Orange County NC Website
b. Stillhouse Creek Wetlands Restoration Proiect <br />The Board received a presentation on the Stillhouse Creek Stream and Wetlands <br />Restoration Project, a joint venture of Orange County, the N.C. Wetlands Restoration Program <br />{Division of Environment and Natural Resources) and the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation <br />Service (NRCS)/ Orange Sail. <br />Chair Brown asked the visiting class from New Hope Elementary to come upfront to sit <br />and watch this presentation. <br />Dave Stancil gave an update on this project. Stillhouse Creek is in downtown <br />Hillsborough. It runs north to south to the Eno River and is between the Government Services <br />Center and the Sheriff's Office and new courthouse in Hillsborough. The wetlands restoration <br />project is a joint venture between Orange County, the Natural Resource Conservation Service <br />and Soil and Water District, and the North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program (WRP}. <br />Funding for the project is coming from WRP. The purpose of the project is to restore <br />streamside vegetation and minimize future erasion along the corridor from Margaret Lane to the <br />Eno River. Bids for the project will go out in October with construction to occur in mid to late <br />November. The construction will last about two weeks. Plantings of all native species would be <br />done in December and the project work should be completed by February. <br />He made reference to the 4t" grade class in attendance and said that this is a significant <br />opportunity for education. They plan to work with schools. <br />The final presentation of the conservation easement will be around the end of the year or <br />the first of next year. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the 50-foot buffer. Dave Stancil said that this is <br />inside the town of Hillsborough. The buffer comes from the WRP. <br />Commissioner Gordan asked what would be done about the mosquitoes since <br />pesticides are prohibited and there would be standing water. Dave Stancil said that is one of <br />the first things that came up with this and there may be modifications in the final language. <br />Ms. Waters, teacher of the 4t" grade class, said that they are planning a trip to <br />Hillsborough on September 25t" to visit this site and the native American plants and then they <br />will go back for work visits. <br />Commissioner Jacobs recognized Gail Hughes and Brent Bogue for working on this. <br />c-1.Northern Human Services Center <br />The Board received updated information on the progress regarding the Northern Human <br />Services Center at Cedar Grove and provided staff guidance and direction on how to proceed <br />with finalization of building improvements. <br />Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that the Board asked for an update on <br />what has been developing on the building improvements. She made reference to the detailed <br />memo in the packet. She recognized the staff that have been working on this project. The main <br />points of the memo are as follows: <br />^ Infrastructure - no confirmation from State with plan to pursue conventional or alternative <br />system improvements. <br />^ New well distribution system <br />^ Signage -approval for a transitional sign -electric versus solar <br />^ Cafeteria and kitchen -community wanted this more serviceable -full service versus <br />catering kitchen with a max occupancy of 375 <br />^ Breezeway <br />^ Ceramic studio <br />^ Computer classroom <br />^ Public library -mini branch <br />^ Parking lot on the south side not as far along as hoped; DOT grant applied for <br />