Orange County NC Website
• Impacts Associated with County Space Study <br />• Impacts Associated with Schaal Equity funding <br />• Debt Issuance Plans <br />• Maintain/Improve Fund Balance Position <br />John Link pointed out on pages 10-13 the compliance audit and that these are <br />remarkable achievements on the part of Social Services, Health, and Housing to process all the <br />applications and deliver appropriate services. He commended those directors and their staffs. <br />Chris Phillips, Senior Manager of Cherry Bekaert & Holland, said that their audit started <br />in July. He listed what they did during the audit process. He said that this is their second year <br />under the new accounting standard and their fifth year with the County. They introduced new <br />staff this year to the audit in order to have a fresh approach. He said that the Finance <br />Department has a high degree of integrity. He thanked the Board of County Commissioners <br />and the Finance Department. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked what this audit cost and Ken Chavious said $71,000, <br />which includes the single audit, some of which is refunded by DSS. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if Ken Chavious took competitive bids and Ken Chavious <br />said every three to five years. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked Ken Chavious what it cost to do an audit when he <br />started in 1978 and Ken Chavious said about $10,x00. <br />The County Commissioners commended the staff on the audit. <br />8. Public Hearings-NONE <br />9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda <br />a. Next Steps on Draft MapslPlans Related to Possible District Elections for the <br />Board of Commissioners <br />The Board continued with the next steps in the Board's review of the draft maps/plans <br />and other associated materials related to possible District Elections for the Board of <br />Commissioners; considered any decisions as the Board deems appropriate; and provided <br />comments, questions, and any further direction to staff. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Mark Marcoplos said that he has followed this issue for many years and in 1993 the <br />County had a committee to look at this issue, and the members of the committee did not think <br />there was a problem with representation. The committee proceeded to do its work, and the <br />people on the committee changed their minds after talking to residents. They realized that there <br />was a need for more democracy and fair representation in Orange County. One of their <br />recommendations was cumulative voting. He said that cumulative voting is used around the <br />country and has been instituted to address fair racial representation. He said that it would work <br />here as well far those concerned. In this process, district lines would not have to be redrawn. <br />He urged the County Commissioners to consider cumulative voting. <br />Dolly Hunter is from the rural part of the County. She said that she is going to pretend <br />that the 1,200 people that signed the petition about district voting are here and answer this as <br />she thinks they would. She posed the following questions: Do you think that any of the <br />proposals would really give rural voters avoice - a seat on the Board of County <br />