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Chair Halkiatis asked about recycling bins and Mr. Dooley assured him that they would be <br />available on the grounds during the event. <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters were considered as the Board addressed <br />the items on the agenda below.) <br />3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Gordon thanked the Chair and County staff for putting contracts and agreements on <br />this agenda instead of waiting until the last meeting before summer break. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the Triangle Transit Authority's Phase I Regional Rail <br />System schedule of meetings. Phase I is not in Orange County, but she wanted the Board to be aware <br />of meetings scheduled for June 25t", June 27t", and June 28t" <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to a chart, which has gone out to the public that shows haw <br />the funds were allocated from the 1997 bond issue. The chart shows that overall, 79.6% went to Chapel <br />Hill Township, 16.2% to other townships, and 4.2% unallocated. She said that this gives the impression <br />that somehow Orange County has not been fair. She said that the County has always tried to be fair. <br />She said that she did an analysis and that, overall, the bond was 51.4% for Chapel Hill Township, 44.9% <br />for the other townships, and 3.7°~ unallocated. She thinks that this testifies to the fact that all of the <br />funds have not been given to Chapel Hill Township. She also looked at all funds spent on parks and <br />recreation facilities and open space and parkland acquisition since 1995. On acres preserved, Chapel <br />Hill Township was 30.3% and other townships were 69.7°f°. Regarding facilities, Chapel Hill Township <br />had 30%, other townships had 68.5°l0, and unallocated was 1.5%. Overall, Chapel Hill Township had <br />51 °~, other townships had 47.1 % and unallocated was 1.9°l0. In the 2000 census, Chapel Hill Townships <br />had 67.1 °I° of the population and other townships had 32.9°I°. She does not want the impression to <br />linger that the County Commissioners were unfair in distributing money to Chapel Hill Township. She <br />said that the County has tried to give funds to where the population is, balanced with giving funds to the <br />land distribution. She does not want this issue to divide the County. She thinks we should focus on how <br />we are serving citizens all over the County. <br />Commissioner Carey said that his impression from talking with people is not that we are spending <br />too much for Chapel Hill but that we are not spending enough in Chapel Hill. He said that people do not <br />care about townships, but that they care about having services near where they live. He has been <br />committed for years to allocating resources so that citizens get resources they need near where they <br />live. He said that people want services near their homes -same people want to pay for them and some <br />do not. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the soccer field an the Nutter's property and asked for an <br />update at the next meeting. <br />Commissioner Jacobs thanked the legislative delegation far thwarting what was attempted in the <br />legislature by the people in Cumberland County who attempted to usurp the authority of the Town of <br />Chapel Hill in order to facilitate what the University wants to do. He said that this was yet another <br />example of the disrespect with which some members of the legislature regard local governments. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he also feels confident that the Commissioners see to it that equity <br />is served throughout the County. <br />Commissioner Brawn would like for the Commissioners to take a mare active part with our <br />legislators and stay aware of all the issues. She would like to write a note of support that we are <br />watching very carefully and that it means a great deal to the County Commissioners that the legislature <br />and our delegation support our zoning authority. She said that the master plan for UNC in Chapel Hill <br />would impact the County and the University greatly. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the attempt by the University and its allies in the Senate also <br />included the Horace Williams Tract, which was not even under discussion. It was the consensus that <br />Chair Halkiotis and Commissioner Brown will write the letter of support to the legislators. <br />Chair Halkiotis said that he was in a traffic jam trying to get into the County's solid waste collection <br />center on NC57 on Sunday. He would like to see some data on how much is being recycled and how <br />many citizens are visiting each of the solid waste collection centers. <br />2 <br />