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A motion was made by Commissioner Yuhasz, seconded by Commissioner McKee to <br />appoint John Roberts as County Attorney. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br />The Chair pointed out the items at the County Commissioners' places: <br />- Yellow sheet -Item 5-a, Minutes -revisions to the October 18, 2011 draft minutes <br />- Blue sheet -Item 5-d, Property Tax Releases and/or Refunds -staff response to <br />Commissioner Cordon's questions <br />- Green sheet -Item 5-d -staff response to Commissioner Yuhasz's questions <br />- White sheet -colored maps related to item 5-I, Formal Transfer of Ownership of <br />Buckhorn-Mebane Water and Sewer Utilities Phase I (also known as Gravelly Hill <br />Middle School System) to the City of Mebane. <br />- White sheet -related to item 8-b, book Drop Options at Main Library -petition from <br />the public. <br />- ..Pink sheet and white sheet -related to item 8-c, Consideration and Approval of the <br />Conceptual Site Plan for Walnut Grove Church Road Solid Waste Convenience <br />Center Improvements, approved and draft minutes of the Solid Waste Advisory <br />Board <br />- Peach sheet -related to item 8-d, Adoption of the Code of General Ordinances <br />The Chair dispensed with the reading of the public charge. <br />2. Public Comments <br />a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br />Debbie Barnes read a prepared statement. <br />"Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you about a pending matter. As a <br />resident of Randolph Road in Durham, I respectfully ask that you do not support a <br />proposal to close a portion of Pickett Road in Orange County for the Hollow Rock access <br />area or park. It would not be wise to do so, for the safety of local residents, nor is it <br />necessary to fulfill the New Hope Open Space Plans for a Hollow Rock Access Area to a <br />trailhead west of Pickett Road. <br />I believe that Orange County has already purchased a 7-acre parcel at the corner <br />of Erwin and Pickett for the purpose of a parking lot on the west side of Pickett Road, as <br />called for in the Open Space Plan. <br />A traffic analysis maintains that Randolph Road can handle an additional 645 cars <br />per day diverted from Pickett Road. I strongly disagree based upon safety issues for the <br />residents of Randolph Road and some nearby roads. The analysis does not address the <br />queuing problems at intersection of Randolph and Pickett during peak times of day - <br />especially related to Trinity School, plus several other schools in the area. <br />A traffic light is already warranted at the intersection of Randolph/Erwin without <br />(and before) any shifting of additional traffic onto it. Pickett Road needs to remain open <br />for purposes of needed connectivity in the area. <br />Advocates for the road closure cite "safety issues", but these are exaggerated and <br />certainly no more important than the safety issues for residents of Randolph Road. <br />- It is already difficult for some Randolph Road residents to use their own <br />driveways at peak times of day <br />- Walking, jogging, and biking are also difficult due to present traffic <br />