2018-02-28 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Commissioner Osborne said schools could also participate in this education. The next generation needs to know about this. Chair Bennett said he has been composting his kitchen waste for 40 years, and meat and bones do not pose any problem. People should compost more, and it would serve both the landfills and the wastewater discharge. Director Kucharski brought up Puakō. He did meet with people there and attend a presentation in January 2018. Other department heads were present, as well as Representative Cindy Evans. There are no easy answers, and there is only an answer that is less wrong than the other choices. He has been in contact with Coral Alliance and has met with them multiple times, discussing the Puakō issue and going over alternatives. He just wanted the EMC to know that was occurring. 7. COMMISSIONERS’ DISTRICT UPDATE REPORTS AND ISSUES Vice Chair Olson said abandoned vehicles are an ongoing saga in his district, but he would say that DEM is keeping up pretty well. Cost remains a big issue, and capturing a portion of the cost at the point of purchase would help. He has spoken with several people and they agree. At least a portion of the cost to remove a vehicle could be captured at the point of purchase. Tires continue to be an issue, as they end up on the side of the road and the County has to deal with them. His councilmember might be able to introduce something to help with that. Commissioner Osborne asked who handles the abandoned vehicles that are on state property, and Director Kucharski said a major issue is what the current code says. The County Code does not have a separate definition of what an abandoned vehicle is and follows the State code, which states that a vehicle is abandoned if it is on a county or state road, or adjacent to that even if it is on private property. In Ocean View there are many non-dedicated private roads, and the County does not currently have the authority to remove vehicles abandoned there. Director Kucharski said the County is paying $680 to dispose of each abandoned vehicle, which does not include towing costs and all the overhead. They now have two bidders, so the price may go down. People are frustrated with how long it takes to pick up an abandoned vehicle, but DEM is dependent on the Police Department to issue the tickets. Once a vehicle is ticketed and HPD goes through their procedures, they report the vehicle to DEM. DEM staff goes out and physically verifies the vehicle is there, because towing costs will have to be paid if the contractor goes out to tow and it is not there. The contractor is required to pick up a vehicle within 72 hours. Money is not the major issue—the frustration is in how to get the abandonment, ticketing, identification, and towing time shorter. It is mostly administrative. When the police notify DEM of an abandoned vehicle, DEM staff will go out within 24 hours to look at the vehicle and verify it is there, and then contact the towing company. Vice Chair Olson said that again, he would like to see legislation to have AV removal costs paid at the point of purchase.