Agenda - 09-05-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 though the proposals reduce the income tax rate, the proposals increase the number of items taxed and 2 add many services that the sales tax applies to. This means many NC residents will be double taxed (sales 3 and income) on most income they earn and the money we spend on most of the goods and services we 4 purchase to live. The implementation of these proposals maps to a huge potential increase in total 5 individual state taxes paid and consequently an increase in the cost of living to our demographic (seniors 6 on a fixed income), as well as other demographics. 7 You have done a marvelous job in holding the line on property tax increase in the last few cycles; 8 but we all still have to tighten our belts in this down economy. I believe it is prudent for Orange County to 9 tighten its belt and not increase property tax rates. 10 Thanks for listening. 11 Dave and Becky Laudicina 12 Bingham Township 13 Orange County, NC 14 15 Don O'Leary referenced a secret meeting in England regarding how to crash the dollar and hand the 16 new world order over to China. He referenced CFR and said most Congressmen and Senators are 17 members. He said the job of the Commissioners is to uphold the constitution of the United States. He said 18 he would like ICLEI out of Orange County for good. 19 V. Lynette Tempest noted that fire departments are exempt from community notification on siting. 20 She said the curve on which the station is planned has been implicated in two accidents. She said near her 21 home is a narrow bridge sign indicating a bridge over a creek that is part of the University Lake watershed. 22 She said it does not make sense to build a station here and increase road hazards. She noted that this is 23 sloped and un-cleared land. She feels further investigation would reveal that there is someone who will 24 benefit from the sale of this land. She feels this plan must be thoroughly analyzed and re-considered. 25 Thomas Stone is a resident where the proposed station is to be built. He said there are 16 homes 26 in a very congested area. He said this station would affect his well, and it would likely be necessary to drill 27 many wells to get the water needed for a fire station. He said there is property on Ferguson Road that 28 would be more appropriate. He noted the dangers of large trucks using the narrow roads in this area. He 29 feels the plan needs further investigation. 30 Chris Russell said he objected to the process of siting the fire station on Neville Road, and he is 31 formally petitioning the Board of County Commissioners to place this on the next agenda and to suspend all 32 site meetings until this meeting takes place. He said that meaningful public input is needed. He said that 33 the broad powers of exemption for ordinances are being misused and are not in keeping with the intention 34 of being used as a last resort option to facilitate public safety needs. He said that there are other sites that 35 will improve response times without adverse effects to residential areas. He asked the commission to slow 36 this process down. 37 Sam Gharbo asked the board to petition to state to inform them that the citizens of Orange County 38 disagree with the funding policy for K-3 teacher assistants. He said there have been hundreds of people 39 who have pleaded for funding for these assistants. He said that it is unnecessary to tax people more, 40 because the county already has the funding for the schools. He said that if the money is allocated and 41 projects prioritized correctly, this money could be used to work on the people who live in this county- kids 42 and teachers. He said that the backbone of the community is education. 43 Frank Donald said he is here to file a complaint about mismanagement of a grant from the health 44 department through the Fairview Garden. He said he was hired as a carpenter for the garden, and he did 45 the work requested. He said someone came after him and charged the same price for the work that he had 46 done. He said he was told the timesheets were confidential. He would like his case to be handled openly 47 by the Board of County Commissioners. He said he will give a detailed email to the clerk on this matter and 48 an audit may be addressed for those three months specifically. 49 Chair Jacobs said they would refer all petitions to the agenda review committee. 50 Andy Burwell asked if the Board of County Commissioners would like a fire station next to their 51 house. 52 Valken Mitleandorf said his wife administered the funding for the grant and Frank Donald is 53 discrediting her. He said this man has escalated this argument and has turned into a he said/she said 54 situation. He requested that the Board put a stop to this.