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been three or four, I don't know, it's been awhile, and it's been wonderful. They come quietly <br /> and take care of whatever needs to be taken care of. We usually don't even notice that they <br /> come. They take care of the grass. The grass is beautiful there. It's better than it is in our <br /> pastures. The solar panels are gorgeous and it's actually a place of pride for us and for our <br /> neighborhood, that, you know, North Carolina was maybe lagging in renewable energy <br /> development before Strata came in, and now, you know if we have the choice between any of <br /> the choices we have for energy, be it hydro fracturing or coal or nuclear, this is by far and away <br /> the one that we want to support, Orange County. So, please give them every courtesy. <br /> Thanks. <br /> Commissioner Gordon: I just wanted to ask a technical question, because Johnny Randall <br /> was sworn, but we didn't enter into the record what his credentials are to make those <br /> statements. I don't know if that's important, but he does have credentials. You might want to <br /> enter those into the record. <br /> Johnny Randall: I am a professional biologist, plant ecologist, and botanist— Master's, PhD in <br /> botany and plant ecology. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to: <br /> 1. Refer the matter to the Planning Board with a request that a recommendation be returned to <br /> the County Board of Commissioners in time for the May 8, 2014 BOCC meeting. <br /> 2. Adjourn the public hearing until May 8, 2014 in order to receive and accept the Planning <br /> Board's recommendation and any submitted written comments. <br /> Commissioner Rich: Commissioner Dorosin brought to my attention that we have two <br /> recommendations on the back of the presentation and only one recommendation in the packet. <br /> Is the recommendation in the packet the one that we're going with? <br /> Chair Jacobs: On the sheet that I'm operating from, there is only one. <br /> Michael Harvey: If I may -We have a recommendation in the packet to take this, essentially to <br /> adjourn your public hearing to May 8 and submit this to the planning board for them to move <br /> forward. As I discussed with Chair Jacobs and Mr. Hartley, given some of the comments we <br /> received from adjacent property owners via email, we suggested if the Board had additional <br /> questions or comments, that there was an alternative that this Board could conceivably engage <br /> in, with respect to adjourning this hearing to a day and time specific if they felt additional <br /> testimony was necessary. Which is why, Commissioner Rich, you are seeing this on your <br /> PowerPoint presentation; but the motion obviously was to go with staff's recommendation as it <br /> is currently contained in the abstract. <br /> Chair Jacobs: So, is it your intention to ask for a substitute motion, or are you satisfied with the <br /> motion? <br /> Commissioner Rich: No, I just think for me it would have been good to have both of these <br /> here, so I would have known what we were doing. It's fine. I'm fine with that motion. <br /> Commissioner Gordon: I have a question about this. If we don't continue the public hearing <br /> until March 18th, then there won't be a chance for applicant and staff to meet with local property <br /> owners. Is that correct? <br />