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shared some statistics from other municipalities within North Carolina that have supported <br />affordable housing with their property taxes. <br />Michelle Brown spoke in support of a housing trust fund for Orange County. She said <br />that she feels that one cent for affordable housing is a small price to pay far families who work hard <br />to have a home. She has six children and lives in a mobile home that costs $500 a month. She <br />will be getting a house through Habitat for Humanity in Efland after serving 125 hours of sweat <br />equity. <br />Beth Flora spoke in support of a hauling trust fund. She is a taxpayer in Orange <br />County and she is mare than happy to give an extra amount for affordable housing. She became a <br />homeowner through EmPOWERment, Inc. She asked that the County Commissioners not lower <br />the amount an the tax rate, making it ineffective. <br />PUBLIC CHARGE <br />Chair Carey read the public charge. <br />3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that road repairs have begun on Highway 70 east to the Durham <br />County line. <br />Chair Carey pointed out that a letter has been sent from the Board to NCDOT related to the <br />concerns about the 16-foot wide trailers that are allowed on the roads in Orange County. <br />Chair Carey announced that the Shaping Orange County's Future Forum will be held on <br />Thursday, May 18t" at 7:00 at A. L. Stanback School on NC 86. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the 16-foot wide mobile homes and said that he <br />was told that the Board of Transportation is evenly split an this issue. The board is meeting again <br />in June. He suggested that some of the Commissioners follow up the letter with an appearance at <br />this meeting. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he and Commissioner Halkiotis talked about trying to put <br />together a meeting at 7:30 p.m. June 5t" in the Superior Courtroom in Hillsborough on open space <br />preservation and agricultural conservation. The speaker is Phillip Gotwalls, an Agricultural <br />Economic Development Director from Howard County, Maryland. Mr. Gotwalls comes from a state <br />and county that already has extensive open space preservation, an agricultural conservation <br />easement program, and a very active economic development program for agriculture. There will <br />also be people speaking from the Commission on Small Family Farm Preservation and the <br />candidates for the Commissioner of Agriculture. He made a request for $300.00 from the County <br />Commissioners contingency fund. Triangle J Council of Governments is contributing an additional <br />$100.00. The State Smart Growth Commission will pay the other half to bring Mr. Gotwalls here. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he met with Dianne Reid, Fletcher Barber, and three <br />representatives from UNC-CH about trying to buy local produce. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that on May 23rd at 9:00 a.m., Mr. Eric Larson, a specialist on <br />affordable housing from Montgomery County, Maryland, would be speaking at Triangle J Council of <br />Governments. <br />Commissioner Jacobs reported that the parking committee met today and it is hoped that a <br />plan will be revised for more accessible public parking for employees and customers in downtown <br />Hillsborough. They also talked about the river park and the possibility of folding planning for that <br />into the master plan for the justice facility. He asked that the Commissioners direct the staff to <br />work with Hillsborough on the EDD to be extended to the new NC 86 exit. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he feels that both new and old NC86 needs to be done in <br />concert and in parallel with what Hillsborough is doing. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link asked the County Commissioners if they would agree with televising the Manager's <br />recommended budget next Thursday and they agreed with this suggestion. <br />