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:;'y' ; Motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Carey to adopt a resolution in support of flat-rate extended area service as requested by TJCOC and as stated below and to send copies as directed in the abstract: WHEREAS, the continuing growth of the Research Triangle Area has created a mare interactive and economically interdependent geographic area, and, WHEREAS, communications is an essential tool for business growth and personal use, and, WHEREAS, the existing telephones are operating in a fashion that does not facilitate integrated growth in the Research Triangle Area, and, WHEREAS, the Region's competitive edge in attracting industry to a high technology market is dependent on the quality and accessibility of the telecommunications infrastructure, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Orange County Board of Commissioners ,supports the implementation of flat-rate Extended Area Service for Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties including the Clayton and Pittsboro exchanges. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. E. REPORTS 1. REGIONAL TRANSIT PROPOSAL (A copy of the draft report on the possibilities of a Regional Transportation Authority is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office) . Mr. Patrick B. Simmons, Assistant Director of the State Public Transportation Division summarized the report. His main emphasis was an receiving recommendations for the creation of a regional public transit authority. The Issues Paper lists the - issues surrounding the formation and financing of this authority. He used transparencies to exemplify his comments on the forming of this authority. He outlined the goals, functions, financing and governing of the authority as listed in the Issue ' Paper and described the options available for each of these items. He described three models from which this Regional Transportation Authority could be formed and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Commissianer Marshall spoke opposing the use of ad valorem taxes to finance a public transit system. She stressed that how the system is financed is critically important to the overall acceptance and use by the citizenry. Commissioner Hartwell questioned why ad valorem taxes was listed as a financing option when the County is not going to finance a system using ad valorem taxes. He was told that in principle ad valorem taxes is an option. Commissioner Hartwell stated that listing ad valorem taxes will bring out the opposition for essentially no point. He emphasized that people are not going to use the system if they don't have t$e flexibility to stop at several places along the way to da errands or pick up kids. Simmons agreed with Hartwell. Commissioner Marshall asked if there had been any plans or thoughts about moving people around in the Research Triangle Park and Simmons stated that this would be one thing that the Regional Transportation Authority would manage. Two studies are underway at this time on this problem. Simmons noted that a report will be written on the consensus in this area and it will be presented to the TAC's for their input and resolution of support. It will be brought back to the Soard of Commissioners in early Spring for a final presentation to solicit support, endorsement, and help with introducing legislation in this session of the General Assembly. 2. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY (A copy of the report is in the Commissioners' Library).