Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner McKee said the fire departments negotiated with the county on these <br /> agreements and the design of them. <br /> He said he would forward an email he received on a news article from the coast about <br /> departments losing their ISO ratings. He said this has been due to various factors, including a <br /> lack of adequate personnel on rosters and fire scenes. He said this has affected multiple fire <br /> departments. He said that this is not happening in Orange County and the County is working <br /> on a comprehensive system, a better contract, and better service provision. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin noted that item number 4 states that fire departments will get <br /> 98.5% of tax, and he asked if the rest is kept by county. <br /> John Roberts answered yes. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if the 15 cents is a statutory maximum. <br /> Michael Talbert said no. He said, under a fire protection district, that is a maximum; but <br /> under a fire service district, all taxes levied by the county cannot exceed 1 dollar and a half. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said when the Board makes the final decision on budget the tax <br /> rates will be set and may be different. <br /> Michael Talbert said yes. <br /> Michael Talbert said the current rates are just department requests at this point. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier referenced item 12 on page 4, which states that the county will <br /> provide the departments with standard financial forms, and she asked what this means. <br /> Michael Talbert said that information is presented now and it may not all end up in the <br /> summary. He offered to pass that information along to the Board. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she would like to see all of the information. <br /> Frank Clifton said, in the past, the fire departments made formal presentations and only <br /> the departments that requested an increase presented this. <br /> Chair Jacobs said this has been a long process and harmonious relationships have <br /> been created. He thanked Commissioner McKee, Frank Clifton, Michael Talbert, and John <br /> Roberts. <br /> Chair Jacobs said he was speaking to a rural firefighter in New Mexico who said there <br /> is a shortage of firefighters willing to serve in that community. He expressed appreciation that <br /> our community has so many people willing to serve. <br /> Commissioner Gordon referenced paragraph 5 on North Chatham's Insurance rating <br /> and asked about the difference in language. <br /> John Roberts said he preferred the original language, because it required the <br /> department to take reasonable action but the department preferred the updated language on <br /> "striving" to maintain a certain rating. <br /> Michael Talbert said North Chatham has no assets in Orange County and does not <br /> anticipate any future assets in Orange County. He said the feeling was that the other language <br /> did not paint them into a corner. He said this department has tremendous resources that are <br /> brought to the fire. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon seconded by Commissioner McKee with <br /> revised agreement with North Chatham, to approve new Fire Protection and Emergency <br /> Services Agreements for Three (3) New Fire Service Districts with the Town of Chapel Hill, <br /> Town of Carrboro and North Chatham Fire Department, and authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 8. Reports <br /> a. Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan Implementation <br />