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County Commissioner could attend the first day of this conference. He mentioned that there were three <br />things in March happening as a result of the Agricultural Summit. There will be a tour of area <br />greenhouses the first week in March, an evening meeting about organic production the second week and <br />a meeting about forestry practices the third week. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there are three new members of the Schools and Land Use <br />Council. Edith Wiggins is the new member from the Chapel Hill Town Council, Bryan Bowen is the new <br />member from the Hillsborough Town Council, and Teresa Williams is the new member from the Chapel <br />Hill-Carrboro City School Board. She mentioned attending the District 9 meeting in Raleigh about Smart <br />Growth and said that Representative Hackney and Senators Lee and Wellons spoke, among others. She <br />said that she does not think Counties are going to get a menu of options, but the concerns were heard. <br />Commissioner Brown said that the Skills Development Center has several office spaces available <br />and wondered if there could be a list of people who may be interested in using these offices. <br />John Link will let the Board know about the leases on the offices and any interest expressed. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link made reference to the snow that fell on January 24t" and highlighted some of the <br />accomplishments of the County staff and the volunteer fire departments. He said that when the County <br />offices were finally open, the parking lots and driveways were cleared. The Sheriff and Emergency <br />Management Director worked together in getting assistance from the state. The state was able to send <br />some Hum-V's for emergency use. He said that the Department on Aging, Social Services, and Health <br />kept in touch with clients to make sure that any frail or homebound people were okay. Through this effort, <br />165 individuals were contacted. The EMS and OPT programs carried 24 dialysis patients to and from <br />their homes to a treatment center. <br />5. RESOLUTIONSIPROCLAMATIONS <br />a. Resolution to Form an Intensive Livestock Operations Study Committee <br />The Board considered forming a committee to study the health and environmental effects of <br />intensive livestock operations in Orange County. <br />Health Director Rosemary Summers said that this is a Board of Health initiative for studying <br />the issue of intensive livestock operations in Orange County. The Board of Health would like to have the <br />County Commissioners' concurrence with this work. There will be some recommendations from the Board <br />of Health by June 2000 on how to proceed. <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to lagoons in Orange County and asked if these would <br />be studied. <br />Rosemary Summers said that specific studies of lagoons would not be done, but the overall <br />picture of the County would be studied. The goal of the Board of Health is to prevent issues of <br />compromised water quality. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to page five of the report and asked who purchased <br />Fred McPherson's swine farm in 1999. The staff will research this and come back with an answer. <br />Commissioner Jacobs clarified that the Board of Health is not saying that there is a problem, <br />but they are just going to find out if there are any public health concerns. <br />Commissioner Brown asked what the linkage would be for information about the state <br />monitoring of these facilities and why the County does not know about them. <br />Rosemary Summers said that she usually gets the information from the state, but it is a week <br />to ten days after a written report has been completed. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve <br />and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution to form an Intensive Livestock Operations Study Committee <br />as stated below: <br />Resolution to Form an Intensive Livestock Operations Study Committee <br />For Orange County <br />WHEREAS, the number of livestock animals has increased significantly in North Carolina during the <br />1990's, with the total population of hogs in North Carolina totaling just under 10 million; and <br />WHEREAS, the production of chickens and turkeys has also increased dramatically in the state; and <br />WHEREAS, there are numerous studies detailing possible adverse mental andlor physical health effects <br />and degradation to air, groundwater, and surface water quality due to intensive livestock operations; and, <br />