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She noted that the charts she presented showed that the age range for schools appears <br />comparable in the two systems, with a similar number of buildings constructed in each decade. Thus <br />there is no apparent discrepancy in the average age of the facilities in the two systems. She also <br />pointed out that there is a great range in the age of existing schools within each school system. <br />She feels we need to focus on the needs in both school systems by looking at the existing facilities and <br />working to upgrade all the schools. The charts she presented are attached to these minutes on pages <br />Commissioner Carey noted that there were no new middle or secondary schools built for two <br />decades and no new schools built in the 1980's. <br />7. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />A. PUBLIC HEARING -NOVEMBER 4 ,1997 BOND REFERENDUM <br />The County Commissioners conducted a public hearing to receive citizen comments on the <br />planned November 4, 1997 bond referendum. The five bond orders were presented at the August 4, <br />1997 Board of County Commissioners meeting. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS <br />David Hunt spoke in support of the school bond issue. He asked that the renovation money be <br />allocated as recommended by the Task Force. <br />Peggy Politzer spoke in support of the low income housing bond. She said that a lot of people <br />come to the Interfaith Council for help with rent. The average cost for a 2-bedroom apartment is $747 <br />which is a major hardship for most people. She feels that there is an urgent need for more units with <br />subsidies to make them affordable. There is a desperate need to build new units and renovate old units <br />so as to make it affordable for anyone who wants to live here. She encouraged the Board of County <br />Commissioners to include the proposed $1.8 m in the bond issue to start addressing the needs of low <br />and moderate income families. She asked all those who support this to stand and 22 people stood in <br />support of the housing bond issue. <br />Linda Mews questioned why the County is faced with a $60.6 million bond issue. She noted that <br />there was a statewide school bond referendum which passed last November which is supposed to help <br />with school needs. She feels that the County Commissioners are relying on the recommendation from a <br />Capital Needs Task Force which will ultimately determine what thousands of people will pay for in future <br />years. She said that pouring more money into East Chapel Hill High School is disgraceful with the <br />building being more important than the learning. She feels that a senior center needs to be centrally <br />located and she favors renting over buying. She asked that the County Commissioners please reduce <br />the bond amount and stop dumping on the taxpayers. <br />Patrick Mulkey, resident of Bingham Township and Vice-chair of the Capital Needs Task Force, <br />spoke in support of the parks and recreation bond. He has reviewed the master recreation plan and <br />notice that the County has only spent a small amount of money on recreation and park facilities. He <br />noted that there is land owned by OWASA that could be used for schools and also for parks and <br />recreation. He feels that all recreation departments need to work together for parks and recreation. <br />Passage of this bond will make these dreams become a reality. As chairman of the recreation and Parks <br />Council, he asked that members of the board stand and he noted that they stand ready to promote this <br />bond. <br />Benny Cecil, representing the people of Efland, noted that there is a great need for sewage <br />disposal for many homes in the Efland area. He noted that people have sewage standing in their yards <br />because of poor soils. Any amount of money will be appreciated and used to expand the Efland system. <br />Tommy Gardner, Chairman of Tax Watch, noted that last September the County Commissioners <br />voted unanimously to put a $40 million bond before the people with no increase in taxes. Many people <br />voted for the state bond issue with the belief that it was being matched with this $40 million bond issue. <br />Orange County is now being asked to support a $60.6 million bond issue. All this follows a major <br />property revaluation. He feels that spending $36 million for East Chapel Hill High School is too much.