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Assistant County Manager Rod Visser said that these are general obligation bonds which <br /> may not exceed 2/3 of the net debt reduction for the previous year. The interest rate was probably in the <br /> low 5% range. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked how the health and safety issues in this project would be rated. Pam <br /> Jones said that there are fairly significant air quality issues in this building. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that he thought this initiative was tied to funding improvements needed at <br /> the Northern Human Services Center. He asked if this might have an adverse affect on the possibility of <br /> our being able to fund improvements at the Northern Human Services Center. John Link said that the <br /> priority has always been to address the air quality issues at the Whiffed Center and to use the money left <br /> from the 2/3 net reduction fund to address some of the needs of the Northern Community Center. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked how much would be left over from the net 2/3 debt reduction <br /> monies. The Whiffed Center is an old structure and we have employees, senior citizens, sick people, <br /> and library visitors in this building. He said that we need to remind people that we did not go out and buy <br /> a new three-story building. This is a very small investment to make for a capital facility that has been <br /> waiting for somebody to do something significant. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about the general painting and floor replacement and asked how <br /> this was going to be chosen. Pam Jones said that they will look at alternatives to carpet. If not <br /> alternatives to carpet, at least carpet which will not give off fumes and will be environmentally safe. A <br /> building committee will chose the colors for the walls. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to: <br /> - award a bid to Environmental Air Systems, Greensboro, NC in the amount of$2,328,874; <br /> and <br /> - authorize the Chair to sign the resulting contract, contingent upon Attorney and staff <br /> review; and <br /> - authorize the Manager to approve change orders within available funding for the project; <br /> and <br /> - include Commissioner Halkiotis in the process of looking at some of the environmental <br /> issues. <br /> The bid includes $2,064,344 for HVAC/ceiling/lighting funded by 2/3 net debt reduction bonds <br /> approved in the Spring of 2000; $49,301 for data wiring funded by Information Technology Capital <br /> Project; and $215,229 for renovation of the Health Clinic funded by Medicaid Maximization Capital <br /> Project. <br /> VOTE: AYES, 4; NO, 1 (Chair Jacobs- He thinks this is a bad message to be sending at this particular <br /> time to the citizens of Orange County. He thinks 2/3 debt reduction is going to go right past people and <br /> they are going to see that we are asking for a tax increase and we are spending more than two cents on <br /> the tax rate to renovate a building that he is not convinced is a crisis. He thinks that what is going on <br /> with our finances is a crisis. He thinks that our actions ought to be consistent with our words. He thinks <br /> that a $2.1 million expenditure of County monies is not a cautious move.) <br /> C. Status Report for Rogers Road Waterline Connections <br /> The Board provided comments on a status report regarding the grant program to fund <br /> connections to waterlines in the Rogers Road neighborhood. <br /> In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown about the 36 applications that have been <br /> received, Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that they started taking <br /> applications shortly after February 5`h. They had a community meeting on Monday, April 8th, and as a <br /> result, went out to the neighborhood to make it more convenient for the applicants to apply for the <br /> program. From a preliminary assessment, 26 are eligible, 8 are ineligible, and 2 are incomplete. <br /> Commissioner Brown made reference to the rental rates for the rental property. Tara Fikes <br /> said that this question will be asked when they enter into a rental agreement. They will assess if the <br /> rents are fair. The water bills will be paid by the renters. They anticipated that 80% of the people who <br /> apply will be eligible for the program. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked if there is a timeline for applications for assistance and for the 26 <br /> who are eligible. He asked how the percentage of cost that the resident would have to pay would be <br />