Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Gordon asked if the market had approached the Town of Hillsborough. <br /> Austin Genhe said that the Tourism Board helps the market with a grant, but this is not <br /> guaranteed every year. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that, considering the County's focus on encouraging and <br /> helping small agricultural entities, he would support waiving the fees or making them minimal. <br /> He would prefer waiving the fees. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that he agreed with sentiment of Commissioner McKee. He <br /> said that it is not encouraging to go from a subsidized rent program to off the cliff fees. He <br /> suggested talking about setting fees during the budget process. <br /> Commissioner Hemminger said that they all want to be supportive of the farmer's <br /> market. She said that it would be difficult to waive fees for one group if there are other groups <br /> coming in regularly. She is amenable to the suggestion of$500 annually. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz agreed that the full fee is excessive in this case. He asked how <br /> many regular members participate each time it is open. He supported Commissioner Jacobs' <br /> suggestion to investigate this more and discuss an appropriate fee. <br /> Commissioner Gordon agreed that the Board needs to discuss what an appropriate fee <br /> should be. She asked the staff to provide a basis for a decision based on principles. She said <br /> that there is competition for this location. She would like the staff to look this over and see if <br /> the fee should be less and what would be reasonable. <br /> Chair Pelissier said that this license agreement will expire on April 1St. She asked what <br /> would happen if they wait. She is concerned about staff time for doing an in-depth analysis. <br /> Frank Clifton said that the Board adopted a Facilities Use Policy last year. The staff <br /> studied this and came up with an analysis based on the committed use of this facility. There is <br /> some competition for this facility. He said that he would follow the Board's direction. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that the facility is used by the local farmers heavily. He said <br /> that the $500 annual rent is reasonable and the agreement ends soon. He said that the Board <br /> needs to make a decision. <br /> Commissioner Foushee disagreed and she asked John Roberts about the agreement <br /> and the terms of termination. She said that the agreement does not speak to an extension of <br /> the current agreement. She has a problem with taking this decision out of context of the fee <br /> structure and opening it up to other requests. She suggested extending the agreement until the <br /> Board has had this discussion on fee structures during budget deliberations, such as July 1St <br /> John Roberts said that Section 4 says that is can be extended for two years beyond the <br /> three-year term. He agreed with Commissioner Foushee about making exceptions. He said <br /> that there should be a structure in place for making exceptions so that the County is not <br /> inundated with similar requests. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs reminded the Board that the initial reason that there is only one <br /> group using this facility is because there was a personality conflict that precluded a competing <br /> group from being willing to use the facility. It is not that the County selected one over the other; <br /> it is that one refused to participate. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner McKee to: <br /> • Defer consideration until the Board's review of the County fee schedule during the <br /> budget process; <br /> • Regard this facility as a specialized use with a cost structure that reflects that <br /> difference; and <br /> • Adopt the $500 fee for the 2012-13 year (extending the current agreement for one <br /> year) <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 6; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon) <br />