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process. Today, he talked with a couple of other elected officials and heard rumors that Duke Power is trying to get <br />support for CP&L and asked for additional information on this rumor. He is concerned because the day before the <br />County Commissioners' retreat, Shearon Harris had an emergency shutdown. He was against the Shearon Harris plant <br />back in 1986 and he is still against it. He encouraged the County Commissioners to hang tough and intervene in the <br />process. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if the County has ever done a systematic environmental review of County <br />government. John Link said that we have looked at such things as energy efficiency. Commissioner Jacobs said that <br />he would like to look at starting such a review. Regarding air pollution, he noted that he did a story about 10 years ago <br />on the weigh station between here and Mebane which at that time did not have the staff to do air quality pollution testing <br />on the big trucks going through there. He suggested that we ask DOT about the possibility of conducting air quality <br />monitoring at this weigh station. <br />Commissioner Brown shared with the County Commissioners information from the Skills Development Advisory <br />Board meeting which was held in the Skills Development Center. She said that the facility has been operational for <br />about one month. They plan to have a grand opening celebration in March. She noted that they still have some security <br />issues they need to resolve. She plans to take the lead in developing a transportation plan for the building so that there <br />is a good schedule for parking and a plan encouraging people to use the bus and other modes of transportation. She <br />said that one of the big concerns at the Skills Development Center is the computer system and she asked for a <br />timeframe for making it functional. She would be glad to meet and show the facility to whoever would like to see the <br />building. <br />Chair Gordon said that she feels it's really important that the County be Y2K prepared and ready to test their <br />systems and equipment by June. She would like to have contingency plans for County government and asked that staff <br />give an update on where they are with Y2K by February 15. With reference to CP&L and the tour, Chair Gordon said <br />that she did ask that the consultant and she be allowed to tour the facility on the 29th and that request was denied. We <br />are sending them a letter asking them to respond to the County's request in writing. She does feel it is important to get <br />information on this issue out to the public so citizens will know what the County is doing. <br />County Engineer Paul Thames gave an update on the CP&L issue. He listed the cities and counties who have <br />indicated support for an open process from CP&L. He said that Chatham County is going to petition the NRC for a 30 <br />day extension on the comment period on CP&L's expansion. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that CP&L is acting under the assumption that the County will file a response to their <br />application for expansion. He explained that the longer that CP&L can store spent fuel rods here the longer they will <br />have to store them here. He was assured on the tour that CP&L does not want to take rods from another utility but <br />knows that may not be the case. <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to the meeting they had with CP&L last Monday. They specifically asked <br />CP&L to consider establishing an effective way to communicate with them, to make a commitment to an open process, <br />and to work with the County's consultant. CP&L rejected making a commitment to an open process. Commissioner <br />Brown indicated that she supports the comments made by Commissioner Halkiotis. As Go Rty COMMicciGRers she She <br />feels it is tl:!,e# the County Commissioners' job to protect the health, safety and welfare of Orange County citizens and <br />that the County Commissioners should look at the situation and move ahead with hiring a consultant. She is interested <br />in knowing about the CP&L application and what it contains. At least if the County does everything it can to open up the <br />process and if there is an accident at that facility, she will know that she did everything she could on behalf of the <br />citizens of Orange County. Chatham County has already spent about one million dollars on low level nuclear waste <br />issues and that is why they have not put any funds toward this consultant. <br />Commissioner Carey supports moving ahead and getting a consultant's report. He feels we really have no choice <br />but to intervene because we do have concerns about the health and safety of our citizens. <br />Commissioner Brown asked that there be a press release developed on this issue for the newspaper <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link introduced to the Board the new Human Rights and Relations Director Annette Moore. He gave <br />information on her background as included in the press release distributed.