Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to see some type of model for the "Cybrary" <br />and the Northern Human Services Center facility. She asked about the criteria for how the County <br />decides to increase the number of locations and how it can work with existing community centers. She <br />would like to see the criteria for establishing additional library services. <br />Chair Jacobs said that one of the good things about the "Cybrary" was that it would require <br />minimum infrastructure. <br />Commissioner Brown said that the per capita figure bothers her because it does not always <br />show quality of services. She asked about the other ways that citizens access books, especially through <br />the University, and if this was included in the report. Brenda Stephens said yes. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this was taken into account but it was found that for the most part most <br />of the citizens of the County do not use the University, mainly because of the parking issue. He said that <br />there were some representatives from the University library system on the task force and it was <br />determined that it was not a significant quantifiable contribution to the Orange County library system. <br />The University could make it more accessible. <br />Discussion ensued about per capita figures in the County and the municipalities. <br />Commissioner Carey commended the library task force for their work on this report. He said <br />that the minimum standards would solve a lot of issues related to level of service. He would like to adopt <br />this report. <br />Brenda Stephens noted that the contribution for the Chapel Hill library is $33 per capita. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the reason that the Chapel Hill library's per capita is so high <br />is because the citizens of Chapel Hill are assessed that. She said that the County is going to have to <br />address the issue of people outside of Chapel Hill using the Chapel Hill library and that they are asking <br />the County far money because of this. The Manager needs to take this under advisement. <br />Discussion ensued about the number of University students that may be using the Chapel Hill <br />library and the University library. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown, Brenda Stephens said that the high <br />school libraries were not factored into the report. Commissioner Brown said that high school students do <br />use the Chapel Hill library because the school libraries are not open in the evening. <br />Chair Jacobs suggested asking the school boards why the libraries are not open to the public <br />and open after school hours. <br />There will be an appendix to the report such as, "Response to Board of County <br />Commissioners' Questions and Concerns." <br />b. Orange County Transportation Priority List for 2444 <br />The Board considered Orange County's transportation priority projects far the 2004-2010 <br />Transportation Improvement Program. <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict said that the purpose of this item was to review and transmit <br />recommendations to the Durham/Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization in District 7 DOT the <br />priority list far Orange County. He pointed out several features on the map. <br />The first project is the Elizabeth Brady Road Extension. This project has been discussed for <br />many years. No specific alignment is suggested at this time. The second project is NC 86 bicycle lanes. <br />This will be from Hillsborough to Whitfield Road where it intersects I-40. The third project is <br />improvements to South Churtan Street (from Eno River bridge south all the way to I-40). He is <br />encouraged that Hillsborough is submitting the same type of request to DOT that the County is <br />submitting. <br />The fourth project is US 70 bypass widening from the Orange/Durham line to the I-85 <br />connector east of Efland. The fifth project is NC 86 north of Hillsborough. He said that there is some <br />funding that is in a program for the NC 86IUS 70 intersection. The sixth project is the Hillsborough <br />Western Bypass (from NC 86 to U5 70 to the west of Hillsborough). <br />He said that if there is any increased widening of I-40 through Orange County then there <br />should be HOV lanes and/ar dedicated bus lanes. <br />He spoke about the Durham Northwest Loop, also known as Eno Drive. Orange County is <br />concerned about its impact on the Eno River State Park and would suggest that NCDOT consider a <br />different alignment. <br />