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<br />{These matters were considered when the Board addressed those items on the agenda <br />below.) <br />3. Board Comments <br />Commissioner Carey congratulated Chair Jacobs and Commissioner Gordon on their re- <br />election on Tuesday. He said that he sees the Visitor's Bureau Director here tonight and he <br />asked her to come forward to speak to her presentation about a study. <br />Laurie Paolicelli, Director of the Chapel HilltOrange County Visitor's Bureau, said that <br />they completed an exciting study. The goal was to take the opinion out of it and learn what is <br />motivating visitors here and find out haw the Visitor's Bureau could increase the share of the <br />tourism. She said that they learned from the study that 49% of total visitors come to Orange <br />County for the University. People come here for the "soul" of Orange County, which is that they <br />like to rejuvenate by coming here and they get to be themselves, unwind, eat, etc. She said that <br />90°~ of the people they surveyed were familiar with the name Chapel Hill and almost 70% were <br />familiar with the name Hillsborough. In terms of Hillsborough, they loved the friendliness and <br />they loved the shopping. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the Healthy Carolinians have embarked on a new <br />campaign to address obesity, especially in children. Eat Smart, Move More is the name of the <br />program. The cost of obesity results in $9.7 billion in expense to the State. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that last Friday was one of the most significant days in his <br />20 years on this Board. It started with dedication of the new Orange Enterprises facility and to <br />see how over 100 physically and mentally challenged people are finding meaningful <br />employment in Orange County. He said that this was a wonderful celebration of life and <br />opportunity. This is a classic example of how the Board of County Commissioners cares for all <br />of its citizens. The second part of the day was the Efland Cheeks Park Phase II dedication. He <br />said that there were hundreds of people there and it was amazing. Commissioner Gordon, <br />Commissioner Foushee, and Chair Jacobs were also there. He said that it has taken them 20 <br />years to complete this park. He expressed thanks to Lori Taft and her department for putting <br />this on. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he promised tonight that he would mention an 86-year <br />old woman's name during this meeting, because she wanted him to tell the County <br />Commissioners how much she enjoys watching the County Commissioners' meetings. Her <br />name is Mrs. Ivory T. Vincent, and she is the mother of Jackie Shelton Green. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that it is important for the County Commissioners to serve <br />on different boards. He wants to make sure that there is a clear understanding in County <br />government that all of the departments need to talk amongst themselves when they try to <br />improve the lives of all citizens in the County. There needs to be a County clearinghouse. He <br />said that at a recent meeting of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center, they had voted <br />to give $350 to the County to print up a medical information card. The seniors were going to do <br />this, but he found out that the Sheriff had been sending out the refrigerator card with the same <br />kind of information. Then he found out that the late EMS Director Nick Waters had worked with <br />Wal-Mart to do a pill battle with medical information called a Vial of Life. He said that all <br />departments should be working together to make sure that the County is doing everything <br />possible to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens. He said that it does not matter <br />which department is gets credit. The medical information cards should include many <br />departments' input and should be in several languages. He hopes that they do not make any <br />budgetary decisions that impact budgets in departments where the department head has to turn <br />to their boards and commissions to raise money. He does not think they should ask people like <br />the seniors to pay for things for which the County should be paying. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the fund balance information was received from OCS <br />and CHCCS and he would like to know the process of how the school boards handle their fund <br />