Agenda 10-01-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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3 1 discuss racial equity. She said they have been asked to bring a proposed problem, on which 2 the students can work. She said she will present the housing + transportation index, and how 3 the students would address this need, especially given the County's rural areas. 4 Commissioner Marcoplos had no comments. 5 Commissioner Dorosin reported that he attended the Fire Chief's Council meeting in 6 July, and the Board is meeting with them in October. He said there is a need for additional 7 funding for the training facility, around $60,000. He said he would like to flag this item, and 8 consider if the County can provide the funds to complete this project. 9 Chair Rich said at the last meeting she informed the Board of a letter from Governor 10 Cooper about the budget, and has now also received a letter from Senator Berger stating that 11 the Governor's letter did not contain all the facts. She said this is all a moot point given that the 12 General Assembly voted the budget on September 11. 13 Chair Rich referred to the Climate Walk, and said that all involved are being asked to 14 take public transportation. 15 Chair Rich said she and Commissioner Marcoplos did a field trip to West Virginia to 16 research the process of taking trash and turning it into fuel. She said members of the Solid 17 Waste staff also attended, and this was very interesting. She said it is not a question of if this 18 will happen, but when, as recycling cannot continue as it has been. She said a neighboring 19 cement plant used the fuel to operate its plant (80% waste fuel, and 20% coal). She said it is 20 hoped that UNC will get on board in the future, and the County will need to start thinking in 21 bigger ways, sooner rather than later. She said there would need to be a regional plant, 22 involving several neighboring counties. 23 Commissioner Marcoplos said the neighboring cement plant used the fuel, and this is 24 quite successful. He said this is a real option for local cement plants. 25 Chair Rich said renewable energy must be used moving forward, and the County must 26 start having hard conversations to address this issue. She said it will cost money to fight the 27 climate crisis. 28 Commissioner Greene said asked if there is anything that enters the air as a result of 29 burning the trash. 30 Chair Rich said the gas is clean, as everything that is not clean burning is removed. She 31 said some goes to the landfill and some goes to recycling. 32 Commissioner Marcoplos said it is cleaner, and nothing is completely clean. He said 33 there is an environmental impact of using the landfill, and all variables need to be weighed out. 34 Commissioner Dorosin asked if any Board members attended the Chapel Hill Carrboro 35 City Schools (CHCCS) press conference about new software being unveiled to make schools 36 safer. He said there is concern among parents about this software, and the collection of data 37 on the students. He said it would be good to bring this issue up at the next school collaboration 38 meeting. 39 Chair Rich said she would take that as a petition. 40 41 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 42 NONE 43 44 5. Public Hearings 45 46 a. Public Hearing on Refinancing Existing Bond Obligations 47 The Board conducted a public hearing on the issuance of up to $24 million to refinance 48 existing debt to achieve debt service savings; and consider voting to approve a related 49 resolution supporting the County's application to the Local Government Commission (LGC) for 50 approval of the refinancing plan. 51 Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, presented the information below: