MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF
THE HAMILTON COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
POLICY COMMITTEE
 

DATE: February 3, 2003

TIME: 2:00 pm

PLACE: Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services
250 William Howard Taft Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

PRESENT: Policy Committee Members
Tony DiPuccio, Generator Representative
Dr. Carl Evert, General Interest Member
Karl Graham, Representative of Largest Municipality
Tim Ingram, Hamilton County General Health District Representative
Dr. James O’Reilly, Public Member
Larry Riddle, Ex-Officio Member

DOES Staff
Jeffrey W. Aluotto, Solid Waste Manager
Holly Christmann, Community Specialist
Christy Kellner, Business Specialist
Ali Khodadad, Operations Coordinator
Susan Schumacher, Secretary, Clerk

Others In Attendance
Mary Mulford, Rumpke NPK Composting
Bob Orr, CSI Waste Services
Dan Taphorn, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District
 

ABSENT: Policy Committee Members
Keith Corman, Township Representative, Vice Chair
Todd Portune, County Commissioner, Chair

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Graham called the meeting to order at 9:05 am. Mr. Graham introduced himself as the acting Chair and introduced the rest of the Policy Committee. Mr. Aluotto thanked the Policy Committee for making time for this meeting.

II. CLERK'S REPORT

A. Approval of Minutes - January 9, 2003

The January 9, 2003 minutes will be available for the March 13, 2003 Policy Committee Meeting.

B. Additions/Changes to the Agenda

Under Informational Items add the following:

HHM Bidding/Contract Update

III. POLICY ITEMS

A. Awarding of District Residential Reduction Grants

Mr. Aluotto stated that at the January 9, 2003 Policy Committee meeting, Staff was asked if this item could be tabled until the March 13, 2003 meeting. At that time, Staff thought this would be possible, however after reviewing some of the proposed projects, Staff realized that the time line was not conducive for the grantee’s projects to begin.

Mr. Aluotto stated that there are four political subdivisions (Springfield Township, City of Forest Park, City of Loveland, and Whitewater Township) and three not-for-profit’s (Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, and the Roselawn Community Council) who applied for the Reduction Assistance Grant. Included as Attachment A from the Manager’s Memo are summaries outlining the applicant, project title, amount requested, match amount, recommended funding, time line and the actual project summary. Mr. Aluotto stated that under the City of Loveland’s summary, the recommended funding is $1,000 instead of $8,000.

Mr. Aluotto explained the reasoning behind Loveland’s, Springfield Township, and Forest Park’s recommended funding.

The Policy Committee reviewed the Political Subdivision’s recommended funding and Staff answered questions from the Committee.

The Policy Committee voted on all of the grants at once versus individually.

In making the recommendation on grants to not-for-profit organizations, Mr. Aluotto commented on the extreme competitive nature of the grant application process.

Mr. Aluotto gave a brief overview of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s grant proposal and asked Mr. Taphorn to address the Policy Committee concerning specific questions the Committee had at the January 9, 2003 meeting regarding their grant proposal. Mr. Taphorn spoke in great detail surrounding the research and preparation regarding the grant proposal. A question and answer period ensued.

Mr. Aluotto stated that one of the reasons Staff is recommending the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s grant so strongly is because it is in line with the market development study that RW Beck is conducting. Mr. Aluotto also complimented the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District for a very thorough grant proposal.

Mr. Aluotto discussed the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s grant proposal and stated that, after speaking to OEPA directly, it was not an allowable use of grant funds per the ORC. The ORC states, in summary, that Solid Waste Districts may not fund C&DD projects. However, Staff would like to reserve $10,000 of grants funds to continue to work with the Zoo and find an area of the project that might be fundable through the District’s existing grant guidelines. A question and answer period followed.

Dr. O’Reilly motioned to adopt the Staff recommendations with the notation that up to $10,000 be reserved, in the 2003 budget year, for the possible allocation by the Policy Committee, for potential use in the event that the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens comes up with an alternative method for using appropriate funding for their project relating to MSW recycling. Dr. Evert seconded. After discussion, all were in favor and the motion passed.

IV. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A. HHM Update

Mr. Aluotto stated that the District received two bids for the HHM collection events; Clean Harbors and Environmental Enterprises. The District has since evaluated the bids and are in the process of awarding the contract to Clean Harbors. Mr. Aluotto briefly explained the price analysis formula and Clean Harbors was clearly the low bidder. Clean Harbor’s price came in at approximately $200,000 for all four events.

Ms. Christmann stated that the dates for the collection events were as follows and they have all been confirmed: April 26 at the Bayer Corporation in Addyston, May 3 at Ethicon Endo-Surgery in Blue Ash, October 18 at Winton Woods High School in Forest Park, and October 25 at Coney Island in Anderson Township.

Ms. Christmann stated that the District will be partnering with the Regional Ozone Coalition (ROC) and Region V of USEPA for a gas can exchange during the HHM collection events. Gas cans leak a tremendous amount of VOC’s so Region V will be supplying the District with 400 plastic cans. If residents bring in their old leaky gas can, they can exchange it for a new one for free. The ROC will be paying for an ad in the Cincinnati Enquirer for the collection events.

Mr. Graham asked about private sector funding to help off-set the cost of the HHM events. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District has been working with MSD on this project and they will be contributing $50,000. The District has also solicited private sector donations and Cinergy contributed $7,500. There has been interest from several organizations but to date, that is as far as it has gone with the exception of Cinergy. Dr. Evert stated that the Alliance for Chemical Safety will be providing data collector volunteers for each event. Mr. Aluotto thanked the ACS for their support and stated that the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition will also be assisting by taking the donations from the private sector companies and turn that back around in a way to expedite that process quicker. V. TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Mr. Aluotto stated that a future agenda item would be, regarding C&DD waste, a legislative fix for the District not being able to fund any sort of C&DD recycling.

V. POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

Dr. O’Reilly acknowleged and thanked Staff for assistance in giving him the projections of recycling rates in the event the City’s program no longer exists.

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments at this time.

VIII. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS

The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 13, 2003 at Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services located at 250 William Howard Taft Road.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 9:42 am.