-
Finance SubCommittee Report
- March 13, 2003
Mr. Graham stated that the
Finance SubCommittee discussed the proposed agenda change and is
recommending approval to the Policy Committee.
In reviewing the tipping fee revenues, there is only one month listed
in 2003 and revenues are down about $10,000 from the previous year. It
is too early to anticipate if this is a trend given the weather
conditions Hamilton County has had.
Mr. Portune asked Mr. Riddle if he had any comments on the decrease
of $10,000. Mr. Riddle stated that this is not unusual when harsh
winters occur.
- Approval of
Disbursements - Resolution SWR 02/2003
The Finance SubCommittee reviewed the expenditures for January and
February ($56,468.97) and are recommending approval of SWR 02/2003 to
the Policy Committee.
Mr. Graham motioned to approve SWR 02/2003. Mr. Corman seconded; all
were in favor and the resolution was approved.
A. Ohio Department of
Natural Resources Waste Composition Study
Mr. Aluotto introduced Donna Stusek and Jan Voelker from ODNR and
discussed background information relating to the waste composition study
that ODNR is planning to conduct. Specific points are as follows:
- •The study will provide the District with weight and volume
disposal data on 26 categories of materials.
- •The study will provide the District with volume and weight of
recyclables going to the landfill.
- •The study will provide the District with data on how much
progress can reasonably be achieved through recycling efforts in
various areas.
ODNR will invest $100,000 to this statewide project and is looking to
supplement funding with assistance from Districts directly benefitting
from the project. As the District will directly benefit from the study,
ODNR is requesting $7,350 from Hamilton County. Ninety-five percent of
this will be used to fund the waste sorts at the landfill and lab fees.
Ms. Stusek thanked the Policy Committee for allowing them the time to
present the waste composition study to them.
Ms. Stusek stated that ODNR is looking into conducting a waste
characterization study of the amount and types of waste/recyclables
going to into landfills for planning purposes. Ms. Stusek specifically
discussed ODNR's planning process.
Ms. Stusek discussed the selected consultant and outlined the scope
of services that will be provided.
Ms. Stusek stated that the total project cost is $149,000 and ODNR
will provide $100,000; approximately $14,000 of that will cover the
Statewide profile. Of the 11 districts participating, 4 are considered
large: ODNR is requesting that the large districts contribute 60% which
equals $7,350/district to supplement the cost. There will be a total of
2 waste sorts within Hamilton County; one in the Spring and one in the
Fall.
In the discussion, Mr. DiPuccio made the following suggestions: ODNR
shift some funding from lower priority projects to the waste
characterization study, ask the political subdivisions of Hamilton
County if they would like to contribute to the cost by using RRI
funding, consider the fact that ODNR cut Hamilton County's Recycle, Ohio
Grant funding, suggested that the District investigate liability issues
associated with waste sorts, and that the District do a due diligence so
that there is a very clear understanding of exactly what the District
will obtain from this study.
Dr. O'Reilly motioned to adopt the ODNR proposal in the amount of
$7,350 contingent upon a sort being done within a major landfill in
Hamilton County. Mr. Corman seconded. All were in favor and the motion
was approved.
- Proposed Reorganization
of the Finance SubCommittee
Mr. Graham stated that Mr. Ingram suggested that the committee
re-evaluate how the FSC conducts business to see if the committee can
accomplish more in less time i.e. be less involved in the day to day
duties and more involved with the budget process and how the budget
relates to the policies in the Plan. Preliminary conversation was
conducted last month and included as Attachment C in the Manager's Memo
is an updated agenda for the new FSC.
Mr. Aluotto stated the following:
- •The FSC will meet three times/year unless a special meeting is
required.
- •The FSC will meet in February to preview the coming year.
- •The FSC will meet in July, following the May Policy Committee
meeting, to review the Solid Waste District's draft budget with Staff
to ensure that it is inclusive of current policy priorities.
- •The FSC will meet in November for a year end review.
- •The revenue reports and expenditure approvals will be moved to
the Policy Committee meetings.
After discussion, Mr. Graham stated that the FSC voted to recommend
approval of their organization to the Policy Committee. Dr. O'Reilly
seconded; all were in favor and the motion was approved.
Household Hazardous
Waste
Mr. Aluotto reminded the Policy Committee that previously, they had
approved a long term strategy for HHW which involved 4 collection events
this year and a pilot of a permanent collection facility in 2004. Dr.
Evert has proposed the idea of a publicly owned and operated permanent
HHW Recycling Facility which may integrate other research and recycling
functions as well. Although this may take time to implement, the Policy
Committee may wish to authorize that Staff begin researching this idea
for incorporation into the next planning period.
Dr. Evert showed a video outlining Summit/Akron's permanent HHW
Recycling Facility and showed a Power Point Presentation detailing the
pro's of having a permanent HHW Recycling Facility locally.
Following both presentations, a question and answer session ensued.
Mr. Ingram motioned that the District research the possibility of a
permanent collection facility and possibly creating a committee to
conduct a feasibility study.
Mr. Aluotto stated that he would like to present the idea of a
permanent collection facility to the Board of County Commissioners with
a presentation. Mr. Portune suggested to get regional partners on board
before giving the Board a presentation.
Mr. Corman suggested that Dr. Evert give his presentation to the
Township Association. Dr. Evert concurred.
Mr. DiPuccio requested a detailed "step-by-step" outline of the time
line, plan, etc.
Mr. Ingram moved that an outline/map which would include the internal
workings, feasability, etc. be provided to the Policy Committee. Dr.
O'Reilly seconded. All were in favor and the motion was approved.
IV. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Republic's Evendale
Transfer Station
Mr. Aluotto stated that Republic's Transfer Station is currently
located in Evendale and accepts 600-700 tons of waste/day and is looking
to move to Sharon Road and Evendale Drive. Once moved, the facility will
be state of the art and will accept up to 1,000 tons/day of waste.
Public hearings have been initiated regarding the facility.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District's Yard Waste Recycling Drop-Off
sites will re-open on March 29, 2003 in a roll-over contract from 2002.
Rumpke will operate Kuliga Park and their own facility and Evans
Landscaping will operated their own site. The total amount of the
contracts, including the fixed cost and tonnage payments will be
approximately $216,000 for the year. A brief discussion ensued regarding
advertising of the sites.
Mr. Aluotto stated that there will be 4 HHW collection events in
2003. The Spring events will be at the Bayer Corporation on April 26 and
Ethicon Endo-Surgery on May 3.
The Fall events will be at Winton Woods High School on October 18 and
Coney Island on October 25, 2003.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the second annual Green Products Expo will be
held at the Sharonville Convention center on May 21, 2003. The Keynote
Speaker will be Ed Pinero who is the Deputy Director of the Office of
the Federal Environmental Executive. Mr. Aluotto discussed the
importance of the Expo and how successful the event was in 2002. A brief
question and answer session followed.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the Plan Update is scheduled to begin in
January, 2004 and included as Attachment D of the Manager's Memo is a
detailed time line. The District will be soliciting proposals from
private consultants later this year.
- City of Cincinnati Update
Mr. Aluotto reminded the Policy Committee of the City of Cincinnati
Yardwaste and Recycling issues that were previously discussed. Regarding
the recycling program, Staff has met with Dr. Daryl Brock who is the
Public Works Department Director with the City. Plans have started to
formulate as to recycling programs that could greatly reduce the cost.
Regarding the City's yardwaste program, RW Beck and Staff had a
kick-off meeting with the City Staff on February 19, 2003. There will
also be a meeting with the City Park Board to discuss a potential new
site for administering the City's Yardwaste Drop-Off Operations.
Mr. Aluotto stated that both projects are intended to reduce the cost
of collecting recycling and yardwaste for the City and both are on
track.
Mr. Portune requested that the Policy Committee continue to receive
updates on the City's recycling and yardwaste collection programs. The
Policy Committee concurred and briefly discussed the issue.
Mr. Graham stated that the City's contract expires next month and
they are looking to extend it for the rest of 2003.
- Cinergy's Scrap Tire
Market Development Grant
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District received a Market Development
Grant from ODNR last year in order to conduct a Tire Derived Fuel
project with Cinergy at the Miami Fort Plant. Since that grant, Cinergy
has been looking for feedstock to try as alternative fuel in that
boiler. Unfortunately, Cinergy has designated Tire Derived Fuel to be a
very low priority. Due to this, the District and ODNR have stayed in
touch with Cinergy wondering if this grant is going to happen this year.
The final answer that the District has received is that the operation
will happen, however Cinergy is not sure it will happen in 2003.
The District will be meeting with Cinergy next week to discuss
whether or not it would be better for Cinergy to return this round of
grant funding and re-apply in subsequent years. Cinergy does want to
conduct the project but are backed up with other projects at the current
time.
Mr. Aluotto stated that he would keep the Policy Committee informed
on this item. A brief discussion ensued regarding TDF.
V. TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
HHW, District Plan Update, City of Cincinnati Recycling and Yardwaste
Collection
- POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Dr. Evert asked when his term on the Policy Committee ended. Mr.
Aluotto stated that the non-statutory members serve 2 year terms and are
typically rolled over for another 2 year term if interested.
Mr. Graham thanked Mr. Aluotto in helping him in getting the County's
National Recognition for the District's Electronic Recycling Program.
There was a feature article in the APWA Report that was published
nationwide.
Dr. Evert asked, in terms of his HHW project, if it would be
appropriate to approach the Hamilton County Development Corporation. Mr.
Portune stated that it would be appropriate. Dr. Evert asked Mr. Aluotto
if he could set something up and attend. Mr. Aluotto stated that he
would.
Ms. Kennedy stated that she was a citizen from Colerain Township. On
Tuesday, March 11, 2003, there was an OEPA public hearing in Colerain
Township. Mr. Aluotto was present at this hearing and was aware of the
citizens comments. Ms. Kennedy passed out a copy of the concerns of the
citizens who testified in what they felt was a flawed process for the
OEPA. Ms. Kennedy thanked the Policy Committee for their time.
Mr. Portune requested that copies be made and distributed to the
Policy Committee. Mr. Aluotto agreed. Mr. Portune also requested that
Staff consider the comments from the citizens and report back to the
Policy Committee at the next meeting. Mr. Aluotto agreed.
VIII. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS
The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm on
Thursday, May 8, 2003 at Hamilton County Department of Environmental
Services located at 250 William Howard Taft Road.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 4:05 pm
