Okaloosa County BOCC — December 18, 2012 — reading text

automatically honor a five-year extension of term of the existing collection and transfer station agreement which would thereby extend the Waste Management contract to March 2021 Mr. Hofstad reviewed the cost-saving benefits to the citizens ($1.48 per month or 13.5%). The county would realize a reduction in the collection fee of $532,800; a disposal fee reduction of $105,215; and an estimated recycling revenue increase of $121,000. Mr. Amunds asked what the penalty is for not reaching the state goal of 75% recycling. Mr. Hofstad replied there is currently no penalty. Mr. Amunds asked if the cities could piggy back on these rates. Mr. Hofstad said the municipalities have different contracts and he cannot answer the question. Mr. Curry pointed out Solid Waste is an enterprise department and the revenues go back into maintaining the system. Mr. Hofstad spoke on the importance of building reserves because of the responsibilities associated with maintaining four closed landfills. Mr. Parisot distributed a sheet entitled “Results of the 1+1+1 Enhanced Recycling Pilot Program.” Mr. Amunds opened the floor for public comment. Mr. Bill Miller, Shalimar, stated that he is in the pilot program. He said he understands the Board and staff are looking at the interests of the county as a whole but sometimes you need to pay more for a service. Mr. Miller stated the green cans stink and you cannot leave them in your garage and most of the time the cans are left at the curb, noting that is not aesthetically pleasing either. Mr. Miller pointed out there are December 18, 2012 -13- Minute Book 68, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Packet Pg. 110  7.11.a already problems with bears and coyotes. He questioned the change in service without substantial rate reductions for the customers. Mr. Harris said the Board has tried to walk cautiously on this issue and as Mr. Boyles remarked, the numbers should be looked at carefully. He advised the bottom line is a savings of $1.48 to the customer and that information was not available when the survey was conducted. He questioned whether the responses would have been so favorable if that data had been presented. Mr. Harris stated that is a savings of $1.48 for a 50% reduction in services. Attachment: Minutes December 18 2012 (1353 : Approval of Minutes) Mr. Richard Webber, Poquito Lane, asked when the trial (pilot) program will end. He commented that he will gladly pay $1.48 for two garbage pickups a week. He said that he has been paying the same price as other customers for only one pick up. Mr. Amunds answered the pilot program is scheduled to end on December 31. Mr. Harris stated there are three options: extend the trial, cancel the pilot program, or return to 2+1+1. Mr. Webber asked which commissioners are in this pilot program. The answer was none. Mr. Mark Hammer, Poquito Bayou, stated he agrees with his neighbors which have already spoken. He said “I am no spring chicken” and added there are neighbors older than him which have problems getting the large cans to the road. Mr. Hammer stated many of the residents do not generate enough to recycle and the 96-gallon container is only one-third full. He expressed concern that the older residents try not to tip the large container, or themselves, over when taking it to the street. Mr. Hammer stated he asked for a smaller can and received one. He requested if the Board does go with the 1+1+1 program, the county address the issue of helping seniors get containers they can move around. Mr. Amunds replied Waste Management does have a program to provide this type assistance. Mr. Hammer asked if it is advertised, saying his senior neighbors do not know about the program. Ms. Samantha Stibick, Fort Walton Beach, spoke in favor of the enhanced recycling program. She said that she does not recycle because the can she now has is not large enough. Ms. Stibick was in favor of having the garbage trucks coming down the street only once a week. December 18, 2012 -14- Minute Book 68, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Packet Pg. 111  7.11.a Ms. Dominique Farmer, Waste Management, confirmed they do offer an assistance program for senior citizens to get the cans to the curb. She said smaller cans are also available. With regard to the odor problem, she said this could be overcome if customers will bag their garbage. Ms. Farmer noted you would be amazed at what can be recycled, saying the only items which cannot be recycled are food and Styrofoam. Mr. Amunds asked if a decision is made to go with the enhanced recycling program countywide and someone wanted to have a 2+1+1 service, could that be arranged. Ms. Farmer responded they do have a valet service but there would be a substantial cost Attachment: Minutes December 18 2012 (1353 : Approval of Minutes) increase. Mr. Harris said his first comment was the customer cost should be cut by 20%. With regard to the state sustainability issue, he felt it was just “crap.” He reiterated with this plan, the customers are getting a 50% reduction in services. Mr. Harris said he personally likes having his garbage picked up twice a week. He added that the only way to convince him this is a good proposal is to increase the cost reduction to customers. Mr. Parisot took exception to Mr. Harris’ interpretation of the reduction in services. He stated the volume is the same. Mr. Parisot said he did see some overflowing garbage cans but that was because the residents did not recycle. Mr. Boyles stated not only is the issue complicated but so is the math associated with it. He noted there are many things to be considered: transfer station charges, Waste Management transferring the trash out to a landfill, recycling calculations, commodity market, etc. Mr. Boyles pointed out there is nowhere to dispose of garbage in this county and it must be transported elsewhere. He also referred to the unfunded government mandate to reduce the waste stream. Mr. Boyles felt this to be an opportunity to “get ahead of the game” by being proactive. He said there could be a penalty for noncompliance by 2020. Mr. Boyles commented that he was very impressed with the way this issue has been conducted. He noted that of those pilot program participants who responded to the survey 81% wanted to see it continue. Mr. Boyles stated Waste Management has brought forward an overall reduction which would allow the county to meet the unfunded mandate. He stated in the area in which he lives, he must provide his own trash can and there are no bulk, December 18, 2012 -15- Minute Book 68, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Packet Pg. 112  7.11.a recycling or yard waste pickups. Mr. Boyles supported moving forward with the proposal. He recommended the option of the county reducing customer costs by another 35 cents be considered after one year to see how the program is going. Mr. Windes stated that he looks at this issue differently than any of the other comments expressed so far. He said he respects all the work which has been done by county staff. Mr. Windes noted that he did study this issue and the comments he has received are different than those in the survey. He advised that the residents who have spoken with him are concerned about only one garbage pickup per week, about the smell, and about Attachment: Minutes December 18 2012 (1353 : Approval of Minutes) animals being attracted to the garbage. Mr. Windes said the current contract expires in 2016 and he believes in the next three years the county’s negotiating position could be stronger. He stated that extending the contract out for five more years is too far. Mr. Windes did not believe the county is in a crisis situation. Mr. Windes made motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to defer this issue until the contract expires in 2016. Mr. Boyles urged his fellow commissioners for this not to become a “squeaky wheel” issue and not to let a small vocal minority overshadow the statistical data that cannot be ignored. Mr. Amunds stated many citizens are not ready to give up the twice a week pickup. He said if Waste Management wants to come back with another proposal in a few months, the Board will listen to it. Discussion continued. Mr. Windes restated his motion is to defer any action until the contract expires but will not object to any other proposal by Waste Management in the interim. Mr. Harris confirmed his second. Mr. Hofstad asked if this Board action will cancel the 1+1+1 pilot program and return it to the 2+1+1. Mr. Windes added this provision to his motion and Mr. Harris again confirmed his second. 3 yeas, 2 nays. (Mr. Boyles and Mr. Parisot voted no.) WATER & SEWER SYSTEM – EPA NUMERIC NUTRIENT CRITERIA STATUS UPDATE Mr. Jeff Littrell, Water & Sewer System, stated in response to a request from one of the commissioners, he would like to provide an informational report on the status of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC). He briefly reviewed the EPA’s draft NNC rules proposed in 2009. These rules raised a storm of opposition among both public and private entities subject to the new rules. Mr. Littrell December 18, 2012 -16- Minute Book 68, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Packet Pg. 113  7.11.a reported that the Florida Attorney General and the Florida Secretary of Agriculture initiated legal action against EPA. In December 2010, the Okaloosa County Water & Sewer System joined four other Panhandle utilities in a suit against EPA. Those challenges were successful. During the litigation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) proposed its own set of NNC rules which were adopted by the Florida Legislature. On November 12, 2012, EPA issued a statement saying it would accept the FDEP Numeric Nutrient rules. The FDEP rules do not cover all waters and EPA has proposed two new federal nutrient rules dealing with Attachment: Minutes December 18 2012 (1353 : Approval of Minutes) allowable numeric limits in estuaries and coastal waters and one stream in South Florida and any waters not covered by the FDEP rules. Mr. Littrell pointed out there are environmental advocacy groups threatening to take the issues back to court and we must remain vigilant. Upon inquiry by Mr. Harris, Mr. Littrell stated that if the EPA had won the lawsuit and the NNC rules implemented, it would have cost $250 Million to retrofit the Arbennie Pritchett WRF. WATER & SEWER SYSTEM – EMERGENCY CONTRACT WITH CROOK CREEK FARMS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND REMOVAL OF BIOSOLIDS Mr. Parisot made motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to approve the agenda request to execute a contract with Crook Creek Farms for the transportation and removal of biosolids from the Arbennie Pritchett WRF contingent upon successful completion of county contract review and execution by Crook Creek Farms. Mr.