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WHEREAS, Governor Michael F. Easley has proclaimed the week of March 14 through <br />20, 2004 as Severe Weather Awareness Week, and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is vulnerable to severe weather, including the devastating <br />impacts of tornadoes, and <br />WHEREAS, Tornadoes and severe weather occur in North Carolina each year, and <br />WHEREAS, The need for residents to learn more about severe weather and how to <br />protect themselves should be emphasized, <br />THEREFORE, The Board of County Commissioners hereby proclaim the week of March <br />14 through 20, 2004, as Severe Weather Awareness Week, and <br />encourage all residents to learn mare about tornadoes and be aware of <br />the dangers of severe weather, especially during the spring season. <br />Adapted this 4th day of March, 2004. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />6. Special Presentations-NC7NE <br />7. Public Hearings <br />a. CDBG Housing Development Program -Richmond Hills <br />The Board received citizen comments prior to official closeout of the County's <br />Richmond Hills Housing Development Program and considered authorizing execution of the <br />Certificate of Completion by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners. <br />Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that in 2001 the <br />County received $250,000 in State Community Development Block Grant funds to provide <br />assistance to Habitat for Humanity to facilitate the construction of phase 1 of the Richmond Hills <br />subdivision in Efland. Approximately 25 houses were planned for phase 1. Under a <br />subsequent grant agreement, Habitat agreed to sell 18 of these homes to persons who were <br />eligible for TANF and who were also first-time homebuyers. Habitat exceeded the goal and <br />actually sold a total of 25 homes to TANF eligible families. At this time all CDBG funds have <br />been expended and all planned activities have been completed. The State requires a public <br />hearing to close out the grant process. <br />Public Comment: <br />Susan Levy, Executive Director of Habitat far Humanity, thanked the Board for being <br />with them through the Richmond Hills project and to celebrate a success story. She <br />acknowledged the people in attendance (homeowners, Habitat board members, and Habitat <br />staff}. She said that Rich Leber asked her to tell the Board thank you because he could not be <br />in attendance. She said that Richmond Hills is home to 30 families, and in the families there are <br />49 children who were living before in substandard housing. In the near future, the subdivision <br />will be home to 43 families who will be living in homes that will remain affordable for 99 years. <br />She said that the County could be pleased about its investment in Richmond Hills. She listed <br />the organizations that helped build the homes in Richmond Hills. She thanked the Board for its <br />continued support in other projects. She invited the Board to attend the presentation on the <br />Sunrise Road project on March 11th that will be held at the United Church of Christ. She <br />introduced Allison Coleman, President of the Richmond Hills Homeowners Association. <br />