(Rescheduled from May 8, 2003)

DATE: June 5, 2003
TIME: 9:30 am
PLACE: Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services
250 William Howard Taft Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

Keith Corman, Township Representative, Vice Chair
Tony DiPuccio, Generator Representative
Dr. Carl Evert, General Interest Member
Karl Graham, Representative of Largest Municipality
Dr. James O’Reilly, Public Member
Todd Portune, County Commissioner, Chair
Larry Riddle, Ex-Officio Member

Jeffrey W. Aluotto, Solid Waste Manager
Cory Chadwick, Director
Holly Christmann, Community Assistance Coordinator
Sarah Dowers, Public Affairs Coordinator
Ken Edgell, Environmental Administrative Coordinator
Errin Howard, Education Assistant
Sue Magness, Education Specialist
Susan Schumacher, Administrative Secretary, Clerk
Tammy Wenhame, Public Affairs Specialist/Graphic Designer

Karen Ball, Commissioner Portune’s Aide
Brian DePeel, Environmental Enterprises, Inc.
Alice Kennedy, Citizen
Bob Orr, CSI Waste Services
Dave Nutini, Hamilton County General Health District

ABSENT: Policy Committee Members
Tim Ingram, Hamilton County General Health District Representative

Mr. Portune called the meeting to order at 9:35 am and welcomed everyone. Mr. Portune thanked everyone for their work over the past several months in his absence.

II. CLERK'S REPORT

A. Approval of Minutes - March 13, 2003

March 13, 2003 - Mr. Graham moved to approve the March 13, 2003 minutes. Mr. Corman seconded; all were in favor and the minutes were approved.

B. Additions/Changes to the Agenda Dr. O’Reilly stated that at yesterday’s hearing of the Ohio House of Representatives House, Environment, and Energy Committee on H.B. 61, which is the only significant legislation on solid waste issues, is pending before the general assembly and is up for its second hearing. H.B. 61 amends the law which now allows neighboring communities, in which the neighboring community is not the residents of the landfill, but adjacent to it outside of the county. Existing law allows that neighboring community to get an impact fee for the road clean-up, air and noise issues. H.B. 61 would expand that to allow a neighbor of a privately owned landfill. Dr. O’Reilly gave background information regarding the bill and how other solid waste district’s have perceived it. Dr. O’Reilly is confident that the bill is going to pass and that it would not impact Hamilton County’s revenue.

Mr. Aluotto stated that this same bill came up last year and staff worked with Rumpke to determine what impact this would have on Hamilton County. At the time, the District or Rumpke did not think that any Butler county community would be affected by it. Mr. Aluotto stated that Staff would research the bill to find out exactly if and how it would affect surrounding communities and Hamilton county. Mr. Portune requested that the research be shared with Mr. Krings and the Commissioners if it were found to impact Hamilton County. Mr. Aluotto concurred.

A question and answer session followed.

District Revenue Update

Mr. Portune stated that the tonnage/tipping fee receipts comparisons were included in the Policy Packet as Attachment B and asked Mr. Aluotto to comment. Mr. Aluotto stated that District fees were pretty steady as last year.

Mr. Aluotto stated that a presentation would be given to the Policy Committee on local green building initiatives and introduced Ms. Christmann. Ms. Christmann stated that the local chapter of the United States Green Building Council would be presenting local green building initiatives and is requesting the Policy Committee’s feedback for the best way to approach large building owners (i.e. Cincinnati Public Schools) on how to encourage them, in their new building constructions, to implement green building methods.

Ms. Christmann described background information relating to the U.S. Green Building Council. Ms. Christmann introduced Joel Stout and Joe Schutte and each discussed environmental impacts of buildings and what a green school actually is.

Below is a list of some of the suggestions the Policy Committee made to approach CPS to encourage green building methods:

Mr. Aluotto reminded the Policy Committee that this was the first meeting that was not preceded with a Finance SubCommittee meeting. The Finance SubCommittee has been reformed into a body who would be more actively involved in the budget decisions and review.

Mr. Aluotto stated that this Policy Committee meeting was the first meeting to "kick-off" the budget cycle for the District. Included as Attachment C of the Manager’s Memo is a review of all programmatic activities that the District is involved in and strategies the District uses for implementation.

Mr. Aluotto asked the Policy Committee if they had any additional priorities or changes in any priorities that could be implemented into the budget. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District would take any suggestions, recommendations, directives; incorporate those into the budget plans for next year, meet with the Finance SubCommittee before the next Policy Committee meeting and report to the Policy Committee as to what the recommendations are.

Suggestions by the Policy Committee were as follows:

• Re-state HHW collection events from "every 3 years" to "conduct a pilot program of a permanent HHW collection facility in 2004".

• Under District Funding, add "pursue State & Federal Grants and Private Foundations".

• Under Annual Reporting, add a category called "bench marking".

• Continue funding for County EPP efforts.

Mr. Aluotto stated that he would schedule a meeting with the Finance SubCommittee to start work on the budget process and report back to the Policy Committee. IAWMP (Integrated Alternative Waste Management Program)

Mr. Aluotto stated that two IAWMP projects have been submitted to OEPA for their approval. OEPA verbally contacted the District, as one of the stipulations of an IAWMP project, for relevant state and local solid waste disposal fees to be waived. The District requested that OEPA provide a memo regarding the projects be forwarded. Attachment D outlines this memo.

Mr. Aluotto discussed both of the IAWMP projects. 1) Rumpke Sanitary Landfill/Gest Street Sewage Sludge Ash (using incinerator ash from MSD as an amendment to compost on their landfill) and 2) Waste Management/TW Metals Garnet Waste (using spent garnet material from metal processing as road base and alternative daily cover for their landfill)

Mr. Aluotto reminded the Policy Committee of the procedure that was set up concerning IAWMP projects. 1) Request specific information from OEPA as to the nature of the project 2) Rely upon the different divisions of OEPA and local environmental agencies for review of the project from an environmental standpoint 3) the District could then review the project from a revenue perspective if the fees were waived, what impact, if any, would waiving the fees have on District programs.

Dr. O’Reilly stated that he supported the Rumpke project and does not support the Waste Management project and recommended that this item be tabled until additional information can be obtained relating to the characterization of the garnet waste and health issues surrounding it.

Mr. Aluotto stated that the District recently received analytical data which indicated levels of metal in the garnet material and invited the Policy Committee to review the report.

Mr. Aluotto stated that he agreed with Dr. O’Reilly’s recommendation. The District has received feedback from the Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management, Division of Surface Water, the Hamilton County General Health District and this project does not seem to pose a threat to the environment or public health.

Mr. Aluotto clarified an error in the Manager’s Memo relating to the amount of material that will be reused. The District was under the impression that the material was at a 3:1 volume to weight ratio; it is actually a 1:1 ratio which means that the actual amount that could potentially be used every year would be up to 30,000 tons which would financially impact the District $30,000 versus $12,500.

Mr. DiPuccio requested the District check and see if the Rumpke project can be included in the State’s waste reduction goals. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District could include it in the Annual District Report as a supplementary recycling activity and would check with the State regarding the goals.

After further discussion regarding the Rumpke project, Dr. O’Reilly motioned that the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District Policy Committee respond to the April 25, 2003 memorandum of the Ohio EPA regarding alternative waste management in Hamilton County with the view of the Policy Committee that the Policy Committee does not object to the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill/Gest Street Sewage Sludge Ash project but the Waste Management, Inc./TW Metals Garnet Waste project lacks sufficient information regarding the environmental safety of the project and that more information would be needed before the Policy Committee could express an opinion "for" or "against" this project. Mr. Corman seconded; all were in favor and the motion was approved.

VI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS