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~~~~ We aze hopeful that the law enacted by the General Assembly which imposed a 3 1/2% on the retail price of alcoholic beverages will mean a brighter financial future for Orange County. Chairman Walker recognized Eddie Mann, Chairman of the Recreation Study ~ Committee, Mr. Mann filed a copy of a report entitled "A PLAN FOR RECREATION AND PARKS ORANGE COUNTY, N. C, JUNE, 1974" and he presented the following letter: 'BAs requested by the County Commissioners, the appointed Recreation Study Committee has studied the recreational needs of the county. With the considerable assistance of the employed Recreation Con- sultant Team, the committee has studied all of those areas suggested ~ in the Boazd motion which was passed setting up this study committee, and the.following~•report is hereby made: 1. It is recommended that Orange County begin to provide recreational services to its citizens. 2. The Study Committee projects that the cost for the service for the next fiscal yeaz will be $60,000; which amount re- presents an operating budget of 530,000 for the yeaz, equipment purchases of 55,000, and provision of $25,000 in "seed money" for acquisition and/or development of facilities. 3. If the Commissioners should choose to begin a recreation service, it is recommended that a Recreation and Park Commis- sion be appointed to manage and operate the system. 4. The Study Committee requests that it have the opportunity to pafticipate in or review the drafting of the ordinance to create the recreation and parks system. The members of the Study Committee have devoted more than 15 months to this study, and the County has expended some 55,690.52 on a study made by the Recreation Consultant Team. Two basic concerns which need to be communicated to the Commissioners are (1) that provision be made for services to all county citizens from the outset, and (2) that there be opportunity for citizens to learn of such plans through a public heazing or some other similar .- manner. The Committee members remain at your disposal for whatever further you or the Commissioners would request or require of them." Mr, Mann stated the Report which had been filed should be considered as source material for the ten year plan. He stated that the Recreation Study Committee was not recommending all the things that had been recom- mended by the Consultants. He stated that the Consultants had not recom- mended that the Recreation Study Commission recommend that a recreation pro- gram involve the entire County from the off-set, however, the Recreation Study Commission felt that all county citizens skiould be included even though the Town of Chapel Hill had a Recreation Depaztment and Carrboro did provide recreation on a limited scale. He stated the Commission felt that a recreation program could be instituted by setting up a Line Department, however, the Commission recommends that a Recreation Committee be appointed and that a Director be employed. The Director should be charged with the responsibility of instituting a recreation program, Mr. Mann stated it was the desire of the Recreation Study Committee to have some input into the proposed recreation program and that the Committee did specifically request that they be allowed to review the Recreation Ordinance prior to its adoption. The Chairman stated the proposed recreation program would cost approximately $6D,000 with 530,000'being allocated for Administration and Operational purposes and $25,000 as such money for the acquisition of further recreational sites, This report is to be considered as a Majority Report from the Recreation Committee. Mr. Mann stated that the committee did not concern itself with the Recreation Study Committee for the First yeaz due to the fact that the type of program was dependent upon how soon the County could emplcy someone to begin the program and that the Recreation Study Committee does not zecommend a specific type of program. Discussion ensued. - Chairman Walker stated that he was hoping that the Committee would come to the Boazd with a specific plan for the operation, Frank Miller stated that it was the opinion of the committee that the '~ Director would recommend 'the types of programs that should be instituted, Sob Strayhorn stated that the Committee agreed bn the fact that a Recreation program was needed, however, the vast majority of the County does not have the leadership that would be needed for the institution of the program and