Orange County NC Website
<br />meeting of the design committee for all citizens to participate. He said that people are worried. <br />He is also concerned about the Farmer's Market in Hillsborough. He keeps assuring people <br />that this is going to happen. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that when he was flying back from Florida yesterday, he <br />met people that had most recently moved to Orange County from Florida. He said that high <br />property taxes and huge increases in home insurance in Florida have driven people away from <br />there. He found this interesting. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to Energy Conservation measures and said that <br />he noticed that they might have missed out on a program sponsored by NACo called "Change <br />Your Light". A lot of counties in North Carolina have gotten involved. The program is <br />encouraging employees to change out one incandescent light bulb at hams, which will prevent <br />450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. He will give this information to the Interim Manager <br />and for him to give this to Wayne Fenton and to empower him to be a leader in this area. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. there will be a celebration of <br />Thanksgiving at the Orange High School gymnasium, sponsored by the Sheriff's Department to <br />honor London Ivey and Russ LeBlanc and the principal of Orange High School for their heroic <br />actions a couple of weeks ago during the shooting there. He will represent the Board of County <br />Commissioners and he noted that Commissioner Carey and Chair Jacobs would be in <br />Wisconsin for an event. He will bring greetings from all County Commissioners. He will tell <br />everyone that it has been a longstanding position of the Board of County Commissioners to fully <br />endorse and support Resource Officers in the schools because the safety of children is <br />paramount. <br />Commissioner Foushee reminded all of the Human Services Advisory Commission <br />forum tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. at the Chapel Hill Bible Church on Sage Road. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the Efland FestiFall has been canceled or delayed and he <br />would like a report on this. Rod Visser said that he would bring forth a report soon. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Board met with the DSS board last week and the trends are <br />sobering. The documentation that people will have to have to receive services has increased. <br />Also, since 2001 the number of people in Orange County who are receiving food stamps has <br />doubled. The County has a very good DSS staff. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they received information from the Cybrary, which has finished its <br />2005-2006 report, and they have served 20,000 people this past year. There will be a belated <br />celebration this weekend. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he did attend the Hillsborough Historic District Commission last <br />night and people were supportive of the changes that were made in response to the concerns <br />that had been raised previously about the justice facilities expansion. In October they will have <br />a formal presentation by staff and they will rule on whether or not they support the formal <br />application. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the status of the glass and Chair Jacobs said that it <br />is back to clear glass. Part of the difficulty was that the computer program that had the image <br />on it made the glass look blue. It will be an interior wall, and the commission felt more <br />comfortable after realizing this. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he had asked for an update on the Seymour Senior Center and <br />he would like updates on both senior centers at the next Board of County Commissioners' <br />meeting with schedules so that it can be communicated with the Friends of bath senior centers. <br />Chair Jacobs said that yesterday there was a meeting of the New Hope Park at <br />Blackwood Farm planning group and they are operating on a schedule to have the design by <br />the end of January. <br />Chair Jacobs welcomed Mr. Shepherd. <br />4. County Manager's Report <br />