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4 <br /> Orange County, North Carolina <br /> Emergency Services Workgroup <br /> Meeting Summary <br /> February 14, 2012 <br /> Link Government Services Center <br /> Commissioner Valerie Foushee called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm, welcomed the <br /> committee, and asked those in attendance to introduce themselves: Dr.Jane Brice, Sheriff Lindy <br /> Pendergrass, Chief Dwane Hampton, Captain Walter Horton, Assistant County Manager Michael <br /> Talbert, Chief Frank Montes de Oca, Chief Dan Jones, Chief Tommy Holmes, Chief Mike Tapp, <br /> Chief Brian Baker, Chief Matthew Mauzy, and Ms.Jane Cousins. <br /> • Commissioner Foushee introduced the first topic of discussion: Fire Tax Districts, <br /> Protection Districts, Fire Insurance Districts and Fire Service Districts. Assistant County <br /> Manager Michael Talbert distributed maps showing how the geographic areas differ <br /> legally and in operational characteristics. He explained that because of the history of <br /> how the tax districts were created they are extremely difficult to change. Fire Service <br /> Districts could be changed relatively easily with the consent of the Fire Chiefs. The <br /> service responses to properties would not change because of mutual aid agreements <br /> which already exist. Changes in the boundaries of the Service Districts would bring <br /> about a decrease in insurance rates for those property owners who are presently <br /> negatively affected by their location of being outside the "six mile" insurance area. An <br /> example cited was how Eno Fire Department could provide service for properties in <br /> Caldwell's district and decrease the insurance rates for a number of homes within six <br /> miles of Eno's station. The Orange County Attorney is working on the final agreement <br /> between the departments and Orange County to improve insurance ratings in that <br /> particular area. <br /> • Assistant County Manager Talbert illustrated a possible solution to high insurance rates <br /> in parts of South Orange's district by contracting with Chapel Hill Fire Department. <br /> Changes in charges of the fire tax to some residents could be a concern because of an <br /> increase of possibly $.0025 to some residents, but the benefit to those citizens whose <br /> properties are now uninsurable would make a dramatic improvement. <br /> • Chief Hampton asked about downsides to any of the proposed changes. Chief Baker <br /> expressed concern that with these changes the fire department chiefs would lose <br /> control of their districts; something the fire chiefs want to prevent from happening. <br />