HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council October 22 1987WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
October 22, 1987
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Vice Chair
Roehl with Johnson, Hawley, Muenscher and Warner present. Hansey
arrived at 7:20 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
ORDINANCE CONCERNING SOLID WASTE IN WHATCOM COUNTY
(Mini- Initiative 2 -87)
The public hearing on the proposed ordinance was opened.
Mark Asmundson
Attorney for Olivine Corporation
Stated that Olivine was principle instigator of the mini -
initiative due to its belief that the County should not be locked
into a contract for solid waste disposal which would be against
its own best interests; discussed problems City of Bellingham has
experienced during its contract with TRC; TRC is not operating in
accordance with emission standards; TRC's bottom ash has been
determined to be of poor quality and they have not complied with
acid gas removal standards; TRC has long tradition of operating
out of compliance with emission standards; has record of dozens
of violations; a contract with TRC would not solve the County's
waste disposal problems. Discussed findings of a Seattle -based
environmental engineering firm which was hired by Olivine to test
and review its incinerator; the firm concluded that the
incinerator would meet quality control standards and would be
able to get a permit from Northwest Air Pollution; Olivine has
received serious, unsolicited inquiries from other counties
regarding waste disposal; Olivine's technology is viable and when
the system is operational offers unlimited potential for
exporting incinerators around the world; Olivine's attempts to
operate have been frustrated by numerous appeals filed by its
competitor, and the County should not reward the competitor for
these actions; Olivine can provide better service than TRC.
Bill Blair
1764 Iowa St.
Spoke on behalf of Whatcom County granges; read statement from
Pomona Grange expressing disapproval of attitudes toward and
actions taken regarding solid waste disposal in Whatcom County;
TRC is not in compliance with standards; Olivine has been
prohibited from testing by TRC; Olivine should be given a fair
chance.
October 22, 1987
Page 2
Jim Leppala
2361 Thornton, Ferndale
TRC has a long list of materials which it will not accept and
which therefore have to be taken to Cedarville landfill; Council
should wait until Olivine has operating permit before negotiating
contract with TRC; if Cedarville is closed there will be no place
for the materials which TRC will not accept.
Jack Petree
2955' Sunset
Has worked as advertising consultant to companies like Olivine;
believes that if Olivine's ideas get on the market they would be
worth millions of dollars to Whatcom County in burner sales.
There was no further testimony and the hearing was closed.
Discussion followed about the proposed ordinance. A number
of concerns were raised by Council members, including the
legality of the ordinance; its broad scope; and its
restrictiveness in view of the County's serious waste disposal
problem. It was also observed that the Council does not want to
enter into an exclusive contract for solid waste disposal at this
time and supports and welcomes Olivine's attempts to compete in
this field.
Council Attorney Randy Watts stated that the propriety of
the ordinance could possibly be challenged on the grounds that it
dealt with an administrative rather than a regulatory issue; and
that he could not be sure whether it could restrict the Council's
actions in related areas, such as setting rates.
HAWLEY MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
There was discussion on the motion.
JOHNSON MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION BY CHANGING THE ORDINANCE
TO A RESOLUTION, CHANGING THE ONE -YEAR TIME PERIOD TO SIX MONTHS,
AND DELETE PARAGRAPH NUMBER 2 UNDER "NOW, THEREFORE . . ."
There was discussion on the amendment.
The motion to amend failed.
There was further discussion on the main motion.
October 22, 1987
Page 3
HANSEY MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION BY CHANGING THE ORDINANCE
TO A RESOLUTION, CHANGING THE ONE -YEAR TIME PERIOD TO SIX MONTHS,
AND PLACING THE WORDS "IT IS THE INTENT OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL THAT" AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STATEMENTS IN PARAGRAPHS
NUMBERED 1 AND 2 UNDER "NOW, THEREFORE . . "
There was discussion on the amendment.
The motion to amend carried.
The main motion carried.
The meeting Was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
William P. Roehl
Vice Chair
ATTEST:
Carol Ebergson
Clerk of the Council