Orange County NC Website
Kimberly Surran said that there is a substantially sized tank at Efland—Cheeks and she has <br /> shown a place for a tank. <br /> Commissioner Gordon thanked the Nutters for making this land available to the County. She asked about <br /> page 5 and the lease agreement. She referred to#2, the term, which says that the term of the lease is ten years <br /> and the County will have the option to renew for two additional terms of five years each. This is a total of 20 years. <br /> She asked if the County exercises its option to renew the lease, would it be all the same terms including the costs. <br /> County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill said yes. <br /> Commissioner Carey commended the Nutters for making this available for one dollar a year. He is <br /> assuming that the County will maintain the site and Dave Stancil said yes. Dave Stancil said that there have been <br /> discussions with the Orange County Soccer Alliance about some participation in annual maintenance cost share. <br /> Commissioner Brown thanked the staff for a job well done. She would like to have trash collection and a <br /> recycling site. She wants to know more about the possibility of the Orange County Soccer Alliance giving money <br /> for putting down sod and other improvements. Dave Stancil said that this has not been decided but only discussed <br /> and there is interest by the association. <br /> Commissioner Brown would like to have an understanding of how the field would be used and she is <br /> interested in the equity issue of scheduling. We need to make sure that all of the public has access to this facility <br /> and not just established soccer clubs. <br /> Commissioner Brown thanked the Nutters and asked for a comment on the 20-year agreement. <br /> Mr. Nutter said that he does not plan being here in 20 years. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about this number and if it was common. John Link said that this is an <br /> example of where the County and the good citizens negotiate on a period of time that seems reasonable to both. <br /> The County is not planning on doing anything permanent in terms of intruding on the property because it will only <br /> be a soccer field for 20 years and when it is done, it may revert back to a field. They are going to seed the field and <br /> not sod it. It is a public field and if a private club paid to have the field sod, then it might have implications on their <br /> use of the field. This point has not been addressed by staff. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that over a 20-year period that the investment will be greater because of the <br /> maintenance and that citizens may be taken by surprise to have a field disappear after 20 years. She asked if <br /> there was some other negotiation for purchase. She would feel more comfortable if there was some other <br /> possibility 20 years from now with the investment of public money in this. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis thanked the Nutters and said that this is a new experiment we are venturing out <br /> on and you are not making a long-term commitment by using steel or concrete. We are using things that can be <br /> reverted. He thinks that this is a great plan and he suggested revisiting this with staff and the landowners to see <br /> how things are working out. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that this is a great investment and a good use of public money and he does not <br /> want to look a gift horse in the mouth. He does not want to attach so many bells and whistles to this that we try to <br /> extract more out of the Nutters. He would like to stick with the port-a-johns and not invest in something permanent <br /> because the Nutters may not want it out there. <br /> Chair Jacobs went through the list of issues—signage, speed, hours, sewage, scheduling, trash and <br /> recycling, partnerships, model agreement, and revisiting how it is working with neighbors and the County. He said <br /> that none of these issues lessen the Board's appreciation for the Nutter's community mindedness. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> Bryant Dodson owns the farm adjoining the Nutters. They are concerned about having a fence on the <br /> north side, which is near their pasture. They lease a lot of this land out to a man with horses. They do not want <br /> any problems with children around the horses. Another concern is the lights. They understand that there will not <br /> be lights, but he wants to know if it will be for the term of the contract. He said that this is in the same <br /> neighborhood as Tuscany Ridge and wells are an issue. <br /> Kim Dodson said that they are excited about the soccer field, but one of the many issues is the fencing <br /> that must be in place. They have already seen children come up to the fence and liability is of concern to them. <br /> They definitely want the fence. They are concerned with the traffic. There is no speed limit sign now but there will <br /> need to be one. She asked the Board to not move forward too quickly. They are not opposing this but would like to <br /> wait and see what happens because of Tuscany Ridge. Liability is a big issue and they want to know of any other <br /> meetings. <br /> Bryant Dodson made reference to the speed limit and said that they have tried to get the speed limit <br /> lowered on Rocky Ridge Road, but they were told that not enough people lived on it. Maybe after this field is put in, <br /> the State will agree to lower the speed limit. <br />