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• Feedback included asking for the county to be more proactive in developing a plan <br /> (physical and financial) to bring water and sewer to the site. <br /> With this in mind, and if we are to take some action, we need to assess any developers <br /> commitment to the Buckhorn EDD, and any action moving forward in developing this EDD <br /> needs to be based on current market realities, plausible and workable commitments to projects <br /> such as the oft discussed building of a state certified technology/business park. <br /> Economic Development Commission Advisory Board request <br /> And I would also like to take a moment before I close to make you aware of a request that will <br /> be forthcoming very shortly from the Economic Development Commission (EDC) advisory <br /> board. <br /> The current EDC advisory board is seeking to retain at least one, but preferably two, graduate <br /> student interns by the end of September to assist them in researching data they believe is <br /> critical to offering recommendations to the BOCC to improve Orange County's economic <br /> health, vitality, and sustainability. <br /> The EDC advisory board feels they will be better positioned to help the BOCC evaluate <br /> economic development opportunities arising in the normal course of events, to seek out <br /> opportunities that otherwise would leak to surrounding counties, and to generate opportunities <br /> that otherwise would remain dormant. <br /> A request of the BOCC will be forth coming outlining a financial commitment to pay the interns <br /> a stipend, which is felt to substantially increase the chances of engaging forward-thinking <br /> student interns whose interests, passions and experience are compatible with growing <br /> sustainable, green economies. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that she was glad to see in the plan for doing an RFP <br /> that Brad Broadwell wanted to include several boards that have an interest. She asked if any <br /> farmers had expressed interest in the solar clusters on their land and Brad Broadwell said that <br /> many have asked for information. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked Brad Broadwell to forward the education plan on the <br /> Buy Local program. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that it is great that the County is working on solar <br /> initiatives. He said that the County had gotten a commitment of $400,000 of DOT Economic <br /> Development funds for Buckhorn Road. Willie Best said that he spoke to DOT about 60 days <br /> ago and the State was holding all funding as of then and the funds are still committed. Willie <br /> Best said that there has been nothing in writing from DOT yet. Commissioner Jacobs asked to <br /> get something in writing from DOT. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked what is going on with the Value-Added Shared Use <br /> Center. Commissioner Jacobs asked Noah Rannells to send the County Commissioners <br /> something in writing about the status of the value-added shared use center. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that the County had talked with six different companies <br /> about locating solar in Orange County and he asked what happened to the five that were not <br /> interested. <br />