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HAMILTON COUNTY July 12, 2001 DATE: July 12, 2001 TIME: 2:00 pm PLACE: Hamilton County Environmental Services 250 William Howard Taft Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 PRESENT: Policy
Committee Members PRESENT:
DOES Staff Others In
Attendance ABSENT:
Policy Committee Members DOES Staff I. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Portune called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. Mr. Portune welcomed everyone to the meeting. II. CLERK'S REPORT A. Approval of Minutes - May 10, 2001 Dr. O'Reilly motioned to approve the May 10, 2001 minutes. Mr. Graham seconded. All were in favor and the minutes were approved by acclamation. B. Additions to the Agenda Mr. Aluotto stated that Mr. Riddle submitted a letter that summarizes a potential funding decrease for the District due to three primary reasons: 1)The City of Cincinnati diverting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to a Kentucky Landfill, 2) Area industrial customers pursuing beneficial re-use for their larger waste volumes, and 3) Rumpke diverting MSW volumes to its Northern Kentucky Landfill. This could create a $400,000/year decrease to District funding. After discussion, Mr. Portune asked Mr. Aluotto to evaluate the situation and report back to the Policy Committee with an analysis and/or options based upon Mr. Riddle's letter. Mr. Graham stated at the Finance SubCommittee meeting, this issued was discussed and it was agreed to invite a representative from the firm that argued a fee case in VanWert County to a future Finance SubCommittee meeting. Mr. Aluotto invited all of the Policy Committee members and public to the next Finance SubCommittee meeting so the fee case could be discussed.
A. Finance SubCommittee Report - June 28 and July 12, 2001 Mr. Graham stated the Finance SubCommittee discussed and is recommending approval to the Policy Committee the Market Development Study and the Reduction Assistance Grant Allocations. Also discussed was the Rumpke letter.
The Finance SubCommittee reviewed the expenditures and recommended approval of SWR 04/2001. Mr. Graham motioned approval of SWR 04/2001. Mr. Ingram seconded and SWR 04/2001 was approved by acclamation. IV. POLICY ITEMS A. HB 166 and SB 71 Mr. Aluotto discussed HB 166 and SB 71 which are two bills with significant potential to affect Hamilton County from a solid waste planning perspective. Both of these bills would place moratoriums on the siting, expansion, or modification of solid waste facilities until the State's siting criteria can be reviewed. The legislation was developed on a scientific issue relating to the feasibility for fractured glacial till being suitable for landfills in Ohio. Mr. Riddle gave a brief report regarding glacial tills in Southwestern Ohio stating that because Rumpke excavates down past the till level and into bedrock, that this issue is not a concern in Southwestern Ohio. Mr. Riddle distributed a position paper regarding fractures in Ohio's glacial tills. The report states that based on the experience of the Rumpke personnel, their consultants in the field of geology and hydrogeology, and Ann Christy (Assistant Professor at Ohio State University and co-editor of an article in the Ohio Journal of Science regarding glacial tills) it is Rumpke's position that the existing regulations are more than adequate for protecting human health and safety in areas where glacial till may be encountered. A brief discussion ensued regarding this issue. Mr. Aluotto stated the other premise behind the development of the legislation was the issue of capacity. The legislators that developed the legislation were influenced by recent OEPA data stating that Ohio had 22 years of landfill capacity. From the District's perspective, these bills could have an adverse impact on Southwestern Ohio as this region currently has the lowest available disposal capacity at just over seven years. After discussion, Dr. O'Reilly motioned to accept the Staff Recommendation of sending formal correspondence to Hamilton County's legislative delegation detailing the adverse effects of a moratorium on disposal capacity in Hamilton County and how the geologic premise on which the current legislation is built is not applicable to facilities operating in the District. Mr. Graham seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation.
The Policy Committee reviewed and discussed the Reduction Assistance Grants and the allocated funding amounts. Mr. Portune stated that he would need to abstain from voting on Dater Montessori due to his child attending and Dr. O'Reilly stated he would abstain from voting on the City of Wyoming due to being on the City of Wyoming Solid Waste Commission. Mr. Ingram motioned to approve the City of Harrison, the City of Loveland, the Village of Lockland, White water Township, Cincinnati Park Board, NU-BLEND Paints, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Gorman Heritage Farm, Civic Garden Center, Alliance for Chemical Safety, Bond Hill Academy, Academy of World Languages, and Clark Montessori Recycling Committee. Mr. Graham seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation. Mr. Graham motioned to approve the City of Wyoming. Mr. Ingram seconded, Dr. O'Reilly abstained and the motion was approved. Mr. Ingram motioned to approve Dater Montessori. Mr. Graham seconded, Mr. Portune abstained and the motion was approved.
Mr. Aluotto discussed the District's need for the secondary materials study and stated that the District had received two proposals. District staff have reviewed the proposals and have decided that RW Beck would best suit the District's needs. This project was initially budgeted at $25,000. When RW Beck's proposal came in, it was submitted at $76,800. The District feels this is a fair price for the proposal offered and has taken steps to negotiate some safeguards to ensure that District funds will only be spent for tangible results. The District and RW Beck have met and RW Beck will allow a phasing of this project. There will be two phases to the project. Phase I will involve the consultant analyzing materials in Hamilton County, along with the material's associated infrastructure, to determine where the District is best presented with opportunities to act as a catalyst for market development and will not exceed $25,000. The finished product of Phase I will detail which materials in Hamilton County are the most favorable candidates for District market development efforts. Following the conclusion of Phase I, the District will determine if the project should continue into Phase II. Phase II will outline the most promising projects and programs the District could implement to develop markets for recyclables in Hamilton County. The cost of Phase II will not exceed the remaining $51,800. The District will determine, following the completion of Phase I whether or not Phase II should be initiated. Ms. Luken discussed the proposal further and gave specific examples of what could be done in Hamilton County. Further specifics of the project were discussed by the Policy Committee, Mr. Aluotto and Ms. Luken. Dr. O'Reilly motioned to adopt the staff recommendation of constructing a contract with RW Beck for performing a market development study for Hamilton County and submitting the contract to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. Mr. Graham seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation.
Mr. Aluotto explained that OMEX is similar to The Interchange in that it matches industrial waste products with potential users of that material but operates on a state-wide basis versus regionally. In the past, OMEX has received grant funding from OEPA. This grant funding is no longer available so OMEX has asked Ohio solid waste districts for funding in order for this program to continue. OMEX has developed a funding plan which will allow the program to function into the future in a sustainable manner. This funding plan relies upon solid waste districts, private sector sponsors, and advertising rights. The District is being asked for an annual commitment of $5,000 for which the District will receive quarterly reports of all local companies listing in OMEX, an annual report of all exchange statistics for Hamilton County and access to OMEX technical assistance. The District will also be listed as a sponsor on all OMEX publications, have the rights to two advertising listings, and receive a one year government membership to the Association of Ohio Recycles. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District does not view OMEX as a competing publication to The Interchange. It is beneficial for Hamilton County businesses to have access to the concentrated, regional service offered by The Interchange while also having access to potential exchanges, on a state-wide level, when necessary. Mr. Portune suggested that the District contact other district's within the state and see if there is any interest in requesting that OEPA continue to fund OMEX instead of Ohio solid waste district's funding the program. Mr. Aluotto stated OMEX will continue until the end of the year regardless of any funding issues. After discussion, this item was tabled until the September 13, 2001 Policy Committee meeting so the District could obtain additional information from other solid waste district's.
Dr. O'Reilly stated that Hamilton County currently has a Municipal Court that handles domestic violence, misdemeanor cases, etc. Franklin County (Columbus) currently has an environmental division within their Municipal Court. This court's role deals with littering, pollution, and other environmental violations. Dr. O'Reilly discussed the advantages and disadvantages of having an environmental court. The Policy Committee discussed this issue and it was decided to table this item until the September 13, 2001 meeting so Staff may request the Prosecutor to conduct a legal review on administrative options that may be available in Hamilton County that would accomplish the same end versus using Municipal Court.
A. Computer Recycling Event Mr. Aluotto stated the District held its first computer recycling event on June 29 and 30, 2001. June 29 was reserved for pre-registered businesses and June 30 was open to residents of Hamilton County. This event was tremendously successful. The District collected approximately 7 semi truck loads of computers over the course of a 2 day period. This is approximately 56 tons of computer waste that will now be recycled instead of going to the landfill. The equipment collected was shipped to the Federal Prison in Elton, Ohio for recycling. Mr. Aluotto complimented Ms. Christmann for the outstanding job she did coordinating this event. B. Environmental Preferable Purchasing Mr. Aluotto discussed the different resolutions/ordinances that were included as attachment E in the Policy Packet. The resolutions/ordinances outlined environmentally preferable purchasing for that particular community. After discussion, Mr. Portune suggested that the District provide the Policy Committee with an assessment with recommendations for options to consider then the Policy Committee could then recommend environmentally preferable purchasing to the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners. . Multi-Family Recycling Mr. Aluotto stated the District was in the process of developing a pilot program in Hamilton County. The District has had a hard time obtaining potential volunteers from a multi-family complex that would be willing to work with the District on this program. The District was confident at one point that Rumpke was moving in a direction that would facilitate the collection of multi-family recycling. Rumpke's MRF has moved to single stream operation which could work very well with multi-family recycling. Rumpke has reported to the District that they are not quite ready to provide co-mingled collection at multi-family complexes. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District will continue to monitor this issue. The Policy Committee concurred with Mr. Aluotto. D. RRI - Community Expenditures Mr. Aluotto gave background history on the RRI program and discussed the varying requests on uses of RRI funds, specifically relating to the use of funds for recycled-content materials. In order to provide more consistency and accountability for the use of District funds, Staff is planning to require that a brief form be completed for all uses of RRI funds on recycled-content purchases including the percentage of recycled-content material as well as the virgin alternative. Mr. Aluotto gave several examples of this new policy. Staff plans on initially encouraging that recycled content purchases meet the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) developed by USEPA. Following a thorough evaluation of the CPG, Staff will make a recommendation to the Policy Committee regarding a potential requirement that purchases meet those specifications. The Policy Committee requested a copy of the CPG and asked Mr. Aluotto if this issue could be revisited at the September 13, 2001 Policy Committee Meeting. Mr. Aluotto agreed. Mr. Gwyn asked Mr. Aluotto if he could obtain a list of each communities purchases with the percent recycled-content materials.
The following will be agenda items for the September 13, 2001 meeting:
VII. POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS Mr. Riddle gave a brief update regarding the Rumpke expansion meeting of June 5, 2001.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ms. Ellis distributed a copy of the new Keep Cincinnati Beautiful n newsletter and briefly explained their daylilies and daffodils program. A brief discussion ensued regarding the program. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District's Architect's Guide to Recycled-Content Materials publication has won the NACo award. Mr. Aluotto congratulated Ms. Christmann for all of her hard work on the publication and receiving the award.
IX. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm on September 13, 2001 at the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, 250 William Howard Taft Road.
X. ADJOURNMENT Dr. O'Reilly motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Graham seconded and the meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 3:53 pm. |
