Orange County NC Website
4 <br />be held jointly by Orange County and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority ( OWASA). <br />The cost of the easement purchase — to be split equally by Orange County and OWASA — is <br />$3,500 per acre, or an estimated $413,000. Including closing and other transaction costs, <br />the total Orange County share of the project cost is expected to be $219,000. The County's <br />share would come from the alternative financing for conservation easements approved by <br />the Board in FY 2002 -03 ($192,000), with the remainder coming from the Lands Legacy <br />Opportunities Fund ($27,000). This budget amendment provides for the appropriations for <br />the purchase of this easement. (See Attachment 4, Conservation Easements Capital <br />Project Ordinance, and Attachment 5, Lands Legacy Opportunities Capital Project <br />Ordinance) <br />Planning and Inspections Department <br />8. On December 14, 2004, the Board of County Commissioners approved the selection of a <br />consultant to assess the feasibility of a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program for <br />Orange County. The Board approved an appropriation not to exceed $39,100 from the <br />County's fund balance to cover the cost of Phase 1 (Background Research and Data <br />Gathering), and Phase 2 (Feasibility Study). This budget amendment provides for the <br />appropriation of $39,100 from the County's fund balance. (See Attachment 1, column #8) <br />Emergency Management Department <br />9. On December 6, 2004, the Board of County Commissioners approved the acceptance of a <br />federally funded, State pass - through grant totaling $9,500 to continue the Citizen Corps <br />Council and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs within the County. <br />There is no County match for the receipt of these funds. These funds will be used to <br />provide emergency preparedness information in three languages (English, Spanish, and a <br />third language yet to be determined), as well as pay for training materials and supplies in <br />support of the CERT program. This budget amendment provides for the receipt of these <br />grant funds. (See Attachment 1, column #9) <br />10. On December 6, 2004, the Board of County Commissioners approved the acceptance of a <br />State pass- through grant of Federal Homeland Security funds totaling $3,000 to reimburse <br />Orange County for the cost of an emergency services training exercise. The County had <br />received and utilized an earlier allotment of Homeland Security funds, while other counties in <br />North Carolina were unable to utilize all of their allotted exercise funding. Due to Orange <br />County's successful execution of these exercises, the North Carolina Division of Emergency <br />Management approached Emergency Management with the offer of additional exercise <br />funding of $3,000. There is no County match required for the receipt of these funds. This <br />budget amendment provides for the receipt of these grant funds. (See Attachment 1, <br />column #10) <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Financial impacts are included in the background information above. <br />RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners <br />approve the attached budget ordinance, grant project ordinance, and capital project ordinance <br />amendments. <br />