Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />f. Legislative Items <br />The Board considered approval of draft resolutions expressing Orange County's <br />position on various legislative items, and authorizing the Clerk and Chair to forward the <br />resolutions, along with a cover letter, to Orange County's legislative delegation, leaders of the <br />General Assembly, the Governor, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the <br />two school systems, and the North Carolina School Boards Association. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked for clarification on how these legislative items got <br />on the agenda. <br />Chair Brown said that Commissioners Jacobs and Halkiotis along with the <br />County Attorney have selected the items. If they are not accurate, then they need to be sent <br />back. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he has problems with the two school related <br />items. He does not want to take a position on a Schaal merger mandate. Chair Brown said that <br />there was some confusion with the attorney in understanding the commentary of the Board. <br />Geof Gledhill said that there is a revised resolution that does not include this <br />item. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to school starting after Labor Day and <br />said that the tourism industry in North Carolina claims that it loses $350 million because of this. <br />Geof Gledhill said that the estimate is $200 million. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the legislative committee see these items <br />before they go an agenda because it implies that the Board is taking these specific positions. <br />Geof Gledhill said that he would omit the two resolutions about the school related <br />items. He continued by summarizing the other items. Regarding the establishment of the <br />location of the Durham Northern Loop Corridor, the staff had direction to bring it back to the <br />Board. Since this bill was introduced, a new section has been added which reinforces the trust <br />fund work on widening I-85, to which the Board has some objections. The resolution is crafted <br />to say that the Board supports the bill seeking to establish the exact location of the Durham <br />Northern Loop, but that it opposes the present design plan for I-85 widening in Orange County. <br />The Board may not want to take any action on this since it is not likely that the two issues will be <br />separated. In the same resolution is a bill, which would seek to establish a 20-member Highway <br />Trust Fund Study Committee to look into the trust fund and how it is going to be applied. <br />The next bill has to do with changing the method of valuation for motor vehicle <br />taxes from market value to wholesale or trade-in value. The loss of revenue to the County could <br />be from $1 to $2 million. The next bill would allow non-profit corporations that are affiliated with <br />the University to build dormitory housing and be tax exempt. The bill proposes that the County <br />Commissioners oppose this. There is also a letter from Watauga County that is also apposed to <br />this bill for similar reasons. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Durham Loop and said that the bill <br />misuses the word "intrastate". It should say "interstate." <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the issue of valuation and said that he <br />hopes that the Association of County Commissioners is opposed to the bill that has already <br />passed the House that would force local governments to purchase billboards. He would like to <br />see this added to the next meeting. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the University housing and said that <br />maybe this is not all that bad because the University is probably trying to be creative in <br />addressing the needs of housing in the community. He would hate to oppose it when we work <br />so hard on affordable housing issues. He would like some more information about this. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis agreed with Commissioner Jacobs on the housing issue. <br />The Board removed the school related items and Senate Bill 277. <br />