Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner Jacobs asked if there was any consideration given to an underground <br />access from the jail to the Sheriff and Mr. Baldwin said yes. <br />Commissioner Jacobs verified that the dimensions of the parking for option A would be <br />120' X 200'. He made reference to a new robotic parking system that has just started in the United <br />States that would accommodate more cars but would require higher buildings. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the $5 million cost per phase and said that different <br />programmable space would have different cast implications. <br />Alone Baldwin said that they averaged out the cost on asquare-foot basis. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked that this presentation be made to the Hillsborough Tawn <br />Board. <br />Chair Carey said that he would be opposed to going higher than four stories. He asked <br />if using the technology as suggested by Commissioner Jacobs could accommodate more cars, and <br />Mr. Baldwin said yes. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she feels that the County should get input from <br />Hillsborough on this project. She is concerned about the massive nature of the project. She made <br />reference to the overflow of the Hillsborough campus in Chapel Hill. She asked to see a copy of <br />the 1995 space study report and for information an haw this project fits in with the Chapel Hill <br />facilities. She asked about enabling legislation and information an what has to be provided in the <br />county seat and what could go in Chapel Hill. <br />Judge Joe Buckner said that in GS 7A-42, it sets out specifically the statutory authority <br />of functions. The Clerk of Court and the records are all to be kept in the County seat. There is a <br />permissive act in 7A-Article 13 that allows establishment of satellite courts. Chapel Hill is <br />designated as a satellite court. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if there was a comprehensive plan of what would be <br />appropriate for Chapel Hill because Hillsborough is running out of roam. She asked for information <br />on what other auxiliary services would be permitted in Chapel Hill. <br />Judge Joe Buckner said that he would not know exactly what functions the legislature <br />would give the court. He said that by building out in phases, they would be able to meet the needs <br />that the legislature says are court responsibilities. He said that at some point Orange County <br />would have to stop growing and the cases would not grow exponentially. <br />Pam Janes said that the Chapel Hill part would be available within the next few months <br />as the current space study and the space study from 1995 are merged. <br />John Link said that phase one would have to include the Sheriff and the Clerk of Court. <br />This would allow the Clerk of Courts staff to be moved from rental space back to the courthouse <br />area. He said that the positive aspect of this plan is that it can be done in phases. He asked if the <br />Board of County Commissioners had enough information to approve moving ahead with hiring an <br />architect. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this project now needs to blend in with the space <br />study group. He said that this was a wonderful opportunity to work with Hillsborough to see what <br />can be done with parking. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she likes this plan. She asked, as this is merged with <br />the space study group, if the actual design of the first phase would begin. <br />Pam Jones said that the first phase would only take people from the rented space at the <br />Hillsborough Savings and Loan, which would be the Clerk of Court and the Sheriff. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she supports Option "A" although she feels that the <br />buildings might be a little too close to the street. <br />Chair Carey said that he hears that the staff is asking the Board to adopt a plan in <br />concept and not specifically A or B. After Hillsborough has been allowed to comment on it, then a <br />specific plan will be adopted. <br />John Link recommended that this presentation be made to the Town of Hillsborough to <br />solicit their response. Also, he recommended getting some input from Chapel Hill about the <br />courtroom there and asked that the staff solicit from the Board the ideas and concerns about what <br />the architect would need to address. <br />