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involving taxpayer money. He said that this matter needs to be brought to a close because it <br /> has become a ridiculous situation. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that the Manager recommends option #3 and he asked <br /> Laura Blackmon about her perception of this option and what it means for the role of the Board <br /> of County Commissioners. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that her suggestion was, instead of choosing one of the two <br /> groups, to contract a professional farmers' market manager. This person would run the market <br /> from day to day, would be the main contact, assign spaces, assist vendors, handle fees, <br /> handle dispute settlements, clean the market, etc. She said that the vendor fees could be <br /> minimal, but enough to serve as the income for this manager. This would provide for an open <br /> market. She said that there was no resolution from the mediation. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that he has heard a lot of people mention Beverly Blythe's <br /> name in a commendable manner tonight. He said that he knows how much time she has <br /> devoted to this market, and he thanked her. He said that everyone has a vision of vibrancy for <br /> the market to preserve this character. He said that this is a public facility that the public owns <br /> and there needs to be transparency. <br /> Commissioner Foushee echoed what Commissioner Carey said and said that it is the <br /> Board of County Commissioners' responsibility to ensure that the public's interest is protected. <br /> She asked about the timeframe of March 1st and if this was enough time to get a market <br /> manager and get the market up and running. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that she thinks this could be up and running in time. There are <br /> professional managers that are interested in the market. The vendors are ready to go and <br /> they need to know where to go. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to hear the pros and cons and if both <br /> organizations would lease space. Laura Blackmon said that two farmers' market organizations <br /> want to lease the facility, and both want Wednesdays and Saturdays. If the Board decides to <br /> let both groups have the facility on Wednesdays and Saturdays, then the groups could <br /> alternate. The pro would be that both organizations could use the facility, and the con is that <br /> negotiations would be needed. The other option is to pick only one of the markets to use the <br /> market house. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked about option #3 and if the salary for the manager would <br /> be from fees. Laura Blackmon said that is how other markets generally operate. She clarified <br /> that the person would not be a vendor, but a manager. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked who the point person would be if a vendor had a problem <br /> with the market manager. Laura Blackmon said that this would be up to the Board of County <br /> Commissioners. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that these types of decisions or disagreements can be <br /> difficult and he has significant reservations with putting County staff or the Board of County <br /> Commissioners in that position. There was a similar situation at the Carrboro Farmers' Market. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that people refer to this as a community space and a community <br /> resource. He has been struck by the many heartfelt comments about the Hillsborough <br /> Farmers' Market. He said that this has been a sad spectacle, there has been a notable lack of <br /> charity, and it besmirches what was a lovely, grassroots effort to find a shelter for a farmers' <br /> market in Hillsborough. He said that he hates what he has heard and seen over the last few <br /> months, and the Board of County Commissioners never intended to have any operating <br /> interest in this facility other than to make it available for the community, but because people <br /> are unwilling to work together, the Board has been forced into this situation. He said that he <br /> has no interest in evaluating the merits of the two groups. He thinks that they all have merit <br /> and all should participate in selling things at the market. He thinks that there is room for more <br />