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021119 special with Waste ManagementSpecial Meeting for Public Hearing on Waste Management Request for Tonnage Increase February 11, 2019 The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Meeting Room, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC, to conduct a public hearing to consider comments of citizens of Randolph County related to proposed revisions to the franchise issued to Waste Management of the Carolinas, Inc. ("Waste Management") on April 7, 2014, for disposal of municipal solid waste in the Great Oak Landfill and to consider certain associated changes to the agreement with Waste Management for the operation of said landfill. Commissioners Darrell Frye, Kenny Kidd, Maxton McDowell, and Hope Haywood were present. Commissioner David Allen was absent. Also present were County Manager Hal Johnson, Finance Officer Will Massie, County Attorney Ben Morgan, and Clerk to the Board Dana Crisco. Chairman Frye opened the meeting and explained that it was for the purpose of hearing citizen comments on the request of Waste Management to increase their daily tonnage from 2000 to 4000 tons. Chairman Frye noted the absence of Commissioner Allen and asked everyone to keep him and his family in their prayers because his mother had passed that morning. Chairman Frye asked County Attorney Ben Morgan to read aloud the Public Hearing Rules of Procedure. Chairman Frye introduced Bob Peeler, Senior Manager, Community Relations and Govern- ment Affairs, Waste Management, to speak regarding the request. Mr. Peeler thanked the Commissioners, citizens, and staff for the opportunity to speak regarding the request to increase daily tonnage from 2000 to 4000 tons. He mentioned a Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting that was held on January 30, 2019, stating that it was very productive and the issues discussed have since been addressed. He said that Waste Management (WM) would continue to focus on corrective measures as they come up. Chairman Frye opened the public hearing at 6:04 p.m. Duffy Johnson, 1184 Cedar Creek Dr., Asheboro, spoke in favor of the request of WM for the tonnage increase and the partnership between the County and WM. He said the money from WM has been used for other priorities in the County. He stated that WM had been a good corporate citizen by supporting local projects with funding and participation. By increasing the tonnage, more revenue will be provided for the County. He encouraged the Commissioners to approve the request. Linda Daves, 964 Chamberlin Dr., Asheboro, spoke in favor of the request by WM. She stated there are many different opinions about the request, but each citizen cares about the community as a whole and about the need for adequate disposal. As a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee, she has done research on WM. She has found that WM cares about the community, 2/11/2019 is highly respected, and offers an open door policy distinguishing themselves in the areas of transparency and response to citizens. Most importantly, she said WM operates with integrity. William Dula, 1320 Randolph Tabernacle Rd., Asheboro, spoke against the request of WM. He spoke of the landfill route that was supposed to be used by commercial traffic and said the route was not being followed. With the tonnage increase on the assumption of 100 trucks per day, he said that would be 40 tons per truck and a truck cannot hold that much. He stated that there would be one truck every 12 seconds at peak times on Old Cedar Falls Rd. He said it was originally recommended that the speed limit be reduced to 35 miles per hour but the limit is still 45 miles per hour. He stated that the NC Department of Transportation (DOT) recommended a 24' wide road with paved shoulders but the road is not that wide and the thickness of the pavement will not handle the tonnage. He said that school buses do stop on the road he lives on and the trucks are running too fast. He did not want the tonnage increased until all of the points he made had been addressed. Dantzler Lewallen, 771 Henley Country Rd., Asheboro, said that Henley Country Road from 64 to Cedar Falls Rd. is a "tragedy area." She said her driveway comes out onto Henley Country Rd. and she has to pray that no one is coming because of the speeding trucks. She stated that when Henley Country Rd. was "up for pavement," she was the last to sign. She said she was told that the speed limit would be 35 miles per hour and the road would be protected from big trucks. She stated her neighbor went to get her mail and she was hit and killed. Ms. Lewallen said the trucks go too fast and make it a very dangerous road. She said that the road was not meant for big trucks. When she goes out of her driveway, she said she feels like she is taking her life into her hands. Donald Henley, Jr., 1017 Henley Country Rd., Randleman, said he agrees with Mr. Dula. Mr. Henley has seen CEI trucks on Loflin Pond Rd. They are not following the route they are supposed to. He stated that Henley Country Rd. has been "patched and patched" and now the road has been repaved. The road is already starting to crack and he said he did not think it would hold up to the added weight. Hop Jarrell, 3015 Old Cedar Falls Rd., Asheboro, said he has never gotten in front of a crowd but wanted the Commissioners to know he was against the request from WM. Faye Cox, 1211 Grantville Ln., Asheboro, said she did not understand how doubling the tonnage would only take away ten years of the 55 year life of the landfill. She stated that granting the request would not bring extra money because it would shorten the time the landfill would be open. She said that the convenience site in Coleridge was closed because the trash was not being picked up like it should. People are dumping trash in her yard. She doesn't think the landfill is doing what it is supposed to do. Dwight Ayers, 3686 Old Cedar Falls Rd., Cedar Falls, said he was very appreciative of former Commissioner Stan Haywood because he stood up for the citizens' concerns. Mr. Ayers stated that nobody wants trash. He said his biggest concern is for the children that are like his family that live on the road. He stated that Mr. Peeler has talked to CEI about slowing down the traffic. He stated that Sheriff's deputies or the highway patrol need to monitor the road for speeders. He noted that the smell coming from the landfill is terrible and suggested that it should be addressed before 2/11/2019 making changes. He said that he is concerned about the increased amount of pollution with more trucks and the road needs to be up to standards to handle addition commercial traffic. He wants to be sure his friends and neighbors are safe. Hope Moody, 992 Loflin Pond Rd., Asheboro, said she lives one mile from the site of the landfill. She read a paragraph from the Courier -Tribune that said former Commissioner Stan Haywood did not think $1 million per year was worth the potential health problems that will come from the landfill and he voted against it. She and her family appreciated Mr. Haywood. She addressed the smell and said it has gotten worse, not better. When she asked WM what they were doing to control it, she stated she was told they were trying to cover it but could not keep up. She said the drivers are not washing their trucks because there is mud everywhere. She stated she can hear machinery and see lights at night because WM has "no hard hours." She said the odors need to be taken care of before anything else is done. She gave examples of WM facilities that had been fined for pollution and odors. She urged the Commissioners to "keep Randolph County great" by denying the request of WM. Mark Trollinger, 2407 Old Lexington Rd., Asheboro, said he offered a unique perspective because he owns property on Old Cedar Falls Rd. but doesn't live there. He is on the Citizen's Advisory Committee and has attended all of the meetings. He was also a General Contractor for building the scale house. Since WM has taken over, the sides of the road are cleaner and he has seen crews picking up trash along the road. He said that if a trash load is not properly contained with tarps, WM turns that truck away. He mentioned that wash pits for the trucks are available. While working on the scale house, he was able to witness the impermeable liner being put down with extreme care and attention to detail so there would be no leaks into the soil or watershed for the safety of the citizens. He spoke of the safety protocols required during construction and the no tolerance policy for a lack of safety. He commented on the community involvement of WM with the Chamber of Commerce and local charities. When old septic systems and wells were found during construction, WM asked for them to be properly abandoned with the proper permits. Mr. Trollinger said odors can be controlled but it has been a very wet season. He said his experience is that WM will do the right thing. As a Rotarian, he used their four way test. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Does it build goodwill and friendships? Is it beneficial for all concerned? With those questions, he said allowing the tonnage increase was a "win, win situation." Gil Goldstein, 2761 Old Cedar Falls Rd., said he and his wife moved here in 2002 from Long Island, NY, to Asheboro. They found a beautiful town, friendly people, an easy economy to live in, and a quiet area with farmland close enough to town. He and his wife have had successful businesses and jobs. They support the Chamber and the community. When the landfill was proposed, there was a specific traffic pattern that was to be used. He said, recently, he followed a 16 wheel truck on residential roads to the landfill. The large trucks take up too much of the narrow lane. The roads have potholes and no shoulder because the roads were not designed for the weight and size of the trucks. He and his wife moved here to leave the smell and the traffic, but now they are experiencing the same issues here. He asked how we can increase the tonnage if the rules cannot be followed presently. Karissa Henley, 3209 Old Cedar Falls Rd., Asheboro, said the landfill is in her backyard and it is inhibiting her children's physical activity outdoors due to the smells. Even without odors, 2/11/2019 there are swarms of buzzards that scare her children. She said the loud noises from the tractors on the site also scare her children. She has to take them to a park to play outside. She stated that WM needs to control what is already being brought in. She stated that her family can't have any outdoor events in her yard, and the landfill is attracting dangerous wildlife to her yard. She has been woken up at 5:30 a.m. by loud equipment noise and has seen WM operating until after 6:30 p.m. The noise and smells do not afford her a quality of life in her own home. The mud gets all over the roads and driveways. She has had damage to her car because the secondary roads have been damaged by the heavy truck traffic. Pauline Urban, 263 Loflin Pond Rd., Asheboro, spoke against the landfill originally. She does not want an increase now either. She said trucks speed and do not follow the proper route. She smells the odors from a mile and a half away. The roads are patched although Henley Country Rd. was recently repaved. She stated that "it would be torn up soon." She is concerned about the pollution and does not want an increase in tonnage. She stated that this should not have become a regional landfill and she is against the tonnage increase. Billy Henley, 3213 Old Cedar Falls Rd., Asheboro, said that his family is most adversely affected by "this awful facility." His son's property is 632 ft. away from the facility. He stated that there are constant trucks, dust, noise, and noxious smells. He said it is "sickening and unhealthy and threatens to drive them away from their homes." He stated that there is not enough dirt to keep the trash covered. He said that someone could lose their life due to the speeding trucks. He stated there would not be extra money from a tonnage increase because the capacity of the landfill will be reached sooner. The tonnage increase will create more truck traffic, more waste, and more air quality issues. "It's a no brainer. Ere on the side of caution." He suggested that this request be tabled for a year or two. He would like to see action by eliminating buzzards, seagulls, and loud equipment noise. He urged the Commissioners to delay the request and let WM prove they manage the landfill the right way. Jeannie Smith, 2636 Old Cedar Falls Rd., Asheboro, lives "on the side that trucks are not to be on." For over two years, the truck traffic has been a problem. She has called WM and most recently spoke to District Manager of the Great Oak Landfill Mike McFeeley. She originally thought that the trucks would not be coming by her house, but they do. She found research for the feasibility of the regional landfill which showed studies were done on a maximum of 1500 tons. More research needs to be done with 4000 tons. She said she has seen trucks cross the center line on the road because it is too narrow. She stated she went to the "website and got directions from Lexington." She said the results she got show to go by way of Loflin Pond Rd. She asked if there was any way to make the trucks use the correct route. Having no one else signed up to speak, Chairman Frye closed the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m. He thanked the audience for their courtesy, respect, and professionalism. He said there have been common themes echoed by the speakers that can be addressed with DOT and law enforcement. He reminded everyone that this will be heard at the next two monthly meetings. Adjournment At 7: 07 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. 2/11/2019 Darrell L. Frye, Chairman Kenny Kidd Maxton McDowell Dana Crisco, Clerk to the Board Hope Haywood 2/11/2019