Minutes - 19890524 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.„~ ' vocational school. Examples of skills taught at such schools are clock repair, men's tailoring and car upholstery. Her final suggestion was fox Orange County to have what she called an Honor's Pull.-Out program which would be associated with the high schools. This would be a half-day program for the better students who wish to get advanced placement in jobs such as radio broadcasting, ballet, or commercial art. MR. RON KUMIN, a member of SCRAP, presented the Commissioners with several more petitions in opposition to the airport. He stated that he had spoken to Julie Andresen and Mary Waldorf and he assured them that SCRAP does not support the extension or expansion of the Horace Williams Airport. He offered to help the Town of Chapel Hill in any way possible to keep Horace Williams as it is. He mentioned that in April of 1988 the Orange County Commissioners contacted Independent Opinion Research and Communications and had a public opinion survey done. The result of the survey was that of the things Orange County citizens believed were needed in the County, the least needed was an airport. Only 10~ believed it was important and 55$ said it was not important at all. The poll did indicate an overwhelming support far new and better schools in Chapel Hi11 and the County at-large. He mentioned that he had met with Commissioner Hartwell, Commissioner Carey, and Commissioner Willhoit on different occasions in the past weeks. He indicated that he had learned a great deal about the County's economic needs. He suggested that the county trap into the human resources which have been brought out in opposition to the airport. These citizens could help in the creation of jobs and an economic policy, which would help to build a better economic base.. He challenged the SCRAP organization to remain active and help the County build the economic base. He stated that he personally was willing to devote time to help solve the problem. '' Chairman Gorey mentioned that there were sign-up sheets in the front of the room _ so that citizens could volunteer to serve on the Economic Aevelopment Task Forces, ~~~~ and/or the Rural Character Committees. MR. .MICHAEL SALEMI, a UNC Economies Professor and a Chapel Hill resident, stated that he had no vested interest in this issue. He was asked by a friend to look at the Gonsultant's report. He stated that this report seriously overstated the economic benefits of the proposed airport. He believes they double counted by not counting activity that would be deleted from Horace Williams and treating it as if it were new activity in the County. He indicated that as a result of the initial double-counting that jobs, earnings and tax revenues were also overstated by the Consultant's report. He does not believe that an increase in industrial aviation will promote industrial growth. The consultants declined to make that claim and he has not seen it documented elsewhere. He stated that before public monies are spent, it needs to be well established that they will achieve the intended objective and he doesn't believe that evidence is available. He mentioned that the benefit of increased safety in the area surrounding the Horace Williams airport needed to be weighed against the cost of relocating the airport. He believes that the answer to the issue of safety depends on what would be done with the Horace Williams property if the airport was relocated. Potential activities on that property which would increase road traffic could greatly increase the risk of traffic fatalities to our citizens. His final point was that much of the development around Horace Williams' airport post-dates the airport. People moved there freely. He feels that requesting public monies to improve their benefit is unfair. He agrees with previous speakers that the issue needs to be the `, economic development of the county. BELLINA VERONESI, a member of SCRAP, spoke in opposition to the airport. She read a statement which chronicled the growth of SGRAP from a gzoup of angry citizens