Minutes - 20050616 - Laserfiche WebLink

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County by Meals on Wheels. This is a significant contribution and he would like additional information. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to JCPC and said that all of their items total $150,000. He supports this, but he wonders if they are approaching the day where the administrative office of the court is going to be funded by counties. Donna Dean said that those funds are pass through State funds. The State is also providing the increases. Commissioner Halkiotis said that it appears that the Manager was recommending these increases. These increases should be earmarked as State increases. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Orange-Alamance Water System Consultant and if this is directly related to the development of the sewer system or if it was beyond that. There was no one in attendance that could answer this question. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there was any agreement with Orange-Alamance Water System about the study that is going to be done. Before he is willing to commit funds to serve the Orange-Alamance Water System, he would like to know that they are amenable to being partners with Orange County. John Link said that he remembered talking to Planning Director Craig Benedict and that this recommendation came out of the Small Area Task Force. He will clarify this. Chair Carey asked about tuition reimbursements and John Link said that this is for courses that the staff takes. Chair Carey asked if there is a commitment for employees stay with the County after their training. John Link said that most of the courses are not four-year college courses. Personnel Director Elaine Holmes said that these courses are typically at a community college and the reimbursement is up to $600 in a fiscal year. Commissioner Jacobs asked about Fire Safety and Protection. This is attachment 4, page 4, a request far $25,000 far a consultant. EMS Director Jack Ball said that they did not submit this, but the Board of County Commissioners had asked far it. Commissioner Jacobs said that if it is directly related to fire, then they should contact the Department of Insurance that deals with fire fighting issues to come and serve as a consultant, because it would be free. He also heard that the State offers up to $20,000 in grants to individual fire departments, and none of the Orange County fire departments have applied. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Governor's Crime Commission and asked why the County was contributing to this. It was answered by the Budget staff that these were JCPC pass through State funds and not County funds. Commissioner Jacobs asked that all items that are not funded by the County be indicated as such. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Affordable Housing Reserve and what this covers. Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that this fund was initially capitalized in 2000-2001 at $250,000. There have been additions to the fund each year. The fund currently covers the Urgent Repair Program, Impact Fee Reimbursement, and the match requirement for the Home Investment Partnership Program. There is approximately $100,000 remaining in the fund. Donna Dean said that the Public Works staff prepared the pink sheets and they looked at expenditures from April of last year to March of this year and they compared it with the square footage. In that past year, they spent a little less than $700,000, which includes electricity, fuel, and water. John Link said that the animal shelter is extremely expensive to operate. He said that the issue of energy needs to be part of the discussion when designing the County's animal shelter. Wilbert McAdoo said that they are doing assessments now of this facility to see if there can be savings. The shelter has older equipment and there is high water usage to clean kennels an a daily basis.