HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-92 WS
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MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP MEETING HELD
May 12, 1992
Mayor Dabbs called the workshop was called to order at 6:10 p.m. in the
commission chambers, and announced that the purpose of this meeting was to review
available sanitation equipment and to receive some points on composting from the
City Horticulturist.
Commissioner Woodson led in the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
The roll was called and a quorum declared present.
PRESENT: Mayor Dabbs, Commissioners Combs, Foster, Johnson, and Woodson. Also
present were Ci ty Manager Shapiro, Administrative Services Director Beamer,
Public Works Director Brenner and City Clerk Grafton.
ABSENT: None
SANITATION EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION DISCUSSION
Public Works Director Brenner thanked all for attending and said that he had
invited several people to present alternative methods of disposing of waste. Mr.
Brenner then introduced Mr. Bill Young, President of Container Systems and
Equipment, who presented graphics and a video of LODAL's EVO, a sanitation truck
with many good features.
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City Manager Shapiro advised that it is necessary to either get new equipment or
get out of the sanitation business. There were no decisions made at this time.
METHODS OF COMPOST lNG/MULCHING FOR THE HOMEOWNER
Horticulturist Alice Tate-Barnett presented information about composting and
mulching. Copies of her lecture will be available at the City Clerk's counter
for those interested in acquiring the material presented.
VIEWING OF EQUIPMENT
The meeting adjourned to the parking area to view the equipment on display.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dabbs formally adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. without reconvening In
the chambers.
Attest:
APPROVED:
City of Ocoee
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COMPOSTING
COMPOST IS A DARK PARTIALLY DECOMPOSED FORM OF ORGANIC MATTER.
SINPLY PUT : COMPOST IS ROTTED VEGETATION. IT RESULTS FROM THE
NATURAL DECOMPOSITION OF RAW ORGANIC MATTER BY MICROORGANISMS
(FUNGI AND BACTERIA). THIS DECOMPOSITION PROCESS CAN BE HURRIED
ALONG BY A PRACTICE CALLED COMPOSTING.
AS OF JANUARY 1ST, THE LANDFILLS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING GARBAGE
AND YARD WASTE MIXED. THEREFORE, WE MUST HANDLE THE TWO SEPARATE-
LY. DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, THE CITY OF OCOEE SPENT ABOUT
3,000 DOLLARS DUMPING YARD WASTE. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE GASOLINE,
PAYROLL, OR ANY OTHER EXPENSE. IT ONLY INCLUDES THE ACTUAL AMOUNT
THE LANDFILLS CHARGED US TO DUMP THE YARD WASTE. IF YOU CONSIDER
APRIL TO BE AN AVERAGE MONTH, IT WILL COST US ABOUT 36,000 DOL-
LARS TO DUMP YARD WASTE FOR THIS YEAR. WE NEED YOUR HELP! YOU CAN
HELP US CUT THESE COSTS SIMPLY BY TURNING YOUR YARD WASTE INTO
YOUR LANDSCAPE ASSETS. THIS PRESENTATION WILL HELP TEACH YOU
HOW TO DO THIS.
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ALMOST ANY TYPE OF VEGETATION CAN BE PUT IN A COMPOST PILE. THIS
WOULD INCLUDE GRASS CLIPPINGS, LEAVES, WEEDS, STRAW, CORN STALKS,
SAW DUST, HEDGE CLIPPINGS, SEAWEED, GARDEN WASTE, ETC. THINGS
THAT SHOULD NOT BE ADDED TO A COMPOST PILE WOULD INCLUDE DISEASED
PLANT PARTS AND WEEDS THAT ARE HEAVILY LADEN WITH SEED. THE
REASON FOR THIS IS THAT YOU WOULD BE SPREADING DISEASE AND WEEDS
THROUGH YOUR PROPERTY WHEN YOU USED THE COMPOST. YOU SHOULD ALSO
NOT INCLUDE GREASE, FAT, MEAT SCRAPS, OR BONES IN A COMPOST PILE
BECAUSE THEY ATTRACT ANIMALS AND CAUSE THE PILE TO TAKE ON AN
UNPLEASANT ODOR.
TO START A COMPOST PILE, YOU SHOULD PICK A LOCATION THAT IS
CONVENIENT BUT INCONSPICUOUS. IT SHOULD BE NEAR A WATER SOURCE,
BUT NOT IN AN AREA THAT DRAINS POORLY. THE PILE SHOULD BE KEPT
MOIST BECAUSE THE MICROORGANISMS MUST HAVE WATER TO SURVIVE. IT
SHOULD NOT BE SOAKED, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS WILL CAUSE THE DECOM-
POSITION PROCESS TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE PILE SHOULD NOT BE
LOCATED NEAR TREES BECAUSE THE TREE ROOTS WILL GROW THROUGH THE
COMPOST AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SHOVEL FOR USE.
THE PILE SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN THREE FEET TALL AND THREE FEET
WIDE. FIVE FEET BY FIVE FEET BY FIVE FEET IS A GOOD WORKABLE
SIZE. IF YOU GENERATE MORE COMPOST THAN THIS, THE PILE SHOULD BE
FIVE FEET TALL, FIVE FEET WIDE AND ANY LENGTH.
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THE PILE SHOULD BE CONTAINED FOR BEST DECOMPOSITION AND A CLEANER
LOOK. THE ENCLOSURE SHOULD ALLOW AIR MOVEMENT AND BE OPEN ON ONE
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SIDE, SO THE PILE CAN BE WORKED AND THE FINISHED COMPOST CAN BE
REMOVED. THE ENCLOSURE CAN BE WOVEN WIRE FENCING, CEMENT BLOCKS
OR BRICKS WITH NO MORTAR, WOOD SLAT FENCING, OR SCRAP LUMBER. ANY
WOOD PRODUCT WOULD EVENTUALLY ROT, HOWEVER.
TO CONSTRUCT THE PILE, FOR BEST RESULTS, YOU SHOULD START BY
DIGGING A TRENCH AND COVER IT WITH A HARD WIRE MESH. THIS WILL
PROVIDE FOR GOOD DRAINAGE AND AERATION. A 6-8 INCH LAYER OF
ORGANIC MATTER SHOULD COME NEXT. THIS LAYER SHOULD THEN BE MOIS-
TENED, BUT NOT SOAKED. THE MICROORGANISMS REQUIRE LARGE AMOUNTS
OF NITROGEN TO GROW AND MULTIPLY. FOR THIS REASON, A COMPLETE
GARDEN FERTILIZER SUCH AS 12-12-12 SHOULD BE SPRINKLED OVER THE
ORGANIC MATTER. ONE CUP PER 25 SQUARE FEET SHOULD BE USED. IF YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO ANY FRESH ANIMAL MANURE, A 1-2 INCH LAYER OF IT
CAN BE USED IN PLACE OF THE 12-12-12. TO GET THE DECOMPOSITION
PROCESS STARTED, YOU NEED TO ADD THE MICROORGANISMS. YOU CAN DO
THIS BY ADDING A 1-2 INCH LAYER OF SOIL OR COMPOST NEXT. THIS
LAYERING SEQUENCE SHOULD BE REPEATED UNTIL THE PILE IS ABOUT 5
FEET TALL.
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AFTER CONSTRUCTION, THE PILE WILL REQUIRE A LI'I'TLE CARE. IT
SHOULD BE KEPT MOIST. A PLASTIC COVER CAN BE USED TO RETAIN
MOISTURE AND TO PREVENT SOAKING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL. THE PILE
SHOULD BE TURNED MONTHLY. THE HIGHEST RATE OF DECOMPOSITION IS IN
THE CENTER OF THE PILE. MONTHLY TURNING WILL SHIFT THE OUTSIDES
TO THE INSIDE FOR FASTER BREAKDOWN.
THE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 4-9 MONTHS
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE PILE AND THE TIME OF YEAR. WHEN YOU
CAN NO LONGER IDENTIFY THE ORIGINAL COMPONENTS OF THE PILE, THE
COMPOST IS READY FOR USE. ITS USES ARE MANY. IT CAN BE USED AS A
MEDIUM FOR HOUSE PLANTS, AS A MEDIUM FOR STARTING SEEDS, AS A
SOIL AMENDMENT, AS A TOP DRESSING FOR LAWNS, OR AS A MULCH AROUND
TREES AND SHRUBS.
AS A MEDIUM, IT CUTS GARDENING COSTS. AS AN AMENDMENT, IT CUTS
WATERING COSTS BECAUSE IT HELPS OUR SANDY SOIL RETAIN MOISTURE.
IT ALSO CONTAINS NUTRIENTS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE PLANTS. AS
A MULCH, IT CUTS DOWN ON HOURS OF WEEDING, HELPS RETAIN MOISTURE,
AND ELIMINATES MOWER AND WEED EATER DAMAGE TO THE BASES OF YOUR
PLANTS. AS YOU CAN NOW SEE, YOUR YARD WASTE CAN BE TURNED INTO
MANY LANDSCAPE ASSETS. SO LET'S START LEAVING IT ON THE PROPERTY!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT 877-
8420, ALICE E. TATE-BARNETT, CITY OF OCOEE HORTICULTURIST.
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