Orange County NC Website
Discussion ensued about what was listed on the blue handout ( attachment 4) <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the County is holding on longer to the bonds that were issued <br /> in 2001 and 1998. She would rather take that money and work on projects that need to be <br /> done. She said that the staff is being taxed tremendously to work on 13 capital projects at one <br /> time, and also the Revenue Office, Tax Assessor, and Register of Deeds will be moving to the <br /> Gateway Building. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that when bonds were issued in 2001, the County told voters they <br /> would incur taxes to pay for the bonds. He would like to track what has been done and spent. <br /> Donna Coffey said that there are still $6.9 million in 2001 voter-approved bonds that <br /> have not yet been spent. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that it would be helpful to concentrate on projects that at <br /> least one County Commissioner flagged. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked the Manager to continue her presentation. He thinks that <br /> there will be plenty of time to go through each project. <br /> Laura Blackmon made reference to the second page of attachment 4 ( blue) — Unfunded <br /> County Capital Needs —and said that these are projects costing less than $5 million. These are <br /> projects that have been listed by staff and spread out into years that staff thought were most <br /> important. The Board can change the timelines. She said that if the County Commissioners <br /> fully funded the capital funding policy one cent to the County, all of these projects could be <br /> funded that were included in the first year. <br /> The next page lists unfunded projects that are more than $5 million, and debt would be <br /> issued for these. Laura Blackmon said that, even though the Board is doing the ten-year plan, <br /> she would like to try and look at issuing debt for projects that would be tackled within the next <br /> five years. Another issue is how to pay for the operating costs and staff. She asked the County <br /> Commissioners to tell her which projects were most important to them and how to fund the <br /> projects, recognizing that the property tax is already at 95 cents. <br /> Commissioner Foushee asked about the difference between the Parks Operations Base <br /> and the Recreation and Parks Administrative Headquarters. Both projects are in excess of$5 <br /> million. <br /> Recreation and Parks Director Lori Taft said that the Parks Operation Base is now being <br /> leased. Commissioner Foushee asked if these two projects could be combined and cost less <br /> than $10 million. Laura Blackmon said that the plan was that they were to be located in two <br /> different areas. She personally does not think that they need to be in separate areas. <br /> Commissioner Foushee agreed. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that there was discussion in the space needs study about using the <br /> old 911 center for one of those places. The Board has not discussed this. Also, part of the <br /> Whitted Center could be used for the administration part. He agreed with flagging this. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that for the operations base, there is space at the New Hope <br /> property at Blackwood Farm for that facility. The Administration Headquarters was discussed to <br /> be located at the old 911 center, but the County is looking to sell that facility at some future time. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to the list of projects and said that $1.85 million is <br /> funded for Twin Creeks Park, and more is now needed to get phase 1 going. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that an agreement is needed with Carrboro, for running this park and <br /> sharing operations. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that this is also an intergovernmental park and the Board of <br /> County Commissioners should have had this conversation with Carrboro before this park moved <br /> forward rather than now, if the county wanted this to be a Carrboro park. Commissioner Gordon <br /> pointed out that Twin Creeks is the Chapel Hill Township District Park. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that there is a plan for New Hope Park, but no funding for eight more <br /> years. He would like to see this project move up. He is also not sure why there is a rush to <br /> expand the Seymour Center, since it is brand new. <br />