Orange County NC Website
people who have been silent before who have not spoken out and that~s~ <br />represented many people who have not come to the public hearings but who <br />strongly support the plan and she thinks it is an excellent plan. <br />GEORGE CHOCKLEY from Cedar Grove Township stated he is not against <br />___,recreation, swimming pools or any form of recreation but is against the <br />,master plan for rural Orange County. He stated that rural Orange County is <br />.;going to be developed in the next fifteen to twenty years but the plan, if <br />approved, will be implemented as soon as feasible which will throw the <br />burden of cost on a sparsely populated rural Orange County. He suggested <br />waiting until the area becomes more populated to implement the plan because <br />there will be a base to draw from. <br />JAMES R. SMITH spoke in opposition to the entire Master Plan. He is <br />not opposed to the idea of swimming pools or parks and swimming pools in <br />the schools. He emphasized that although the Master Plan has been studied, <br />very little attention has been given to the details of the plan. He noted <br />that when the plan is evaluated using a set of criteria that it fails in <br />the technical and pragmatic approach, cost analysis and organization and <br />management. Assumptions were made that determined the numerous <br />contributing factors which influenced the needs and are neither stated or <br />discussed. There is no supportive data or discussion of utilization rates <br />or current or proposed facilities. Alternative approaches, if any were <br />considered, are not discussed in the plan. He asked that the Board study <br />the Plan before accepting it. <br />CAROL RIGGS submitted a petition with 531 signatures. The petition <br />read . as follows <br />"We the undersigned taxpayers of Orange County N.C. hereby petition the <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners to dispose of the proposed Parks and <br />Recreation Greenway program which is totally unacceptable. The Greenway <br />plan is too expensive and invades the rights of land owners in Orange <br />County. We the people of orange County demand that the elected <br />~~;Commissioners condemn the proposed Greenway plan immediately before any <br />,further tax dollars are wasted. " <br />..._._,, MINERVA KENYON , member of the Tree Board, spoke in support of <br />designated and managed places for recreation space. Parks have trees and <br />they are important to the whole community. <br />TERESA LOCIiLEAR read a statement which asked the Commissioners what <br />the basis of their assumption was that gave them the power and authority to <br />tell the people how they can and cannot use their property. <br />LAURENCE GIRRARD talked about land that had been in the family for <br />generations. He expressed concern about the proposed community park in the <br />Caldwell area and noted that the circle on the map landed on 140 acres of <br />Miller property. He stated that the money could be used for better things <br />in Orange County. He is opposed to the Plan. He distributed a copy of his <br />statements to the Board Members. <br />BEN LLOYD stated he does not oppose parks or swimming pools and that <br />the decision to delete the greenways was a good decision. He made <br />reference to the tax rate and noted that the schools have dire needs. He <br />stated that the County cannot afford to spend money at this particular time <br />on parks and recreation. He made reference to a contract to put sewage to <br />his house and indicated that this line should be run before money is spent <br />on parks and swimming pools. He is against the plan at this time but will <br />support it when and if the time comes that Orange County can afford it. <br />HERVEY MCGIVEN spoke in support of the Master Plan. He feels it is a <br />farsighted effort by the County to address the needs that wi1~, exist in the <br />future. He also supports the flexibility provided in the plan for <br />.implementing certain aspects of the plan. The plan should go to referendum <br />.and it is his hope that there will be parks in Orange County. <br />- PEARSON STEWART spoke in support of the Master Plan. The need for land <br />for parks will continue to increase and become more difficult and mare <br />expensive to acquire. He urged the County Commissioners to come up with a <br />