Agenda - 06-17-2003-8w - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 17, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. ~' ~ SUBJECT: Rain Barrel Sales DEPARTMENT: Purchasing and Central PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Services & Solid Waste ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Jones, (919) 245-2652 Gayle Wilson, (919) 968-2885 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider options for sale of rain barrels. BACKGROUND: The Board has previously discussed offering rain barrels for sale to residents as a water conservation measure. The rain barrels could be used to collect rainwater where the use of non-potable water is acceptable. At the suggestion of the Board, the H2Orange Committee explored the possibilities of distribution through non-profit organizations with an interest in environmental issues. Regrettably, the group was unable to locate interested parties. Rain barrels are approximately the size of a 55-gallon drum and as such are difficult to store in quantity, thereby making it difficult for the County to stock the barrels for sale on a day-to-day basis. However, the Purchasing Office has identified a barrel manufacturer from Wake County who would be interested in bringing a load of rain barrels to a location the County designates on a specific date and offering them for sale to residents at a cost of less than $75. This would serve to make the barrels available to residents at an affordable price, while overcoming the storage issue that the barrels would present to the County. The Solid Waste Department, in collaboration with the H2Orange representatives, would ensure that the sale was well publicized. Further, County representatives from areas such as H2Orange and Cooperative Extension could be available at the sale site to offer information and advice to residents as might be needed. The event would be scheduled sometime in July, presumably on a Saturday, contingent upon the manufacturer's availability at a site convenient to County residents.