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26 <br /> 1 - Help determine how Orange County might partner with the towns on economic <br /> 2 development initiatives; and <br /> 3 - Assist and advise on the recommended areas suitable for economic development <br /> 4 and commercial nodes. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Commissioner Yuhasz made reference to the first paragraph and asked if there would <br /> 8 be a formal acknowledgement of the role that the Chambers of Commerce should play in <br /> 9 developing the Economic Development Advisory Board. <br /> 10 Commissioner Foushee added her support for Commissioner Yuhasz's comment. She <br /> 11 said that the chambers should have some official recognition. <br /> 12 Commissioner Jacobs agreed with trying to be more specific to include the chambers <br /> 13 and to also include agriculture. He said that if they do include groups like the chambers, part of <br /> 14 the charge is that they are there to represent the entire County and not a specific chamber. He <br /> 15 said that it is important to articulate that they stipulate that they operate within their parameters <br /> 16 of the Orange County Land Use Plan. <br /> 17 Commissioner Hemminger is supportive of the chambers' involvement through <br /> 18 connectivity. <br /> 19 Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to make sure that this is integrated with <br /> 20 the land use plan and grounded in Orange County. She said that maybe not every member <br /> 21 should be a resident of Orange County but that most should, rather than just have an economic <br /> 22 development interest. She preferred to have staff refine the proposed process and to come <br /> 23 back to the BOCC for approval. <br /> 24 John Roberts said that the EDC will be governed by the boards and commissions <br /> 25 policies and his staff will be working with boards and commissions to develop specific board <br /> 26 policies. <br /> 27 Frank Clifton made reference to the Chambers and said that there are some issues with <br /> 28 a lot of the businesses not being in Orange County. He has discussed with the Chapel Hill <br /> 29 Chamber of Commerce the idea of creating a Business Council that is countywide. <br /> 30 Commissioner Foushee said that her comments as related to the relationship between <br /> 31 the Board and the chambers was not to have the directors on this board but to move forward <br /> 32 with an established relationship with both chambers. She said that to move forward without any <br /> 33 significant recognition of the partnership sends a message to the chambers that she does not <br /> 34 want to send. <br /> 35 Commissioner Yuhasz and Chair Pelissier agreed. Commissioner Yuhasz said to also <br /> 36 reach out to the Alamance County Chamber members that have an interest in Orange County. <br /> 37 Chair Pelissier said that she liked the potential functions and she suggested that she <br /> 38 would like to see the membership at about 8-9 members. <br /> 39 Commissioner Gordon said to direct staff to work with John Roberts's office. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 9. Reports <br /> 42 a. Update on Buckhorn-Mebane Phase 2 Water and Sewer Utility Design <br /> 43 The Board received an update on the progress of the Buckhorn-Mebane Phase 2 utility <br /> 44 design for economic development. <br /> 45 Planning Director Craig Benedict said that the County is four to five months away from <br /> 46 having the sewer system that will service the Buckhorn EDD. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 10. County Manager's Report <br /> 49 Frank Clifton said that the last couple of years the system in place for filling positions <br /> 50 has generated about$2 million a year in employee payroll savings. He said that from 2005- <br />