Orange County NC Website
� <br /> question of placing on the June 15 agenda an item to start a search for a southwest Orange <br /> library site, she said that she would like for the Board to determine whether or not it will direct <br /> staff to embark on this venture over the summer rather than leaving this to the Chair and Vice- <br /> Chair. She said that the agenda for June 15th is very crowded right now. She would rather it <br /> not be the responsibility of the Chair and the Vice-Chair to make a determination as to whether <br /> or not to direct staff to do this. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that the main library the County was supporting at first is <br /> entirely different than what it is supporting now. He would like to look at the 50% number <br /> further. Regarding looking at locations for the southwest library, he would like to get staff to <br /> look at this. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier agreed with Chair Foushee about making a decision to put <br /> this topic on the June 15th meeting. She asked if this proposal was a temporary solution or <br /> long-term. She said that she is not sure she wants to dedicate a lot of staff and community <br /> time to a temporary solution. <br /> Commissioner Hemminger said that the Board has not given any direction as to what it <br /> wants to do with a future library in southwest Orange County. The Board needs a <br /> comprehensive plan that includes our goals for libraries and we need to work with all the <br /> parties involved. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that if we do a search for a southwest library, we should <br /> do a principled search. She said that she has a hard time talking about the Skills Development <br /> Center as a library branch location when there is already something there. The Skills <br /> Development Center is located where it is to deliver these services to the residents of the <br /> southern part of the county, and she would object to relocating all of these services for <br /> southern Orange to Hillsborough. She thinks that these services should be located <br /> somewhere in Chapel Hill or Carrboro. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that this part of the conversation about the location of the <br /> southwest library complicates the discussion and the County does not have the money now <br /> and may not in the next two years. He suggested having a three-year plan with revenue <br /> streams and a memorandum of understanding. The plan should also address the formula for <br /> funding and interoperability. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that all he was asking for was to put this on the agenda <br /> and have staff look at whether or not a facility could be opened in a timely manner. He said <br /> that he is tired of being on a Board of County Commissioners who has had the same <br /> conversation about economic development— everybody is for it, but nobody does anything <br /> about it. He said that the County is finally moving to where maybe something is going to <br /> happen, but there is always an excuse for not doing something. He is only suggesting that a <br /> greater need will be created by making cuts in the southwest branch libraries. This is an <br /> opportunity to look at alternatives and it does not presuppose it is going anywhere. The Skills <br /> Development Center is one place we can afford and Durham Technical Community College is <br /> not opposed to moving their services. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br /> create a three-year plan that creates a funding stream for Orange County library needs <br /> including the southwest branch and rural needs, which will include a plan to increase funding <br /> for the Chapel Hill library, a Memorandum of Understanding that addresses interoperability and <br /> a funding formula for the Chapel Hill Library that addresses future potentialities. <br />