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Jean Earnhardt spoke about her family's experience with preservation. She said that they once owned <br />450 acres and looked at ways to keep the land in the family. They have given 120 acres to conservation easements <br />and have used a variety of ways to preserve their land over the last 10 years. She said that the work of environmental <br />conservation is already happening. There are people in the county who have helped in their effort. She has questions <br />about the need for this new department. She encouraged the County to move ahead with hiring a planning director and <br />adding these responsibilities to that department. Also, she feels that it is important to hire someone with architectural <br />marketing experience in the EDC director's position. She quoted Chris Hogan who said that if you want to preserve <br />farmland, you need to preserve farmers. She feels that in our environment, the farmer is the most endangered <br />resource. <br />Mart y Mandell said that she feels it is wonderful that the County Commissioners want to form this new <br />department. She noted that while there is a lot going on in this County by many different agencies, there is no <br />coordination or liaison. She feels it would be great to have a board of directors made up of members of all the groups <br />in the County doing this work. She feels that this would assure that this department knows what they are doing and are <br />going about doing it the best way. <br />Madeline Jefferson spoke in favor of this new department of Environment and Resource Conservation. <br />She feels that with the explosive growth in Chapel Hill and Orange County, we need to protect our environmental <br />resources. Chapel Hill did receive a $200,000 grant from the clean water funds for preservation. She feels that it is <br />possible to apply for a grant for the expenses this new department will incur their first year. <br />Bob Hall endorsed the formation of this new department. He serves on the Economic Development <br />Commission (EDC) and is interested in enhancing environmental quality. He suggested shifting some of the money <br />from the EDC to this new department. <br />Ben Lloyd said that we have just completed an election. In a previous meeting he expressed a concern <br />about the need for this new department. He is still concerned about this need. In his opinion most of this work that they <br />are looking at is being done by the Soil Conservation and Cooperative Extension departments and he has been told <br />that if they are not doing it, they would if they were asked. The County Commissioners are charged with making <br />fiscally sound decisions for Orange County. He is concerned about the startup costs. He wonders what it will cost two <br />or five years from now. He feels that the Planning Department could handle the mission of this new department quite <br />easily. In summary, he said that it appears that they are creating a watchdog to watch a watchdog. He suggested <br />putting more time and effort in making more farms profitable. He feels we need to loosen up and not tighten up. <br />Livy Ludington spoke in favor of this new department saying that it has one focus and that is to protect <br />land and clean water that every citizen has a right to. She feels that there is a need for habitat protection because we <br />have lost about 10% of our forestland in Orange County over the last 10 years. We have to focus now on this protection <br />and balance this against the destruction of the land because of the rapid development in this County. She sees that we <br />are losing land, and forest and water quality and need to focus on protection. There needs to be thought out plan to <br />counterbalance what is happening. There is so little land in this county that is protected. We need to focus on this and <br />make it a priority. She feels that there is money out there and that someone needs to write these grants and go after <br />the land and start using more conservation easements. <br />Marshall Isenhour said that his concern is that the department is covered by the state, federal and local <br />level already. He feels that other departments could be evaluated and assessed to see what they are doing. Maybe <br />one person over all the departments concerning planning and resource conservation would be best. If easements and <br />land purchased by the County are going to reduce the property tax rolls, people who don't participate will have to make <br />up the difference The people he talked to feel this new department is not necessary and the money could be put to <br />better use. He feels that teachers are not paid enough and this money could be used in this way. <br />Loraine Kohorn, Chair of the Orange County Commission for the Environment, said that she has been <br />watching the development of this department. At their meeting on October 12, the Commission for the Environment <br />reviewed the proposed department and unanimously voted to support the formation of this department. She feels it is <br />important to protect the remaining areas of habitat in this County. She looks forward to working with this new <br />department. <br />Rod Chanev said that he is trying to establish a church and is trying to get it through the Planning <br />Department. He asked that they provide some mechanism for feedback on how the County Departments are doing and <br />listen to what the citizens have to say. If this department would streamline some things and coordinate activities, he <br />would approve of it. However, if this new department is going to put some distance between service and the taxpayer, <br />he is against it.