Minutes 03-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Maxecine Mitchell: VOTE: Ayes, 4; Nays, 3 (Commissioner Hemminger, Commissioner Gordon, Chair Pelissier) 12. Board Comments Commissioner Hemminger— none. Commissioner Jacobs said that he was reading about changes in the way that libraries were charged for use of e-books. He would like to find out how Orange County libraries uses e-books and rents them out. Apparently, after 26 uses of an e-book, the author erases the book. Commissioner Jacobs said that there was a story in the NY Times today about how the water in waste storage pools draining off in Japan and it was described as potentially a worse disaster than lack of containment on the rods in the reactor. This was the basis of Orange County's lawsuit through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The County tried to get an approved evacuation plan because Shearon Harris is only required to do a five-mile evacuation plan. Japan is using 20 miles at the moment and American ships are being moved farther off shore. There is a no fly zone within 20 miles of those plants. Progress Energy does not have a plan for this kind of thing, nor does it have a plan for where the people who are evacuated are going to go. Even the Emergency Services staff of Orange County is trying to encourage the State Emergency Management to be more proactive in producing plans. He brought it to the Board's attention so that it will stay in the forefront. There was an email today from Duke Power saying that everything is fine and not to worry. Commissioner Jacobs said that earlier when the quarter-cent sales tax was discussed it was called a public hearing. There have been emails about a better process for engaging with the public. He suggested exploring some alternative ways to engage with the public that the public may find more meaningful. Commissioner Foushee said that last week she attended the NACO in Washington, DC. She said that she would make her comments in written form. She attended sessions on economic development and transit. She said that there is no desire to talk about light rail, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, etc. She said that in the NCAC caucus, there is a sentiment in the General Assembly to have the conversation about counties taking over road maintenance. Commissioner Yuhasz said that the Health Director recently announced her retirement effective May 31St. Tomorrow, the Board of Health will have a special meeting to begin consideration of the appointment of an interim Health Director and the process of hiring a permanent Health Director. He invited any comments or suggestions with regard to the appointment. Commissioner McKee said that this past Saturday, the Orange High School FFA held a reverse raffle as a fundraiser. At the end of the meeting, Caldwell Hunting Club held a winning ticket for$2,500. The club donated this back to the Orange High FFA to be used 50% for general expenses and 50% to support the Orange High FFA Shooting team. He said that this is a continuation of a longstanding history of this organization donating time and money to the community. On the way to the meeting, he said that he received a call from the President of the club extending an invitation to the general public and to the Board of County Commissioners on April 15th for the wounded warrior hunting event. Commissioner Gordon said that Triangle Transit had a work session to get up to speed for the public workshops. The closest public workshop for this area will be held on March 24tn from 4-7 p.m. at the Friday Center.