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d. Resolution on the Future of the Dix Hospital Campus <br />The Board considered a resolution regarding the disposition of the 425-acre Dix Hospital <br />campus. <br />Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that this resolution is a result of discussions within <br />the Legislative Issues Task Force. The task force included Chair Jacobs and Commissioner Halkiotis. The <br />hospital will be closing in 2007, and this makes the property extremely valuable. She made reference to <br />page 3 of the resolution, which says what the County could consider. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that they have passed a lot of these types of resolutions over the <br />years, but this is special because this facility belongs to everyone in the state. He would like to spend a few <br />dollars and mail this resolution to our legislative delegation, all Boards of County Commissioners, and the <br />entire General Assembly. He hopes that a quick deal is not made with this property. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Barbara Nettles Carlson said that she is speaking from personal experience. She is a close <br />family member of an Orange County resident who has had a serious mental illness for 20 years. She <br />thanked the task force and the County Commissioners for this resolution. She strongly supports this <br />resolution. She serves on the public policy committee of the National Alliance for the Mentally III, the North <br />Carolina chapter. She said that the resolution was very consistent with the position of NAMI North Carolina, <br />which was presented to the Dix Property Commission several weeks ago in testimony. She said that the <br />message of this resolution goes right to her heart in that we need to preserve part of this property for open <br />space and to use the monies of the sale of the property for innovative programs and services for citizens <br />with mental illness. She said that the hospital was a promise on the part of North Carolina that they would <br />provide a haven and a shelter for its citizens and their families. This promise must be kept. She said that <br />the money realized from the sale of this property must be used for the mental health system and not revert <br />to the general fund. She agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis that we need to spread the ward an this <br />resolution and that there not be a quick and underhanded "solution" to this problem. She would add that a <br />part of the open space be used as a memorial to Dorothea Dix. <br />Chair Jacobs recognized Gwen Harvey as the person who crafted this resolution. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he received a call from a person in Raleigh that was surprised that the <br />Orange County Commissioners would even comment on this matter. He agrees that it is a State resource <br />and it is perfectly appropriate. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that we could also email this to the House and Senate. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Brawn to approve <br />and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below: <br />A RESOLUTION REGARDING <br />THE FUTURE OF THE DIX HOSPITAL CAMPUS <br />WHEREAS, Dorothea Lynde Dix was a social reformer, journalist, and skilled lobbyist who as a young <br />woman wrote, "In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be <br />something for me to do", and who during the middle 1800s woke America's conscience to the plight of the <br />mentally ill; and <br />WHEREAS, in the autumn of 1848 Dorothea Lynde Dix came to North Carolina and toured 36 counties to <br />conduct a census of the mentally ill in jails, poorhouses, and private homes; and <br />