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Commissioner Jacobs asked for a brief presentation an high-speed rail at the October 16t" meeting. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to a letter from Lauren and Bruce Nelson about a nuisance <br />caused by ATVs. He would like staff to review the letter and see if there is a nuisance regulation. There <br />were some concerns raised about the high level of noise and other issues. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to a magazine article about a state program about trees. <br />He said that Forsyth County has a treasured tree program for which they received some state money to <br />help establish the program. He requested that staff look into this program to see if Orange County can <br />participate. <br />Commissioner Jacobs reported that he met with DOT officials from the district office and the state <br />office, the Orange County Planning Director, the Hillsborough Planning Director, and an elected official <br />from Hillsborough. He said that this is a unique instance in that DOT invited the group to come to <br />Graham to meet and discuss the prospects for a development project. He said that DOT did an analysis <br />that found significant adverse impacts and wanted to meet with representatives of the two governments <br />involved to ask their thoughts and to coordinate its response. He thanked DOT for the opportunity to <br />continue collaborative efforts. He expects a letter that will outline the adverse traffic impacts from a <br />proposed development planned for the edge of Hillsborough. <br />Commissioner Jacobs noted that the federal reserve board dropped the interest rate '1°~ today and <br />that interest rates are now the lowest they have been in 40 years. He said that this is a good time to <br />borrow money. He said that this is what bonds are all about. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that TTA is continuing forward with phase I of the regional rail system. <br />In that regard, they took a tour of the proposed station sites. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that, with reference to the improved relationship with DOT, Doug <br />Galyon, Board of Transportation member, made a point to introduce himself to her at a meeting she <br />recently attended. She noted that the climate has improved. <br />Chair Halkiotis thanked Commissioners Brown and Jacobs far their involvement in the Northern <br />Center. He is excited about doing something different and non-traditional that has good long-range <br />impact on the environment. <br />Chair Halkiotis reminded everyone that the County Commissioners would have a meeting with <br />Durham Technical Institute on October 11t" at 6:30 p.m. at the Skills Development Center. He read the <br />agenda far the meeting. <br />Chair Halkiotis asked County Manager John Link far a presentation from Health Director Dr. Rosie <br />Summers, EMS Director Nick Waters, and Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass on emergency preparedness. <br />Commissioner Brawn would like for these three to share with us about federal or state programs <br />which have been rescinded or cut and areas that the County Commissioners can ask our representatives <br />to put money into which have severely been cut back these past years. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link noted that item 9-b is consideration of a new position. He reinforced the connectivity <br />among all emergency preparedness agencies (the towns, the University, etc.). He said that this position <br />could be devoted to emergency preparedness. <br />Chair Halkiotis noted that this position was brought to the Board for consideration in April by EMS <br />Director Nick Waters and is now an the agenda because of the happenings of September 11t" <br />5. RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS <br />a. Resolution of Appreciation to Students from the TREES Club of Chapel Hill High <br />School for Recycling at Fiesta del Pueblo <br />The Board considered a resolution of appreciation to the students of the TREES Club at <br />Chapel Hill High School for work performed at Fiesta del Pueblo on September 8-9, 2001. <br />Muriel Williman, Education and Outreach Specialist for the County's Solid Waste Department, <br />said that it was her pleasure to recommend the TREES Club for this resolution of appreciation. She said <br />that mare than two tons of material was recycled from the Fiesta del Pueblo. She said that members of <br />the club not only pulled inappropriate items out of the recycling containers and put them in the trash, but <br />also pulled items out of the trash and put them into the recycling containers. She said that this was the <br />first time in Orange County festival history that food waste was diverted. <br />