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Minutes - Regular Meeting <br /> Solid Waste Advisory Board <br /> February 5, 2009 <br /> Approved March 5, 2009 <br /> Wilson states that the issue of a waste transfer station has been here since 1997 when <br /> they decided they weren ' t going to have a landfill . I have been advising the County <br /> and before them the Town of Chapel Hill to develop a site location since that time . <br /> Walser states that up until last year it was always assumed that it would be here . <br /> Hauser states that we want to shift the county from random land usage to a more <br /> comprehensive plan that we ' ll see more strategic land use and we' ll see some things <br /> that emerge as more industrial areas, which make more sense for sites . These are <br /> assets we didn' t have ten years ago that now we have . <br /> Wilson points out that the last plan didn' t end up with any industrial areas so that' s <br /> why we don' t have them now . <br /> Sassaman asks do you think it is reasonable to expect that we could site a waste <br /> energy facility within 12 miles of the waste centroid within ten years . <br /> Hauser replies the waste - to -energy is within 14 miles yes we can either site one here <br /> or we can site one someplace and that we will build a waste transfer station some <br /> place closer than 12 miles of the centroid . <br /> Norwood states that to play devils' advocate because I lived here I have fought this <br /> fight basically you don' t want it in your area . We can ' t do anything about that. The <br /> Commissioners will decide this and they' re saying they have to do something right <br /> now . You have to convince them . <br /> Blake states that Commissioners decided not to site it at Rogers Road and basically <br /> you said that " this was the mission you gave us, you didn ' t say anything about all the <br /> other variables " . You were absolutely right. I went back through all the minutes . I <br /> know you considered private hauling from Rogers Road and Eubanks Road before <br /> that and it didn' t compare favorably . This is a new ball game . You are talking about <br /> hauling it 11 miles in the wrong direction . Plus the centroid is moving away from that <br /> so it will get more expensive over time . The right thing to do is the excess capacity <br /> that is nearby in Durham and transfer the trash out-of-town until we come up with a <br /> real solution that dovetails with the comprehensive plan and with economic <br /> development involve the power companies, involve the big waste hauling companies <br /> and build a solution that is regional rather than in Orange County . <br /> Sassman states that as it has been pointed out we come up with a stumbling block of <br /> how to collect the garbage in the Town of Chapel Hill economically, environmentally, <br /> and move it that distance [to a landfill] without building a waste transfer station . <br /> 20 <br />