Orange County NC Website
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Nelson <br /> to authorize the submission of an application to the N.C. Department of Commerce for Small <br /> Cities Community Development Block Grant Program funds from the NC CDBG Economic <br /> Recovery Program in the amount of $500,000 and authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 7. Regular Agenda <br /> a. Future Provision of Dental Clinical Services <br /> The Board considered the provision of dental clinical services in the future. <br /> Health Director Rosemary Summers said that the lease at Carr Mill Mall is set to expire <br /> June 30, 2011 and the Board needs to move forward with a decision on the dual model versus <br /> a single model for the near future. The Board of Health studied this issue over several months <br /> and several meetings. There are lots of data that staff put together to consider. The <br /> recommendations came to the Board in a memorandum in April. Staff is asking for the Board's <br /> decision on the Board of Health recommendation. The supplemental information requested by <br /> Commissioner Gordon is on the lavender sheet. Dr. Summers pointed out one item that she <br /> neglected to include from Pam Jones, and that is the construction of new buildings. She read <br /> this response: The question was, "What are the estimated costs to construct two full-time <br /> dental clinics to be open no later than July 1, 2021? Please give the cost for the northern <br /> Orange site and for the southern Orange site with a brief explanation of the costs for land <br /> acquisition, if any, and for construction design and other costs." Ms. Jones said: "At this time <br /> the costs are likely to be unreliable and inaccurate by 2021. Both land and construction costs <br /> are somewhat depressed at this time, but are likely to rise over the course of 10 years. <br /> Presumably, the southern Orange facility would be located on owned property at Southern <br /> Human Services Center, thereby minimizing land costs. Northern Orange site would depend <br /> on the exact location and amenities already available for the site, such as water, sewer, and <br /> roads. You may recall property with water, sewer, and access roads in the Waterstone <br /> development was priced at $125,000 per acre several years ago when we sited Durham <br /> Tech's Orange campus." <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked how many individuals using the dental clinic also use <br /> Social Services. Rosemary Summers said that she does not have the data in that format. She <br /> said that all of the Medicaid clients have at some point passed through Social Services. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked if there has been any analysis about the options affecting <br /> the actual people receiving services. <br /> Rosemary Summers said that transportation is the number one problem if the services <br /> were moved to Hillsborough. She has not done any actual analysis of clients. When looking <br /> at the map of the points where people receive services, there are people from all over the <br /> County receiving services in Hillsborough and this is not as true when looking at the Chapel <br /> Hill-Carrboro map. People are more hesitant to travel to the southern end of the County than <br /> to the northern end. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that the Board of Health (BOH) had lengthy discussions <br /> about this issue and it came to its final conclusion after careful consideration and looking at the <br /> financial restraints. He said that it came to this conclusion that a single clinic located in <br /> Hillsborough that would be open five days and would serve the entire County would be the <br /> most effective way to provide dental service to the County at this time and probably over the <br /> next ten-year period. The BOH reluctantly came to this decision, recognizing all of the <br /> difficulties that it might present. <br />