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right now. He would like to volunteer personally, but he would rather the County do some things <br />together both formally and informally. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that Orange County adopt Edgecombe County. He <br />asked the Manager to contact the Edgecombe County Manager and get specific information on <br />what help is needed. <br />John Link said that he endorses this idea. However, he thinks the Board should look at <br />what the County Commissioners Association and the League of Municipalities are doing in <br />terms of trying to network resources with need. He said there might be other counties that have <br />particular needs that Edgecombe County does not have. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis distributed a bumper sticker and a brochure to promote the <br />countywide literacy initiative. He said this literature is what the County helped finance a couple <br />of weeks ago. Secondly, he would like to have a report on US 70. There are too many tractor <br />trailer trucks on this road and it is crumbling. This is a dangerous situation and he would like to <br />know what is happening long-term on this problem. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that one of the things the Board proposed was that there be a <br />legislative study commission to look at how counties could have more authority over some of <br />the transportation matters within their jurisdiction. He said he would like to put this on one of the <br />Board's next work session agendas and invite the DOT administration to a meeting and raise <br />some of these highway issues. <br />Commissioner Brown asked the Board of County Commissioners about the Rogers Road <br />waterline extension. She feels that the County Commissioners should extend this waterline and <br />not delay by reconvening the subcommittee of the LOG. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he and Commissioner Jacobs plan to meet with County <br />Engineer Paul Thames on October 6t" about this issue and will bring back suggestions to the <br />Board. <br />Chair Gordon distributed a pamphlet from the Triangle J Council of Governments report <br />and made reference to the Neuse River rules. She noted that the areas that are affected by the <br />rules are in the Triangle region and she does not understand why. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the entire basin would be affected and TJCOG wants to <br />get all the input they can. <br />Chair Gordon said that she thought these rules were passed at New Bern. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the goals have been adopted. <br />Chair Gordon said that the goals are fairly stringent. She will try to get more information. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked how this fits in with allowing people to locate hog farms <br />and sewage treatment plants in the floodplain which basically poisons the water supply in <br />eastern North Carolina. He agrees with what TJCOG is saying, but feels it should be done <br />statewide. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he feels they are doing this statewide. He said that the <br />goal is to reduce the nitrogen levels by 30% within a five-year period. They are trying to control <br />both urban and farm runoff. This is a major effort that has not previously been done in the state. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if the commission that Commissioner Carey is on has <br />addressed the entire management of the basin. <br />Commissioner Carey said that all the municipalities are under these constraints and are <br />subject to the rules. He said that including the control of farm runoff is a major step for North <br />Carolina. <br />Commissioner Brown was thinking more about the management of the dam. She asked <br />if there was an overall view of releasing the water to prevent flooding. <br />Chair Gordon asked if the storm water management rules only apply to the Triangle and <br />the upper Neuse River basin areas. <br />Commissioner Carey said the rules that he is familiar with apply to the entire basin, not <br />just the upper basin.