HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-20-1996 - V-A 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No.
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 20, 1996
SUBJECT: Landfill Reorganization Work Group Recommendations
DEPARTMENT: Public Works PUBLIC HEARING: YES: NO: x
BUDGET AMENDMENT: YES: NO: x
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Wilbert McAdoo, ext 2625
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough -732-8181
Chapel Hill -968-4501
Durham -688-7331
Mebane -227-2031
PURPOSE:. To consider a resolution that would communicate to the governing boards of Orange
County municipalities the concerns of the Orange County Board of Commissioners with regard to
the future governance structure of solid waste management in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: At their August 5 meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed the draft
outline for a new landfill governance structure. The Board also discussed a draft resolution that
would signal the intent of the Board of County Commissioners to assume responsibility for future
solid waste disposal operations, in light of the County's statutory responsibility for this function and
widespread dissatisfaction with the pace of decision-making concerning future solid waste
management responsibilities.
The attached resolution is a modified version of the August 5 draft, and reflects comments suggested
by individual Commissioners since that meeting. It also suggests that the Landfill Owners' Group
establish a specific timetable during which decisions about solid waste management responsibilities
would be resolved. Failing that, the Board would indicate its intention to move forward expeditiously
with assumption of solid waste disposal planning and decision-making. The resolution also
contemplates a suggestion that all elected officials from all four governing boards agree to participate
in a facilitated meeting for the purpose of"values and goals clarification" and discussion of which
solid waste management decisions are properly the prerogative of individual governing boards, and
which could be delegated to some form of solid waste management entity. Such a facilitated meeting
could be held during the time scheduled for the next Assembly of Governments meeting on
September 30, 1996.
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RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached
resolution, or a modified version thereof, and direct the Clerk to transmit the resolution to the
governing boards of the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough.
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RESOLUTION 3
FOR
ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
TO BE THE AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLID WASTE
DISPOSAL AND PROCESSING
WHEREAS,IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF ALL CITIZENS OF ORANGE COUNTY TO HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO HANDLE THEIR SOLID WASTE,
AND
WHEREAS,ALL MUNICIPALITIES,AND THE COUNTY HAVE A STAKE IN THE OPERATION
AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM IN ORANGE COUNTY,AND
WHEREAS,THE CURRENT LANDFILL HAS APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS OF DISPOSAL
CAPACITY AND THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING, ACQUIRING,FINANCING,PURCHASING
PROPERTY,PERMITTING,DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LANDFILL WILL
TAKE APPROXIMATELY 8-10 YEARS,AND
WHEREAS,THE TOWNS OF CHAPEL HILL,CARRBORO,HILLSBOROUGH AND ORANGE
COUNTY HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT PLAN AND IDENTIFY A SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY,AND
WHEREAS,THERE IS UNIVERSAL DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PACE THE CURRENT
PROCESS IS TAKING FOR SELECTING A DISPOSAL FACILITY,AND DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN,AND
WHEREAS,PROPER DISPOSAL OF OUR COMMUNITIY SOLID WASTE IS FIRST AND
FOREMOST A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE,AND
WHEREAS,ORANGE COUNTY IS THE ONLY GOVERNMENT ENTITY IN ORANGE COUNTY
WITH STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH,AND
WHEREAS, IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON ORANGE COUNTY TO SOON TAKE ACTION TO
FULFILL ITS STATUTORY OBLIGATION,TO ASSURE ADEQUATE PROVISION OF SOLID
WASTE DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE CURRENT
LANDFILL,AND
WHEREAS,IT IS STILL IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE
DECISIONS COLLABORATIVELY ON OF OUR FUTURE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
WHEREAS, AN URGENT SHORT TERM TIMETABLE MUST BE ESTABLISHED IN MAKING
THESE DECISIONS,AND
NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
URGES ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ALL FOUR GOVERNMENTS TO ATTEND A
FACILITATED MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARIFYING VALUES,GOALS AND TIME
TABLES RELATIVE TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS,ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1996,
WHICH IS THE NEXT SCHEDULED ASSEMBLY OF GOVERNMENTS MEETING.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED THIS DAY OF BY THE ORANGE
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
CHAIR CLERK