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Commissioner Halkiotis said that he and Commissioner Jacobs toured several facilities <br />and they did a walk through of Orange Enterprises and possible future uses. He was very <br />impressed with what he saw there with respect to the kind of work that the young people were <br />doing and who was supporting it. He heard that Duke University, Sports Endeavors, and others <br />use Orange Enterprises employees for various projects. Commissioner Jacobs suggested to <br />him that the County sponsor a special ceremony when Orange Enterprises moves to its new <br />facility to thank all of the employees who pay these handicapped people to perform certain <br />tasks. Orange Enterprises is also involved in landscaping, and he suggested asking Orange <br />County government to give them a chance to provide landscaping services for the County. He <br />wants to do everything possible to help them. He wants a report back in August about how the <br />County is using Orange Enterprises and how it can be used further. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that after the story in the newspaper about Orange County <br />government owing the OCS $14,000 for Recreation and Parks use of buildings, he would like <br />the Manager to bring back a resolution of this business by August 16th. He found this <br />embarrassing. He thinks there should be discussions between elected officials, the Manager, <br />the Superintendent, and staff people. He also wants to know why it takes three years to open <br />tennis courts at Cedar Ridge. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the pink sheet and alternative fueled <br />vehicles, and compressed natural gas stations. The sheet has information about why there is <br />bad air in the Triangle -automobiles and power plants. He asked the County Commissioners to <br />please read this. The County needs to commit itself to alternative fueled vehicles. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the Agricultural Center work group is going to take a <br />field trip to Johnston and Wake counties on June 3ach <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that tomorrow, a group led by the OCS will be going to look <br />at the St. Mary's school as a possible recreation/education opportunity. <br />Commissioner Jacobs reported that the Mebane work group has met several times and <br />The Village Project came and made a presentation. Economic Development Director Dianne <br />Reid is coming to make a presentation. They are talking about incorporation of Efland, where <br />the preferred option is merging as joint planning with Mebane. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he attended with Chair Carey the school collaboration <br />meeting and they are moving toward school construction standards and discussions of equity. <br />Commissioner Jacobs and Commissioner Halkiotis met with the Space Needs <br />Committee and hope to have a report soon. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he heard that there is a new Super Wal-Mart going in <br />near the Orange CountylChatham County line and there may be some access issues to 15-501. <br />This might have an adverse impact on this road. <br />Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Halkiotis about Orange Enterprises <br />and also about the tennis courts at Cedar Ridge and making them available to the public. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to NACo approving an expansion of the <br />association's prescription drug discount card program. This will allow all member counties of <br />NACo to be involved. He does not know if this will be advantageous to the County employees. <br />He would like more information about this. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he is not going to the NACo meeting, but he thinks that <br />the people that are elected officials in North Carolina are expected to be glorified volunteers. <br />Orange County has a $150 million budget and 800 employees, and he does not think that the <br />citizens would want part-time volunteers running this kind of operation. Orange County does <br />not do retreats to extravagant places. He thinks it is a shame that the media would disparage <br />the character of County Commissioners across the State because they are going to the NACo <br />conference. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the Chair and Vice-Chair have been meeting with UNC <br />and Duke to try and establish same collaboration. As a result of the most recent meeting with <br />