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any person, who in their professional or private lives, provides assistance in an undocumented <br />manner. He thinks that this could have a serious chilling effect on the efforts of community <br />organizations and local government organizations that provide services to the immigrant <br />population. <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br />(These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda <br />below.} <br />3. Board Comments <br />Commissioner Foushee wished everyone a safe holiday and prosperous new year. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he has noticed at the solid waste convenience center <br />on Highway 57 that there has been a significant accumulation of items that have blown out of <br />trucks on their way there and have not been picked up. He thinks that Orange County has a <br />responsibility to make sure that the roadways leading up to the convenience centers are clean. <br />He suggested contracting with Orange Enterprises to do this work. He said that he was <br />following a truck taming out of the waste center and a chair flew out of the truck and almost hit <br />him. He suggested that twine be given out to those who take items out of the convenience <br />center. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis distributed his recycled Christmas cards to staff and wished a <br />safe and happy holiday to everyone. These cards have been recycled for 20 years. <br />Commissioner Gordon joined the other Commissioners in wishing the joy and peace of <br />the season. <br />Commissioner Carey wished all a happy holiday and he thanked Commissioner Halkiotis <br />for his commitment to recycling with his cards. He also brought a framed award that Orange <br />County received for its efforts to end homelessness. <br />Commissioner Carey asked the Board if they would like staff to help them understand <br />what the budget cuts are to be with mental health and other cuts and the Board agreed. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Winston-Salem Journal just had a series about mental health <br />reform in North Carolina and how it is not working very well. He asked the Clerk to make copies <br />of the article for the Board. <br />Commissioner Carey said that these are actual service cuts for the disabled. <br />Commissioner Carey said that there has been a decertification of all voter machines and <br />he has heard that counties have a deadline of January 20t" to order new equipment. He is not <br />sure if Orange County is affected by this decertification. <br />John Link said that he saw the certified mail from the State Board of Elections indicating <br />that they were adhering to the new law by the General Assembly, which decertifies a number of <br />counties' voting machines. There is money coming from the General Assembly to replace the <br />machines and there should be sufficient funds to address this issue. He said that he does not <br />think that any county can comply with this law by January. He hopes to have the equipment in <br />by the May primary. <br />Rod Visser reiterated what John Link said. He said that there is grant money available <br />to local governments and Orange County's share is around $580,000. <br />Chair Jacobs said that part of what is driving this is that the federal government wants all <br />machines more handicapped accessible. <br />Commissioner Carey said that there is some movement in the State to reconsider the <br />allocation formula for the proceeds of the lottery because of the way it seems to penalize <br />counties that have kept their tax rates low. He wants the County Commissioners to keep an eye <br />on this. <br />Commissioner Carey said that there are two contract inventories bills that would remove <br />inventories of contractors from taxable value in the county. This is a concern because it could <br />