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The Board recognized the staff of the Orange County Finance Department for earning <br />the Government Finance Officers' Association {GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for <br />Excellence in Financial Reporting and presented the plaque provided by GFOA. <br />John Link asked Finance Director Ken Chavious and staff to come forward. This <br />department has been recognized for 22 straight years for excellence in financial reporting. <br />Ken Chavious recognized the staff in attendance: Debbie Smith and Howard Fitz. <br />7. Special Presentations <br />a. Central Recreation Center Playground Apparatus <br />The Board heard information for consideration of the development of a children's play <br />area at the Central Recreation Center. <br />Recreation and Parks Director Lori Taft said that this play area has been planned for <br />some time now. She said that there are a number of children who attend programs both after <br />school and in the summer and there is a desperate need to be able to take the children outside. <br />The playground would be in the back of the gym area. The area is undesignated far anything <br />else and it is a grassy area. The Historic Commission and the Recreation and Parks Advisory <br />Council have approved this project for the Board's consideration. Financially, there are some <br />capital funds set aside for existing park facilities. She asked the Board to consider allowing her <br />to proceed with this project by going out to receive community input. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />direct the Recreation and Parks Director to move forward with a community meeting. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />$. Public Hearings -NONE <br />9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda <br />a. Approval of Contract to Purchase Real Property -Julia Blackwood <br />The Board considered approving a contract to purchase approximately 67 acres of land <br />from Julia Blackwood for a future county park site, expecting to complete closing on or before <br />December 31, 2004, and authorizing the Chair to sign, subject to final review by staff and <br />County Attorney. <br />Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stencil said they are pleased to <br />bring forth the culmination of a year's worth of work. The property owned by Julia Blackwood is <br />located on Millhouse Road, just north of Chapel Hill. He showed the property on a map. The <br />property abuts several public orquasi-public lands. Directly to the west is Duke Forest. <br />Adjacent to the south is the closed portion of the Orange County landfill and this property <br />connects with the Greene Tract. Ta the south is some open space owned by the Town of <br />Chapel Hill. Finally, to the east and northeast is the land awned by the Town of Chapel Hill for <br />future Town operations -public works and public transit facility and there will be a transit hub <br />sometime in the future. There is a natural area to the rear of the property, which allows an <br />opportunity for playing fields. There is also potential for a public park in this area. The <br />proposed purchase price of the property is $1,260,500 which is consistent with the appraisal. <br />The funding would come from available funds of 2001 Parks and Open Space bonds, the Land <br />Legacy portion. Regarding the contract, one method of providing a presence on site is the <br />provision that would allow Ms. Blackwood to remain on the property for 12 months. Until such <br />time as the funds exist to build a park, this site will be land-banked and will be monitored and <br />maintained by ERCD staff. <br />