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23 <br /> 1 of towns. He thinks the people should be encouraged to be a part of the town but there is <br /> 2 ample recrimination to go around when looking at how this could have been done differently. <br /> 3 He said this should go back to the town as a 5-year contract with a 2-year opt out. He <br /> 4 disagreed with Mayor Kleinschmidt and said that every year when this comes up, there is <br /> 5 opportunity to talk about the values of annexation. He said this reflects the interests of <br /> 6 everyone involved. <br /> 7 Commissioner McKee said there are multiple solutions to this problem; but this will not <br /> 8 work out here like it has in other areas. He said he does not want to get into a situation where <br /> 9 in two years this has to be done all over again. He noted the amount of time and effort invested <br /> 10 already. If there is going to be another attempt to work with Chapel Hill, then there must be a 5 <br /> 11 year contract with a one year opt out. <br /> 12 Commissioner Pelissier said she too agreed with the need to go with a 5 year contract. <br /> 13 She said it is important to make sure the people have the insurance at affordable rates, and <br /> 14 then the town can talk about annexation. She said there needs to be a de-coupling of the <br /> 15 annexation and the fire insurance issue. <br /> 16 Commissioner Gordon asked how many contracts were canceled. <br /> 17 Michael Talbert said just these three districts. <br /> 18 Commissioner Price said she echoed Commissioner Pelissier and she believes these <br /> 19 two issues need to be separated. She said people cannot be forced into annexation, and by <br /> 20 waiting on the annexation issue, people are missing out on fire protection and ratings. <br /> 21 Commissioner McKee said it is not in the Board's prerogative to get involved in <br /> 22 annexation issues, and the focus needs to be on obtaining a solution specific to fire protection. <br /> 23 He suggested the annexation be de-coupled from the fire protection issue. <br /> 24 Chair Jacobs said that these issues can't be de-coupled if the Board is partners with the <br /> 25 Town of Chapel Hill because it is a component of the decision on whether or not to participate. <br /> 26 He agrees in principle, but partnerships require two parties and the Mayor has told the Board <br /> 27 that the annexation is an important issue and there is a long standing relationship with the town <br /> 28 of Chapel Hill that needs to be improved and not further undermined. He said he believes a <br /> 29 partnership arrangement should be offered and this is why he made his earlier proposal. <br /> 30 Commissioner McKee said cooperation is a two way street. <br /> 31 Mayor Kleinschmidt said the Council understands that this neighborhood will not be in <br /> 32 the city anytime soon; however there are 60,000 residents who live in Chapel Hill who have <br /> 33 been paying for services to be provided to the neighborhood; and the fire district issue is one <br /> 34 way to recapture some of that expense. He said the Council wants to work with the County and <br /> 35 their belief is that annexation is the answer. He said that it is easy for Carrboro have a 10 cent <br /> 36 tax because they are not actually going to send a truck, but Chapel Hill is providing the service <br /> 37 and has been for 12 years for zero dollars. He said the 15 cents was calculated at 12-13 cents <br /> 38 for operational expenses and the 2-3 cent remainder being for long term capital needs and <br /> 39 providing for the facilities associated with fire service. He said it is important to work on behalf <br /> 40 of all the tax payers, including those inside the municipal limits of Chapel Hill who are burdened <br /> 41 by this. <br /> 42 Commissioner Gordon asked if Mayor Kleinschmidt had any concerns about asking for <br /> 43 a 5 year contract with an opt-out. <br /> 44 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he wants to be able to bring this back to the Council. He said <br /> 45 that it can't be said that it will be a 5 year contract without bringing it back to the Council to have <br /> 46 a signed contract. <br /> 47 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier for <br /> 48 the Board to approve a recommendation for a 5 year contract with the Town of Chapel Hill, with <br /> 49 a 15 cent tax levy per one-hundred dollar valuation of real and personal property rate, and for <br /> 50 this recommendation to go back to the Chapel Hill Town Council for discussion; ask staff to <br />