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• Lack of interoperability is a hazard <br />• Public expects that we can all talk <br />• Partnership is a lower cost solution <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that when he was in Washington, D. C. he heard that you <br />better get what you are going to ask for as quickly as possible and no one should look for <br />much money after 2006. He said that interoperability is an issue all over the country. He is <br />supportive of this. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to <br />approve the County's participation in the submission of a regional grant application for 2005 <br />Homeland Security grant funds. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Gordon suggested deferring the appointments due to time constraints <br />and all agreed. <br />c. Approval of Equipment and Vehicle Purchases for Fiscal Year 2004-05 <br />The Board considered approval of equipment and vehicle purchases for County <br />departments, excluding Information Systems and Solid Waste, for fiscal year 2004-05 <br />(attachment 1); approval of the Equipment and Vehicle Capital Project Ordinance (Attachment <br />2); and authorizing the Finance Director and County Attorney to execute the documents <br />necessary to complete funding not to exceed $1,100,700 for the thirty-six month financing <br />arrangement and not to exceed $419, 640 for the fifty-nine month financing arrangement <br />through RBC. <br />John Link said that the Board asked the staff to pursue how to increase the number of <br />alternative-fueled vehicles. They tried to identify where they could start using compressed <br />natural gas vehicles. The staff has identified one in Environment and Resource Conservation, <br />one in Health Administration, and three in Public Works. He has also volunteered to drive a <br />CNG vehicle as soon as the CNG facility is established. The intent is to retrofit some existing <br />vehicles designated for public safety in the future once the County has some experience in <br />CNG vehicles. <br />Budget Director Donna Dean said that they are asking the Board to approve the <br />equipment and vehicle replacements and the financing package. The recommendation totals <br />a little over $1.5 million and will be financed from three to five years. The interest rates are <br />between 3.42 and 3.6%. The projected annual debt service payment for this package is <br />$487,000. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the retrofit figure of $9-15,000 sounds funny to him. <br />He is alarmed that the State does not offer alternative fueled vehicles. He thinks the Board of <br />County Commissioners needs to hook up with Chapel Hill and write a letter to the Governor <br />that the people need to rethink what they have done in State contracts. It does not do any <br />good to promote environmental issues when there are no options on State contracts. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Foushee <br />to approve equipment and vehicle purchases for County departments, excluding Information <br />Systems and Solid Waste, for fiscal year 2004-05 (attachment 1); approve the Equipment and <br />