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,~ <br />projects to be considered. She said that everyone seems committed to working together. The <br />realtors published the results of a survey, and the results showed that people think that it is <br />important to have mass transit. <br />Commissioner Gordon also distributed the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) Newsletter, <br />which is attached and is hereby made part of these minutes. One of the things that TTA is <br />very proud of is that the ridership grew in 2006 four times the national average - 12% versus <br />3%. There are new routes and 20 new buses have been ordered. The Go Triangle Regional <br />Information Center was just kicked off. The phone number is 485-RIDE to get information <br />about riding the buses. She said that there is an extraordinary opportunity for regional <br />cooperation because there are people of like mind in a lot of the municipalities. <br />Commissioner Nelson - no comments. <br />Commissioner Foushee - no comments. <br />Chair Carey said that the collective group of the Mayors and Chairs of Orange County, <br />Chatham County, Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, and Town of Pittsboro met again on <br />October 30th. There were also representatives from UNC and OWASA. Some of the same <br />issues were discussed, and the group pledged to get all of the jurisdictions to continue to work <br />together to resolve issues of mutual interest. One issue is a joint resolution to ask the State to <br />become more involved in the water quality and water allocation issue related to Jordan Lake. <br />There is a possibility of a joint intake on the west side of the lake. Chatham County wishes to <br />share the site that OWASA owns, but the rules are not clear on the conditions. The group <br />decided to ask the State to become more involved and to move the process along about <br />setting some rules about sharing intakes, promoting regionalization, etc. The other issue was <br />that the group would like to have smaller groups work on the subjects of mutual interest such <br />as transportation. The next report will be at the next Assembly of Governments meeting in the <br />spring. There are no meetings planned between now and that Assembly of Governments <br />meeting. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the structure for the working group and Chair Carey <br />said that no decision was made to change the structure of this group as of now. It will remain <br />the Mayors/Chairs/Vice-Chairs, etc. working on items of mutual interest over the next few <br />months. In some cases, some of the groups may not include all of the jurisdictions. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that one concern at the last Assembly of Governments <br />meeting was that the meetings should be noticed. <br />Chair Carey said that this will be done in the future because the meetings are not <br />closed meetings. <br />9. County Manager's Report <br />Laura Blackmon said that she has a report from Director of Elections Barry Garner, and <br />the tally for early voting was 959 in 2004 and over 1,000 this year. Barry Garner has accepted <br />a position in Florida, and Friday will be his last day for Orange County. <br />Laura Blackmon said that the staff has been trying to plan amini-retreat for December. <br />There will also have to be agoal-setting retreat to kick off the budget process. <br />Laura Blackmon said that item 4-h, which was pulled, was on Recreation and Parks <br />Grant Applications. She said that the staff has been looking at whether there could be a grant <br />process where the Manager could at least be able to approve the applications for grants that <br />require neither matching funds nor any additional staff. She asked the Board to review this <br />proposal. <br />2008-18 Ten Year CIP <br />