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Rosemary Summers: It was actually to have them geographically so that <br />people who live in those areas would feel mare comfortable and have better access to <br />thaw meetings. <br />Chair Jacobs: Good. <br />John Link: That's exactly how we discussed it. I'm glad you raised that point. <br />It's simply, should we not have two geographical locations so that it was more <br />convenient, but if folks wanted to travel from Chapel Hill to the site up here or vice versa, <br />that would certainly be encouraged. <br />Chair Jacobs: And I have an additional concern about the mediation. One of <br />the things that was included in the documents that we received previously about other <br />studies said that they had called some of the other entities that had done these studies <br />and they found that if there was, whatever you want to call it, disagreement beforehand, <br />that the study didn't necessarily lay to rest the animosities that led to the study in the first <br />place. It may address some of the structural issues. I would like to see us include some <br />kind of process for doing both as the HSUS is working, and if necessary, beyond, to <br />have a smaller group of representative people which we would choose to keep meeting <br />to try and address some of the issues that may or may not be addressed by HSUS. But <br />to actually have mediation, so that we can get to the bottom of what some of the <br />animosities are. Because otherwise, we might wind up, in some ways, being in the <br />same place that we were when we started. We may have a more efficient, or more <br />humane, ar more open process, but with people who are still antagonists in the <br />community, within APS, and therefore not have a functional solution. So I would at least <br />like to see us talk some more to Andy Saks about having a more focused mediation, <br />ongoing beyond just the sort that would provide general information to HSUS, but would <br />actually bring together some of the parties who have been at odds, to see if we can't <br />make some progress on that score. Find out, just some ballpark figure, what he would <br />envision. Maybe he won't even knave until we do the large meetings, but I would see <br />that as an integral part of this process. Otherwise, I think it's an incomplete process. <br />Rosemary Summers: Based on my conversation with him, he would not make <br />that decision until he after he saw what happened with the focus groups themselves. He <br />was concerned about the fact that there may be something underlying this that would <br />make it difficult for a public process to be effective. However, as this clarifies once the <br />focus group data comes in, that picture may be clearer. <br />Commissioner Carey: It is entirely conceivable, I think you're right that if indeed <br />there is still this consternation in the community after this process is completed, it is <br />entirely conceivable that some of the decisions that the County will have to make about <br />its role and its responsibility will help clarify some of the issues. And then, only after <br />then, will this continuing process may be effective. There are same unknowns out there <br />that we can't address until this process and this study completes itself. VIle are <br />responsible for a portion of this that would have to be dealt with. And we will have to <br />deal with that to make sure that our interests and the County's interests and our <br />statutory responsibility is being met and taken care of in the most efficient way. <br />Chair Jacobs: I just don't want to also inherit the animosity. The animals yes, <br />the animosity no. <br />