June 18, 1990 - 7:30 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

June 18, 1990The Johnston County Board of Commissioners reconvened regular session Monday, June 18,1990, at 730 pm in the Commissioners Room, Johnston County Courthouse Annex, Smithfield,North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Vice Chairman, James W Cash, John MBooker, DVM, and Jerry F Wood, DDSAbsent NoneAlso Present Richard B Self, County Manager, Eleanor N Creech, Clerk to the Board,and Joyce H Ennis, Deputy Clerk to the BoardThe Chairman called the meting to order and the following business was transacted1 Tobacco Museum - -- Budget - RequestSuzanne Bailey, representing the Tobacco Museum of North Carolina in Kenly, asked theBoard to carefully consider the Museums request for a 10,000 appropriation for 1990 -91She explained the Iredell Brown Farmstead, North Carolinas only Depression Era ruralrestoration, has been moved to the museum site and partially restored The Farmstead is acandidate for selection as a Regional Historical Site, and if selected, would receive a 10,000State grant which would require a match from the Museum Requested funds from the County wouldbe used for Museum operating expenses and the required match2 Public Library -- Budget ReviewJoyce Mitchell, Director of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield,appeared before the Board asking that the 1990 -91 Library budget request be granted, as thismoney is needed in order to maintain the current level of operation of the Library3 Solid Waste -- Landfill FeesSusan Lassiter, member of Smithfield Town Council, addressed the Board representingelected municipal officials throughout the County She referred to Senate Bill 111 which, withits many, mandates, calls for solid waste management planning She stressed the need for countyand municipal cooperation and expediency in developing a comprehensive planMrs Lassiter disclosed to the Board the following recommendations from electedmunicipal officials1 Create a Solid Waste Task Force charged with meeting State guide lines; appointChairman and Vice Chairman2 Inform the public of new laws through an awareness program3 Consider rewarding efforts made in directing waste away from the landfill4 Make use of the many resources available such as technical assistance and solidwaste consultantsShe cited several optional ways to address solid waste management cost 1 flat feesper household, 2 sanitation tax districts, and 3 sales tax revenue She concluded sayingJohnston Countys municipalities are willing to do their part, but feel the cost should beshared by all usersWesley Taylor, Commissioner, Town of Benson, requested the Board reconsider the 15 perton landfill fee for municipalities and private haulers, and find a way to divide the costequitably among all users He noted the feeapparently will not generate enough revenue to coverfuture landfill cost, and asked what plans the County has for providing a new lined landfill asrequiredby January 1, 1994Commissioner Frank B Holding responded the County currently has approximately 100acres of land adjacent to the present landfill which could be used as a new site The County isin the process of converting from unmanned to manned containers, and there are no immediateplans tocharge at these collection sites Theres a lot to be said for user pay, CommissionerHolding remarked, and, a lot to be said about keeping the County clean and greenCommissioner James W Cash mentioned a great amount of garbage would probably neverreach the containers if a green box fee was established He emphasized the County is onlybeginning to address landfill problems and will have to periodically assess the situation andmake adjustmentssJune 18, 1990 ContinuedChairman Norman C Denning concurred saying this is new to the Board and theCommissioners want to do what is best and fair to everyone, but the County can not set a fee ongreenboxes until all sites are mannedConcerning future landfill cost, County Manager, Richard Self, noted he talked withState officials and there is some hope that with increased demand over the next few years,modern technology will find less expensive ways to produce landfill liners, thus reducing theoverall costCommissioner John M Booker pointed out the Board is immediately faced with adopting abudget for the 1990 -1991 fiscal year, and obviously all the solutions to landfill and solidwaste problems can not be found in such a short time He stressed the Commissioners are sharingin a most sincere effort to deal with the new regulations, and are willing to use all availableresources to find fair and equitable means to apportion the costCommissioner Jerry F Wood added the Board never wanted to put fees on the towns; theyacted in response to mandates The revenue must be generated from somewhere, and necessarysolutions are not always popularIt was noted how Wake, Wilson, and Wayne Counties are attempting to solve similar solidwaste problems, and the Board reviewed the various optionsIn further discussion, the following town officials address the Board stating they donot oppose the new 15 ton landfill tipping fee; their opposition is that everyone is not payingequitably, and asked the Board to reconsider this matterMayor Norwood Worley, Smithfield; Berry Godwin, Councilman, Pine Level; Mayor GeorgeCarlisle, Princeton; Tom Berkau, Councilman, Smithfield; Mayor Lawrence Ellen, Clayton; Dr DeanStrickland, Councilman, Clayton; Roy Green, Councilman, Clayton; and Mayor Lindell Norden,BensonPrivate solid waste hauler, Warren Grimes, also asked the Board to reconsider how theCounty is charging for landfill operation; everybody makes trash, everybody should pay alike fortrash disposalDorothy Pilch, resident of West Smithfield, added her request that the Board find amore equitable way to charge for landfill operationAfter further discussion, Commissioner Frank B Holding moved the Board establish aSolid Waste Task Force and name Commissioner James W Cash as chairman, and County ExtensionDirector, Ken Bateman, as vice - chairmanCommissioner Jerry F Wood seconded the motionDiscussionCommissioner John M Booker said he favors a task force and considers both CommissionerCash and Ken Bateman well qualified, but feels municipal governments, private haulers, rural andmunicipal users should all be adequately represented on this task force, in order to assure thateveryones interest is consideredCommissioner Frank B Holding pointed out Ken Bateman has been actively involved inrecycling, which is an important facet of the total question of solid waste management He notedboth Commissioner Cash and Mr Bateman represent the entire publicFollowing the discussion, the motion carried by unanimous voteChairman Denning advised that other members would soon be appointed to the Task Force,and asked Commissioner Cash call a meeting and begin work as soon as possibleJoe Grimes, Smithfield citizen, in expressing his opinion, strongly requested the Boardcorrect their decision to implement a landfill fee that is not equitable to all usersCommissioner Frank B Holding, recalled that approximately twenty years ago, eachmunicipality had its own means of disposing solid waste, and at that time, the towns came to theBoard requesting the County take over the responsibility by providing a countywide landfill Hecontinued, now there are new requirements that are going to expand the cost, and the Board isgoing to do all they can to see the total expense is divided as fairly as possibleChairman Denning thanked everyone for coming and assured this group the Board wouldtake this matter under advisementIi587June 18 1990 ContinuedUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, seconded by Commissioner James W Cashand carried by unanimous vote, the Board recessed until Wednesday, June 20, 1990, at 730 pmiNorman C Denning, ChairmanJo #e If Ennis, Deputy Clerkto