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APPROVED JUNE 2, 1998 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />BI-MONTHLY WORK SESSION <br />MINUTES <br />MARCH 31, 1998 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session for a bi-monthly work session on <br />March 31, 1998 in the new Southern Human Services Center, 2505 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, North <br />Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairwoman Margaret W. Brown, and Commissioners <br />William L. Crowther, and Stephen H. Halkiotis. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr. and Alice M. Gordon. <br />ORANGE COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County <br />Managers Rod Visser and Albert Kittrell and Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker. Other staff members will <br />be identified as necessary below. <br />The meeting was convened by Chair Margaret Brown. Commissioner Stephen Halkiotis asked for a <br />moment of silence in recognition of the tragic death of a student at Culbreth Middle School. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked the County Manager to prepare a report showing the percentage <br />increase in taxes statewide over the last 10 years. His interest was in showing how Orange County ranks along <br />with other North Carolina counties. John Link agreed to work with the NCACC to compile this report. He <br />mentioned that he would include Orange County's statewide ranking in the area of school funding. <br />1998-2008 CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN (CIP): John Link presented the 1998-2008 Capital Investment Plan. <br />He referred to page seventy-five of the CIP which states that a Project Ordinance would be required for each <br />major capital project for both School Systems and for County Government. If there is a major change plus or <br />minus (+/-) $50,000 a revised Project Ordinance would be required. Also, he referred to School Cost/Capital <br />Reserve which addresses the one (.01) cent reserve accumulation for the last three years. Three years ago the <br />Board of Commissioners indicated that they intended to review the allocation of this one (.01) cent reserve fund <br />in 1998 in order to determine if they wanted to continue with the current use or to reallocate future monies. He <br />mentioned that when the senior center bond failed a real need was created for additional funding for senior <br />centers as well as for renovation of the Skills Development Center. He recommended that this one cent reserve <br />be reallocated for county projects. He mentioned that there is currently $1.6 Million in that fund. He also <br />mentioned that if private placement were pursued for these projects, the debt payments would not be due until <br />the 1999-2000 fiscal year. <br />County Manager Link stated that when either of the school boards approach the Board of <br />Commissioners for increased financial support to cover the cost of ongoing projects, several areas will be <br />addressed. The schools are strongly encouraged to collocate facilities. They should attempt to locate the <br />additional funds through other internal avenues before requesting additional funds from the county. Also, a <br />Project Ordinance amendment must be submitted for each request. <br />SCHOOL PROJECT: <br />Chapel Hill Carrboro CitV Schools: School Board Chair Nick Didow assured the County Commissioners that <br />the School Board is being fiscally responsible . They have been faced with many unexpected startup costs for <br />their new schools. He gave several examples, including the sidewalks, road widening, paving and other entry <br />and exit requirements for the East Chapel Hill High School project. He also noted the unexpected discovery of <br />the large boulder on the McDougle Middle School site and the unusually large retention pond required by the <br />Town of Carrboro. He pointed out that they needed to keep the $500,000 in their contingency fund until the <br />completion of the Southern Village Elementary School and the East Chapel Hill High School addition. They feel <br />they are being prudent in keeping a significant amount of money in a contingency fund until the current projects <br />are complete. <br />Bill Mullin, the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Facilities Director, agreed with Mr. Didow that the <br />contingency funds should be retained until completion of the projects. At that time those funds could be <br />allocated to other projects.