Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to try and marry the two resolutions <br />because they are similar. <br />Melvin Hurston spoke about same vehicles of communication and said that the <br />Chair or Vice-Chair of the Board of Health could contact the Manager and put the <br />information in the Manager's memo. Also, Board of Health members could make <br />comments in the public comment section at Board of County Commissioners' <br />meetings. <br />Commissioner Carey said that any of these vehicles of communication would be <br />appropriate. The Health Director or a designee could send an email about <br />legislative issues. If there is something more, then someone could came to a <br />Board meeting and speak to the County Commissioners. If a response is <br />needed, the Manager should be contacted. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis would like to see Board of Health related issues in the <br />Manager's memo because it is steady. <br />2. Neuse River Basin On-Site Septic Inspection Proposal <br />Alan Rimer said that the Board of County Commissioners has been helpful in <br />food and septic area staffing. The response time to citizens was 4-6 weeks last <br />year and it is down to a couple of weeks now on septic permits. The restaurant <br />inspections are up from the 85% range to the 90-95% range. <br />The Upper Neuse River Basin Association was farmed about a year and a half <br />ago. This group has been working on a report and there is a proposal to look at <br />onsite inspection of septic tanks. This study puts into context what this program <br />should look like. The association's view looks just like Orange County's view. <br />The difference is a strong public education campaign in Orange County to raise <br />awareness. One of the elements of the educational component is how to finance <br />the program and repairs. There are funds that can help indigent people, but <br />there has to be matching money. The second element is the quantity of failures <br />and the cause of the failures. <br />The key point is haw the Board of Health can become proactive in providing <br />information to the Board of County Commissioners on environmental issues. <br />The Board of Health needs to know of environmental issues that other groups <br />may be working on that affect public health. There was an issue related to <br />OWASA about the quarry and the well fund and the BOH was never contacted. <br />This issue has been resolved, but they would like to avoid this from happening <br />again with other groups. <br />In summary, the Board of Health would like more discussion on the wastewater <br />issue again and to look at other environmental issues and how to foster <br />