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APPROVED 912197 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1997 <br />JOINT MEETING WITH THE ORANGE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />AND <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />BUDGET PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC HEARING <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Colonial <br />Inn in Hillsborough for a joint meeting with the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Board of <br />Supervisors. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair William L. Crowther and Commissioners Margaret <br />W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis. <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod <br />Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately <br />below) <br />ORANGE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PRESENT: <br />Charles w. Snipes, Chair and members William C. Hogan, Donald N. Cox and W. Larry Rogers. <br />ORANGE SOIL AND WATER STAFF PRESENT: Brent Bogue, Director and staff members Kenny <br />Ray, Todd Roberts and Jeanette Wagoner. <br />WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS <br />Chair Crowther welcomed everyone to this meeting. Introductions of those present were made. <br />AGENDA <br />1. Update on Soil and Water Board Activities <br />Don Cox explained that the primary responsibilities of the district have been to carry out the <br />requirements of the Federal Farm Bill and to deal with the Division of Water Quality and Management of <br />North Carolina. They work with the farmers to be sure they are in compliance and receive their fair share of <br />the cost share program which he further explained. They also carry out a very comprehensive environmental <br />educational program with the schools which includes an earth walk with the seventh grade students. Gail <br />Hughes on their staff does a lot of the environmental education work. She also does a one week session <br />with 30-40 teachers in the area. <br />The staff include Gail Hughes and Jeanette Wagoner who are County employees and Todd <br />Roberts and Kenny Ray who are 50% County employees. <br />Brent Bogue gave an overview of some of their new programs. Because of Hurricane Fran, <br />they have an emergency watershed protection program which will help clean out debris from Fran in areas <br />where they would have potential flooding. He also explained the farmland protection program and the <br />conservation reserve program. He explained the way money is allocated for the water quality improvement <br />practices. They work with other counties to request money and address local concerns. <br />Mr. Bogue explained that they have an agreement between the Federal, State and Districts <br />which is reviewed periodically. They need at this time to review and revise, if necessary, the agreement they <br />have with Orange County. They will forward this agreement to the County Commissioners in the near future.