HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19960627APPROVED 11!4196
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 27, 1996
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on June 27, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. in
Superior Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The purpose of this special meeting was to hold a public
forum to hear a presentation from VEDCO Energy Corporation and to receive citizen comments and
questions.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners William L.
Crowther and Don Willhoit
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod
Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately
below)
NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT
AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDING TAPES OF THE
MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR FIVE (5) YEARS AND THE VIDEO WILL BE KEPT AS
LONG AS NECESSARY,
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS STATED BELOW FOR THE RECORD
The purpose of the forum will be to hear a presentation from VEDCO Energy Corporation, which has
developed a plant in Fayetteville that processes municipal solid waste from Cumberland, Hoke, Brunswick,
and Bladen Counties into recyclables, process steam, and electricity. The forum will provide an opportunity
for citizens to ask questions to help assess the potential of VEDCO as an alternative to landfilling of Orange
County's solid waste.
During the past year, representatives of the landfill Owners' Group (LOG) and governing boards of the
local governments in Orange County have been meeting to consider landfill site selection and options for the
future governance structure of solid waste management in the County. The LOG has also undertaken a
study of options for an integrated solid waste management system in Orange County. Information now
available indicates that it could be 2 to 4 years before an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan may be in
place. Because the Orange County Landfill continues to fill up, it is advisable to consider at least short-term
alternatives to landfilling. Therefore, given the County's lead role under the North Carolina Statutes to
provide for the disposal of solid waste, the Orange County Board of Commissioners will conduct the June 27
forum to promote discussion of available options.
Public Work Director Wilbert McAdoo introduced Kimberly Aliese and Allen McDonald from VEDCO.
Mr. McDonald made the presentation and both he and Ms. Aliese answered questions.
The presentation consisted of a video showing the process that VEDCO uses in their operation. A
copy of that video is on file in the Clerk's Office. Mr. McDonald gave an historical perspective of how the
company got its start and how it has grown in a short period of time. What is left after the solid waste is
processed is some dirt and rock. They do want to get into the composting business but have not yet done
so. In answer to a question from Mr. B. B. Olive on construction and demolition waste, Mr. McDonald said
that they do handle this waste by using a muller.
Mr. McDonald explained that they do have capacity at their Fayetteville plant to handle a lot
more than they presently handle. Dupont, who uses the RDF in their operation, is looking at three
expansions.
In answer to a question about cost, Mr. McDonald said that the County would need to build a
transfer station which would cost $700,000 to $1.25 million. He explained how the transfer station would
work.
Horace Johnson, Mayor of Hillsborough, stated that his understanding is that the cost would
be around $38.00 per ton. He asked if they plan to be around in 20 years and Mr. McDonald said that they
have a 25 year contract with CP&L and DuPont. There are still incentives to reduce waste because the
County would only pay for what goes into the transfer station. He said that the nonprocessed materials goes
to the BFI landfill in Sampson. Their capacity is 2,000 tons a day and they usually take 40 tons a day.
Mr. McDonald answered questions about disposable diapers and mattresses and sofas. They now
have a shredder they put these items through and then process them through the plant the same as other
waste. He explained the process and how it operated.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further discussion to be heard, Chair Carey adjourned the meeting. The next regular
meeting will be held on August 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse in Hillsborough, North
Carolina.
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk