HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-17-2003-8wORANGE 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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Since the County would not be purchasing the rain barrels for inventory,
there should be no financial impact.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board endorse the sale of rain
barrels in the manner prescribed above.