Agenda 01-16-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 1 concerns about potential sources of pollution. He wondered if all of those things had been 2 considered in one picture. He said it does not seem like a good location and hopes that there 3 are more under consideration. He said he would like to know the current status, because there 4 is a concern that this might reach a conclusion soon and they might not be aware of it. 5 Keith Houck said he is a retired research biologist and that he lives in the Collins Creek 6 neighborhood which would be impacted by the proposed solid waste center. He said that he 7 believes the current proposed site is unsuitable for a number of reasons. He said there was a 8 claim that OWASA would benefit from development of the site and that trees would be removed 9 from the site, allowing for increased biosolids application. He said there are already existing 10 biosolids application sites in the vicinity. He said drainage from those fields goes into a stream 11 that runs under Highway 54 into a retention pond. He said the retention pond is bright green all 12 year from the biosolids and that there is already an unhealthy ecosystem. He said that closure 13 of the Ferguson and Bradshaw Quarry sites would remove those sites from University Lake and 14 Cane Creek watersheds. He said that the new site is in the Haw River watershed. He said it 15 would be affected by increased nitrogen burden from additional biosolids spray and potential 16 contaminants from the waste handling facility. He said the Haw River is a treasure in our area 17 but is also notorious for the contaminants in it. He said the Haw River Assembly has done a lot 18 of work over many years to try to restore the Haw. He said the Haw River Assembly describes 19 the issue with the Haw as "death by a thousand cuts." He said there are lots of small sources of 20 pollution in the area, and that the waste facility would be another one of those thousand cuts. 21 He thanked the commissioners for taking the time to visit the site. 22 23 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 24 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 25 26 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 27 Bonnie Hammersley introduced Robert Reynolds, the new Chief Information Officer for 28 Orange County. 29 Robert Reynolds greeted the Board and said he was grateful for the opportunity to 30 serve. 31 Commissioner Hamilton said she attended the Direct Care Worker Awards in the 32 previous year and gave remarks. She said she will attend the Capital Needs Work Group the 33 following day to hear proposals for public school renovations. She said she will also attend the 34 executive board meeting for the Central Pines Regional Council. She wished everyone a happy 35 Thanksgiving. 36 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she attended the NC Congressional District 4 Veterans 37 Briefing, which focused on educating veterans about their benefits. She said it was hosted by 38 US Representative Valerie Foushee's office. She said she was surprised to learn that only 39 about 25% of veterans apply for benefits. She said she attended the Community Home Trust 40 neighborhood tour, along with nine people who were hoping to purchase homes through the 41 program. She said the median home price with Community Home Trust is $114,000, but the 42 median sales price in the community is $550,000. 43 Commissioner Fowler attended the Veterans Day Breakfast at the Passmore Center, 44 representing the Board of Commissioners. She also attended the event at the Veterans 45 Memorial. She expressed her appreciation for all veterans and wished everyone a happy 46 Thanksgiving. 47 Chair Bedford said the Orange County Public Health Department won two awards at the 48 2023 North Carolina Public Health Association annual conference for their work at the Gateway 49 Village Collaborative. She congratulated the Health Department for their work and described 50 the work and goals for the Gateway Village Collaborative. She said she attended one of the 51 veterans programs the previous week. She said she attended the Voluntary Agricultural District