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10 <br />The Board received public comment on the Orange County 2003-2004 Secondary Road <br />Improvement Program proposed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). <br />Mike Mills, Division Engineer for DOT, introduced his staff -Mike Cowan, Deputy Division <br />Engineer; Tommy Dyer, Division Maintenance Engineer; Chuck Edwards, District Engineer; and John <br />Howell, County Maintenance Engineer. He said that the anticipated amount for this program is <br />$1,432,536.50. He explained the list of roads on the program. There is a total of 8.58 miles, for a total <br />of $1,388,000. The contingency fund is $44,536.50 for cost overruns, minor safety improvements, etc. <br />The program is subject to availability of funding, right-of-way, and environmental and historical review. <br />Commissioner Gordon verified that only number three -Arthur Minnis Road -does not <br />have right-of-way available. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked how many miles of unpaved roads were left in Orange <br />County now and Mike Mills said about 26 miles, including this program. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if this completes the paving of Lawrence Road and Mike <br />Mills said yes. <br />Public Comment: <br />Fred Zimmerman said that if the County Commissioners vote to add Arthur Minnis Road <br />to the list then that means that the Board wants it paved. If the Board votes no, then DOT will not seek <br />further right-of-way there and will back off. He said that if the Board votes for this road, then it would be <br />a vote against the wishes of its constituents' concerns. He said that he does not know of any safety <br />problems now on this road and paving will increase traffic and speed. He believes that the road is safer <br />now than it would be if it were paved. He made reference to Commissioner Cordon's comment about <br />removing the offensive statement from the resolution and said that his reaction is that everyone knows <br />that this statement is a guiding principle of the policy and there would be a less candid policy that calls <br />for the same criteria as before. He said that he would not bother coming to a meeting to speak to the <br />Board if he knew that it was operating under a policy that said that it was not going to consider his <br />viewpoint. He asks that the Board remove Arthur Minnis Road from this list. <br />Sam Fudge said that he has opposed the paving of this road since 1973 and they have <br />had very few accidents and it is not a dangerous road. He asked that the money be given to Ormond <br />Road, which is not completely funded. <br />Bob Johnson said that there are no right-of-ways on Arthur Minnis Road. There are only <br />26 landowners on this section of road and only three want it paved. He said that it does not make sense <br />to put this road on the paving program. <br />Roberta Marshall said that she would like to see the road paved and she does have <br />safety concerns. She has owned property for 20 years and she lives farther down the road. As you <br />approach her house, there is an S curve and when there is moisture that section of the road stays wet. <br />Several times a year someone's car falls off the road on the S curve but there have been no serious <br />injuries. While the cars are off the road, they are in a blind section of the road. She said that speed is <br />still a problem even though the road is not paved. She said that the problems with the right-of-way are <br />at the extreme ends of the road. She said that those that are opposed to the paving do not drive her <br />section. She is supportive of changing the language in the resolution to be more neutral. <br />Chair Brown asked Ms. Marshall if she has given right-of-way to DOT and she said yes. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked Bob Johnson if, at one time, he was supportive of paving <br />the entire road. Bob Johnson said that he made a statement that if safety was the only concern -then <br />pave all of it or pave none of it. He was pointing out that it was a stupid idea to pave only 800 feet and <br />not the whole road. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis told Mr. Zimmerman that the Board of County Commissioners did <br />look into safety issues. He thanked the staff from DOT who were very flexible in working with the owner <br />of the horse farm in protecting the fence. He said that one day this road would be paved. He would <br />support taking this money and putting it towards another road. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to close <br />the public hearing. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />