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Commissioner Gordon said that she gave a report on the Transportation Improvement Program <br />at the last meeting. She would like to receive some direction tonight from the Board. She asked if <br />comments could be written for the November 28th rural public hearing. The Planning staff, <br />specifically Gene Bell and Karen Lincoln, will write up something for the Board's reaction at the <br />meeting on November 21St <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to the memo from the County Engineer on his inspection <br />tour of the structural integrity of outdoor structures in the County and asked that staff come back with <br />some recommendations. <br />Commissioner Brown noted that OWASA has a conceptual agreement with the University of <br />North Carolina on availability fees. A copy will be requested from OWASA. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the meetings held on the I-40/Old 86 EDD. He is <br />pleased to hear about the possibility of Southern Season locating their business and warehousing <br />facility in that EDD. Also, last week he and Commissioner Jacobs met with the judicial personnel <br />and came to an agreement on moving ahead with additional facilities for the courts. He feels that <br />this committee can move forward with continued discussions. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that one thing that led Southern Season to Hillsborough was the <br />SportsPlex in Hillsborough and the opportunity for the employees to use it. <br />Chair Carey said that he and Commissioner Jacobs met with the Orange County Schools and <br />the Board of Health representatives to address the school nurse issue. They will meet with both <br />school systems about this issue to be sure that teachers are not faced with administering medicine <br />to students. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link introduced Gwen Price who is the Program Director of the Work First Program in <br />Orange County. He made reference to the failing grade that Orange County received on one aspect <br />of the Work First program. <br />Gwen Price said that State statute requires that every county submit reports to the state on the <br />progress of Work First with identified goals. The state develops those goals. The four goals are <br />reducing the Work First case load, putting adults to work, staying off welfare after going to work, and <br />increasing child support collections. She prepared a Work First status report for the Commissioners. <br />The County received a corrective action measure on the goal of reducing the Work First caseload. <br />She said that this was somewhat misleading because when Work First started in July of 1995 the <br />caseload was at 754 and now it is down to 335. This is a 56-percent reduction in the caseload. Out <br />of 335 cases, 160 are child-only cases, which are not subject to the Work First requirements. She <br />shared some statistics on the other three goals and the accomplishments of the Work First program <br />in Orange County. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the child support issue. Gwen Price said that the state goal <br />was to have a 10-percent increase in child support collections. Orange County reached 97 percent <br />of this 10-percent collection increase. <br />5. RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS <br />None <br />6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS <br />a. Soccer Symposium Task Force Report <br />The Board received a presentation and report from the Soccer Symposium Task Force. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that a Soccer Symposium task force was formed, seven <br />meetings were held, and a report was prepared. A symposium was held, which indicated that there <br />is a strong need for soccer facilities in Orange County. One of the charges of the group was to <br />pursue equity issues to try and ascertain who was playing soccer and how a more diverse <br />participation could be encouraged. He asked Economic Development Director Dianne Reid and <br />Recreation and Parks Director Bob Jones to make some comments. <br />