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Laura Blackmon said that the staff would not come with the MOU until January 15th, so <br />there will be some time to work on this. <br />Commissioner Nelson asked clarifying questions about the gas at Carolina North. <br />Carolyn Efland said that the advantage of having the gas at Carolina North and not having <br />electricity is that the thermal and electrical energy requirements can be met simultaneously <br />and it is much more efficient. She said that the University would like to collect and clean the <br />gas, take it to Carolina North, and use it simultaneously for thermal and electric energy. <br />Regarding what would be done with the gas before the facility is up and running, the gas <br />would have to be flared in order to address the odor issue. Clearly, the end product has to be <br />energy or some other beneficial use. The University is currently in the special use permit <br />process with the Town of Chapel Hill for the innovation center. <br />Commissioner Nelson asked Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson about the landfill gas <br />peak and Gayle Wilson said that it is peaking now. Commissioner Nelson said that this gas <br />needs to be captured now. He said that he is a little skeptical that the Carolina North facility <br />will open in 2009. Carolyn Efland said that the potential for the gas if it is just used for <br />electricity is about 750 kilobytes. There is already more power than that being used in existing <br />facilities at Carolina North. If the gas could be piped for electricity generation at Carolina <br />North, the existing facilities could be served. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to <br />defer action on this item until January 15, 2008 for staff to bring back a memorandum of <br />understanding. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />b. Professional Services Agreement with Corley Redfoot Zack for Space <br />Planning Associated with Space Reallocation at Link Center <br />The Board considered authorizing the Manager to enter into an agreement with Corley <br />Redfoot Zack in an amount not to exceed $14,700 for space planning services associated with <br />the Link Center remodeling project that will occur following the opening of the new county <br />campus buildings in 2008; and exempting this project from the qualifications-based selection <br />process as allowed by G.S. 143-64.32. <br />Pam Jones said that the County would be taking possession of the Gateway Center in <br />late January. By the first of March, the County will have the offices for Tax Assessor, <br />Revenue, and Register of Deeds. This will open up space at the Link building. This item <br />would allow the County to retain Corley Redfoot Zack to help reallocate the space according to <br />the departmental needs. One of the issues for decision is whether to have a public meeting <br />room in the facility. There would be capability for live broadcasting, etc. Mr. Redfoot has <br />suggested just doing a space planning exercise at first, which would cost $14,700 and is <br />budgeted in the CIP. At such time the actual program for the building is developed, the cost <br />for design would be submitted. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners have not adopted the <br />space study that has to do with the Link Center. The Board has only talked about it, but has <br />not adopted it. She said that if this were not committing the County to any particular <br />programming, configuration, or CIP amount, then she would be ok with it. <br />Pam Jones said that there is no provision for commitment in this item. She said that <br />there will be some wide-open spaces with departments moving. The Board has discussed <br />previously that the people that are currently located in the Government Services Center Annex <br />would become occupants of this building. Since that time, the Manager has made certain <br />decisions regarding reorganization of departments that would also impact people moving to <br />this building. There are a lot of things up in the air. There is $100,000 budgeted right now, <br />