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Commissioner Carey said that Commissioner Halkiotis' concerns are warranted. He <br />said that the reduction probably has to do with the huge profit that this company has accrued, <br />and they are trying to ward off some regulation. He asked about the experience from the <br />employees' perspective of the two companies in processing claims. <br />Elaine Holmes said that they have had better experience with Blue Cross/Blue Shield <br />over the past year. The Trust has put in new systems, and this works much more smoothly. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the $400,000 in budget cuts that John Link <br />was supposed to find, and if these savings have affected that. John Link said that they are <br />going to be more aggressive than the Board of County Commissioners requested. He said that <br />they would continue to delay filling positions that are not critically necessary. He said that this <br />was welcome news, but it will not be used for reducing the budget. <br />Chair Jacobs asked if it was feasible to ask Blue Cross/Blue Shield to include certain <br />medical providers in their plan and Elaine Holmes said yes. Chair Jacobs said to survey the <br />CIGNA enrollees and ask if there are any providers that are not part of the Blue Cross/Blue <br />Shield plan. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />renew the employee health insurance plans through the North Carolina Association of County <br />Commissioners (NCACC} Health Insurance Trust effective January 1, 2005 as the County's sole <br />provider; discontinue the CIGNA plan effective January 1, 2005; and adopt attachment 1 health <br />insurance rates for coverage effective January 1, 2005 including continuing the dependent <br />subsidy at 52 percent. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Efland/Mebane Corridor Study Task Force <br />The Board considered approving formation of the Efland/Mebane Corridor Study Task <br />Farce and authorizing the Clerk's office to advertise far volunteers. <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict said that this is a task force concerning the area <br />between the Eno River and Efland area all the way over to the MebanelAlamance border. This <br />was originally discussed during the economic development standards discussions. The task <br />force would comprise six to eight citizens that would volunteer along with some members of the <br />Planning Board as well as people from the City of Mebane. The purpose of the task force is to <br />examine the entire area, which has become a high growth area. The staff thinks it is <br />appropriate, with the update of the comprehensive plan, to further analyze this area to find out <br />the implications of water and sewer and the land uses. He said that in 1991, after two years of <br />small area planning, a plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. This can be <br />used as a basis for the new plan as well as the Shaping Orange County's Future report. He <br />pointed out the areas on the map. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Craig Benedict said that the study <br />would at least include the 10-and 20-year transition areas, the economic development districts, <br />and the commercial activity nodes. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked why they should have this study now in this area since the <br />County is in the comprehensive plan process. She said that it is passible to do the <br />comprehensive plan and then do small area plans to refine it. She asked if it would delay the <br />adoption of the comprehensive plan. <br />Craig Benedict said that when they had the outreach meetings, they got as many <br />questions about the rural area as the urban areas. Part of the comprehensive analysis is to <br />address rural areas, specifically the Efland/Mebane corridor. He said that this small area plan <br />can be independent of the comprehensive plan and would not delay it. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the composition of the group. She asked how <br />this group compares in size to other groups that the Planning Department gets together. Craig <br />Benedict said that there is a difference in this task force because there are no comparable <br />