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next paragraph regarding the publication of the resolutions, the News of Orange and the Chapel <br />Hill Herald were both specifically mentioned. He asked that they also consider adding Chapel <br />Hill News and the Daily Tarheel because it would increase the opportunity of Orange County <br />residents to receive notice. He said that there have been comments by County Commissioners <br />that the district representation proposal under consideration is a start. He said that it might be <br />helpful to add an evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of and to provide for <br />improving the proposal should it pass in November. <br />Bob Strayhorn is a farmer in Orange County and he was representing his farming <br />practices in his community and the Exchange Club of Hillsborough. He said that they are <br />extremely disappointed in what has been presented. He said that it was totally inadequate for <br />what they were hoping and trying to convey to the Board aver the years. He has been working <br />with people in the County for over 20 years to address this issue. He said that since they have <br />been developing in Orange County, they have been trying to have influence around Chapel Hill, <br />Carrboro, and the Towns. He said that every time do this, they dilute the influence of the rural <br />communities. He said that without something to help them be involved in the decision-making, <br />they are in a no-man's land. He said that without 7 members and district elections, they have <br />the same thing they have now. He sees no improvement whatsoever. He said that Chapel Hill <br />Township where he lives could elect all 5 members now. He said that it would be nice to have <br />other people involved in this and they want to be included ar they are going to lose the <br />agriculture interest. He is very frustrated. <br />Jeff Schmitt lives in Cedar Grove Township. He is the past president of the Orange- <br />Durham Cattleman's Association and current member of the board of directors. In 1980 the <br />population of Orange County was 77,000, of which 26,500 of the citizens resided in the six <br />townships outside of Chapel Hill and voting was on an at-large basis. While Chapel Hill <br />Township had a two to one majority, rural representation had been a reality an the Board of <br />County Commissioners. By 2000, the County's population had increased to 115,000, and non- <br />Chapel Hill Township's increased by 12,500 during this period, but the growth in the Chapel Hill <br />population was almost double and two-thirds of the population of the County resides in the <br />Chapel Hill Township. He said that mast if not all of the demographic components are <br />dominated by Chapel Hill. He said that there are many citizens in Chapel Hill who feel that <br />County residents, that is, non-Chapel Hill residents, should have a voice for County <br />Commissioners nominated in and elected by those citizens of the County. He said that the <br />effective voice in County government of the 39,000 citizens is slowly eroding. He said that <br />39,000 citizens deserve their own representative -nominated by and elected in the general <br />election by them. He said that the voice of these citizens is a more conservative voice than the <br />Chapel Hill Township. He said that if there is countywide voting in the general election, the <br />Chapel Hill influence will dominate and there will not be a two-party system. He echoed the <br />comments of Bob Strayhorn and suggested that if they ga forward with Proposal 5, they will be <br />wasting taxpayer money. He said that this proposal does not address any of the concerns that <br />have been voiced over the past 13 years regarding district representation. <br />Kat Cheek said that she worked for 37 years with the U. S. Department of Agriculture <br />Farm Service Agency. She is now serving on the Board of the North Carolina State Grange and <br />is president of Schley Grange. Most of the members of the Schley Grange signed the petitions <br />asking for the consideration of nominating and electing County Commissioners by district. She <br />owns land in northern Orange County but resides in Chapel Hill and she understands bath sides <br />of the County. It concerns her that Chapel Hill is one side of the County and northern Orange is <br />another side of the County. She wants to get something done that will keep the County united <br />in all that it does. She thanked the County Commissioners for all of their work. She said that <br />she is hearing much disappointment with this proposal, and it does not change what they have <br />now. She said unless you give consideration to the proposal the citizens gave, the County will <br />still be divided. <br />