1993-11-12 Special Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 808
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in a Special
Emergency Session on Friday, November 12, 1993, at 10:15 A.M. ln
the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North
Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; WilliamA.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen 0' Neal; County
Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F.
Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the Special Session to order and
announced the Emergency Session has been called to discuss the
pending lawsuit filed by Waste Management, Inc. He requested a
motion to convene to Executive Session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: Commissioner Barone MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman
Mathews to call an Emergency Executive Session to consult with the
County Attorney about a pending lawsuit filed by Waste Management,
Inc. Other than the County Manager, County Attorney, and Clerk to
the Board, the following Staff Members were requested to attend the
Executive Session: Assistant County Attorney, Andrew Olsen;
Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver; Finance Director, Andrew J.
Atkinson; Director of Environmental Management, Ray Church;
Recycling Manager, Tim Cole; and Environmental Specialist, Dennis
Burke. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer convened from Special Session to Executive
Session at 10:16 A.M.
Motion: Commissioner Barone MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman
Mathews to reconvene to Special Session. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer reconvened to Special Session at 11:20 A.M.
Chairman Greer reported the County Commissioners have been
consulting with the County Attorney about the lawsuit filed by
Waste Management, Inc. and the temporary restraining order issued
in favor of Waste Management, Inc. He commented on the possibility
of reducing the tip fee at the Incinerator and requested the
Director of Environmental Management, Ray Church, to address this
matter.
Director Church recommended reducing the current tip fee of
$60 per ton to $25 per ton in order to level the playing field and
give the other haulers an opportunity to provide the same level of
service. The question to answer is whether or not the County will
begin receiving waste from Waste Management, Inc., which is
currently being carried to Sampson County. Also, at the reduced
tip fee, there may be additional tonnages coming from other sources
within the County as well as from outside areas.
Commissioner Caster inquired as to the difference in revenues
generated with the loss of tonnage and the proposed reduction in
the tip fee?
Director Church reported at $25 per ton with 58% of the year
remaining with a projected tonnage of 145,000 tons per year, the
revenues are projected to be $2,102,500 compared to the $60 per ton
rate which would have generated revenues in the amount of
$5,046,000.
Vice-Chairman Mathews stressed the importance of the other
haulers being able to compete and concurred with the recommendation
for reduction of the tip fee from $60 per ton to $25 per ton.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 809
Motion: Vice-Chairman Mathews MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner
Sisson to reduce the tip fee from $60 per ton to $25 per ton
through the current fiscal year. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
County Manager O'Neal requested appropriation of funds for the
difference in the reduced tip fee from the General Fund into the
Environmental Management Fund in order to cover all financial
accounting requirements.
Finance Director, Andrew J. Atkinson, reported since the
figures are unknown at this time, Staff will work with the Director
of Environmental Management to prepare a Budget Amendment.
Director Church commented on special tip fees, such as $12 per
ton for concrete and $24 per ton for shingles, and recommended
applying the same percentage reduction to these fees. Also, a date
should be established for the reduced rates to go into effect.
Motion: Commissioner Barone MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Sisson
to apply the same percentage reduction to all special tip fees with
all reduced rates to become effective November 15, 1993. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer reported on the loss of tonnage as a maj or
concern for generation of revenues to operate WASTEC and stated
this could result in a tax rate increase of five cents.
Motion: Vice-Chairman Mathews stressed the importance of informing
the public correctly about the facts and figures at the WASTEC
Facility and MOVED to direct Staff to prepare an ad to be published
in the newspaper. The MOTION WAS SECONDED by Commissioner Barone.
The floor was opened for discussion.
Commissioner Sisson commented on this being a very complex
facility and stated Waste Management, Inc. has portrayed this
matter as a simplistic issue. This is not a simple issue and the
public needs to know the facts and figures; therefore, he is in
favor of a published ad.
Commissioner Caster agreed and requested that facts be
presented not only on incineration, but on recycling, disposal of
yard waste and future policies for solid waste disposal.
Upon vote, the MOTION to run an ad in the newspaper was
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
Chairman Greer commented on the State and Federal guidelines
that must be met with disposal of solid waste and stated the County
has met these requirements through incineration which disposes of
solid waste in an environmentally sound way. He reported the
County has been working with the haulers for a long time to resolve
matters of concern. On August 16, 1993, a joint meeting was held
with the haulers and positive discussion was held on the best
methods to pursue in disposing of solid waste. At this meeting,
Mr. Chris McKeithan, President of Waste Management, Inc., reported
40% of the cost of doing business was the tip fee; therefore, it
will be interesting to see how Waste Management, Inc. responds to
reducing the tip fee by more than 50%. Unfortunately, the
financial burden will rest on the taxpayers of New Hanover County.
Commissioner Caster reported after attending the August 16,
1993, meeting he was of the opinion that everyone was in agreement
with the direction of the County. It is difficult for him to
believe that today, the County has been placed in this position.
Commissioner Barone agreed with Commissioner Caster and
reported the Commissioners tried to avoid a situation of this type
from occurring.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 810
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to Staff for the time
and effort given to address this matter and adjourned the meeting
at 12:00 Noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board