Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> School because they think that it is the best school in the County. She said that her daughter has been <br /> diagnosed as exquisitely allergic because she has a chronic bloody nose. Duke says that it is because of <br /> Hillsborough Elementary and the mold that is there. She urged the Commissioners`to support the <br /> improvements at Hillsborough Elementary. She also voiced her support for Spanish classes in all of the <br /> elementary schools and for a consolidated school system. <br /> Rick Kennedy is a parent of three children in the Orange County Schools. He said that he has no-argument <br /> for a third high school in Chapel Hill, but this should not be taken out on the students attending Orange <br /> County Schools. He said that if the middle school is not in the bond, then that is what is going to happen. <br /> Carolyn Miller, parent of three children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, asked that the County <br /> Commissioners appropriate money from the bond issue for a new high school for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City <br /> Schools. She also spoke in support of soccer fields. <br /> Noah Ranells asked that parkland and open space be fully funded. He supports activities for all people in <br /> greater Orange County rather than Carrboro and Chapel Hill. He spoke about the cost of development and <br /> that the tax dollars are not really balanced in terms of the benefits of rural agricultural landowners and their <br /> families. He asked the Commissioners to try and balance growth in the County. He said that a specific <br /> opportunity is an environmentallagricultural center that serves the whole County.. <br /> Norm Gustaveson endorsed affordable housing, senior centers, schools, and parks and open space. He <br /> greatly supports farmland preservation and land acquisition. <br /> Annette Juraelski spoke on behalf of the Orange-Chatham Sierra Club. She is also a member of the <br /> Commission for the Environment. She spoke in support of open space. <br /> Susan Halkiotis a member of the Orange County Board of`Education, said that Orange County Schools <br /> received some late breaking,projections that blindsided everyone. She said that the numbers for the bond <br /> referendum are also blindsiding and make checking and double-checking with the school staff nearly <br /> impossible. She spoke l about Hillsborough Elementary School and the board's decision to keep the building <br /> open for the community. She said that the children have done so well because of the wonderful staff and <br /> parents. She said that the building is by no means adequate. For example, the fourth and fifth graders have <br /> one bathroom for over 150 children. She said that she is afraid that the building was kept open at the <br /> expense of losing a new middle school. <br /> Dana Thompson, a member of the Orange County Board of Education, said that she supports senior <br /> centers, affordable housing, parks and recreation, and the schools. She assured the County Commissioner; <br /> that the board members would be out there publicly supporting the other needs in the bond referendum. Sh( <br /> reiterated that the point'of bringing up the proposal of shared space was not to say that a high school was nc <br /> needed in Chapel Hill, but to be willing to work and smooth the process along. The board does think that a <br /> new middle school is needed in Orange County before a high school is needed in Chapel Hill. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Brown to close the public <br /> hearing. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> D. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS <br /> 1. Orange County Stormwater Program for Lands'vAthin the Neuse River Basin <br /> a. Adjust fines to State minimum levels in order to receive delegated authority <br /> b. Make regulatory language more specific <br /> Planning Director Craig Benedict made this presentation. In order to comply with NCAC 15A <br />