfill. The University and the County have had a long history of working together for the benefit of the citizens of the County. The University has for years, at the County's request, disposed of its garbage at the Orange County Landfill although there are other less costly options. When the County failed to relocate the Animal Shelter from our Carolina North property on a timely basis the University accommodated its continued operation in spite of our desire to have the property vacated before the remediation of the hazardous chemical waste site. The University has established a Carolina North Forest and Trails Management group, to make the land more accessible to citizens for walking, hiking, and biking, in effect establishing an over 700 acre park for County residents at no expense to the County. These are just a few examples. Thus, I am surprised that you have terminated our long standing and, at least from my perception, productive discussions regarding use of the landfill gas, and at this very late juncture where the draft MOU has been under discussion. T never would have thought that the County, ~vhich.is leading the multi-;ur."zsdictional greenhouse gas reduction effort, would consider selling the landfill gas to a third party and. thereby put the Iniversity in the position of having to use fossil fuel at Carolina North: ~ Where is the benefit to the citizenry from that approach? Both I and Ray DuBose have expressed in unambiguous language'on numerous occasions to you and Gayle Wilson that the University will not bid against private sector companies for the use of this gas. The University does not issue an RFP for transit services and force the Town of Chapel Hill to bid. We work cooperatively as partners with Chapel Hill and Carrboro to maximize the transit services that can be provided to the community as a.whole. We envisioned a similar arrangement with-the County with~resgect. to'the.landfill gas.:.: