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Dean Edwards said that the state Wildlife Commission has taken the stance that the decision on the <br />ban of these inhumane traps should be left up to the individual counties. The Orange County Health Board has <br />unanimously endorsed the leg hold ban and recommends the passage to the County Commissioners. <br />Speakers <br />Todd Menke, President of the North Carolina Trappers Association, said that anyone who purchases a <br />trapping license in the state of North Carolina would be allowed to trap in Orange County. He said that Dean <br />Edwards' comment that there are only three legally licensed trappers in Orange County was incorrect. He said that <br />there was no data to support the comments made against the traps. He requested that the Board remove this item <br />and let the professionals at the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission handle this issue. He requested a <br />copy of the APS proposal so he could respond at the next meeting. He said that all the information presented tonight <br />was false. He asked the Board to not make their decision on emotions but on facts that will be presented later. <br />Gilbert Petty said that any landowner could trap without a license on their own land. He said that the leg- <br />hold trap and the conibear trap are not inhumane. He feels that the County Commissioners should let the North <br />Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission handle this decision. <br />Perry Sumner, Fur-Bearer Project Leader with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, made <br />comments. He said that he hoped to see both sides of this issue. He said that trapping is the most regulated activity <br />that sportsmen are allowed to do today. He said that the injuries caused by leg-hold traps are minimal. He said that <br />there are no counties that have ordinances against trapping or any type of traps. He made reference to the report <br />and said that some of the information is partially true but some of his comments in the report were taken out of <br />context. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the charts that Perry Sumner provided and asked why fur <br />prices decreased in 1995. <br />Perry Sumner said that fur prices decreased overall in 1995. <br />Commissioner Brown asked how many licensed trappers were in North Carolina. <br />Mr. Sumner said that it varies from year to year. At this time, there are approximately 1,100 licensed <br />trappers in North Carolina. <br />Lamar Chapman spoke on behalf of the trappers. He feels that to do away with these traps would be to <br />do away with part of Hillsborough's heritage. <br />John Link asked Perry Sumner to speak with County Attorney Geoff Gledhill about the statutes and the <br />relationship the state has in making local laws about trapping. <br />The Board agreed by consensus to have the staff come back with information about trapping in Orange <br />County and also information on some humane ways to trap. <br />b. Orange County Health Choice Report <br />The Board was to receive an update on the County's progress in the North Carolina Health Choice <br />Program. However, this item was postponed to the next meeting. <br />C. Orange County Fair Housing Plan <br />The Board was to receive a draft Fair Housing Plan and consider establishing an official public comment <br />period of Oct. 11-22, 1999. However, they decided that they would consider the comments received during the <br />comment period and also receive the report at their first meeting in November. <br />11. APPOINTMENTS - NONE <br />12. MINUTES- NONE <br />13. CLOSED SESSION - NONE <br />14. ADJOURNMENT <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Chair Gordon to adjourn the meeting. The <br />meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held on October 12, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. at the <br />Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Alice M. Gordon, Chair <br />Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk