Agenda - 12-15-2015 - 6a - Minutes

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7 1 Done properly, we believe this segment of the MST would have no significant adverse 2 impact to the water quality on Cane Creek Reservoir. 3 We believe this is a rare opportunity for the residents of this area of Orange County to 4 work together to be part of a positive legacy for generations to come." 5 1 have found that there is strong support within the Thunder Mountain community and 6 nearby for a segment of the MST to pass through the OWASA property on the north side of the 7 reservoir but all of our neighbors want to make sure that the private roads serving our 8 neighborhoods are not used as public access and parking areas for the trail. 9 1 believe these caveats of support are reasonable and can be accomplished as the county and 10 OWASA move forward on this legacy for future generations. 11 Thank you for the opportunity to come before you tonight to share my thoughts and 12 support for the Mountains to Sea Trail. 13 14 Charles Gregory Smith 15 16 Scott Zimmerman said he is here in support of the MST trail. He said he is here to get 17 this trail on the ground in Orange County. He urged the Board of County Commissioners to 18 approve this portion of the trail in Orange County as surrounding counties are doing. He 19 contacted OWASA and this communication is in the email packet. He said he understands that 20 OWASA is ready to act when the County is ready to act. He asked again for the Board of 21 County Commissioners to support and build this segment of the trail. 22 Howard Lee said he is here in support of the MST, and if one gets connected to this trail 23 one will never let it go. He said he is pleased and proud that this trail has lasted the test of 24 time. He said this trail would be an asset to North Carolina. He said he has walked segments 25 of the trail, and it is both beautiful and satisfying. He said he knows the Board of County 26 Commissioners has always supported the preservation of the environment and the promotion of 27 parks and trails. He said this would be one of the greatest investments Orange County could 28 make. 29 Glen Greenstreet said he wants to reiterate to the BOCC that the citizens of Orange 30 County are still very much in support of the MST. He encouraged the BOCC to move forward 31 with the pieces of trail that can be built immediately and to seek partnership with the volunteer 32 citizens of the County. 33 Bonnie Hauser said she would like to thank the Thunder Mountain community for their 34 support. 35 Commissioner Price said there is currently $500,000 in 2019 in the Capital Investment 36 Plan (CIP) for this park. She asked if there would be any impact in moving some funds up to be 37 used at an earlier time. 38 David Stancil said that is part of the CIP discussion and the funds, mentioned by 39 Commissioner Price, are designated for construction. He said this item has not been off the 40 radar and funding needs to be reassessed considering options such as volunteer construction. 41 He said such options could be explored and an updated report brought back to the Board at a 42 later date. 43 Commissioner Pelissier said to those that submitted the petitions that the item will be 44 sent to agenda review process to review and to respond. 45 Commissioner Pelissier said her property is part of the proposed trail and she wants the 46 MST in her backyard. She thanked the citizens who came to speak this evening. 47 Commissioner Burroughs referred to the State bond and asked if it is likely that local 48 money would need to be leveraged in order to receive the State money. 49 Carol Tingley said previous bond monies were used to purchase adjacent properties to 50 the trail to allow it to be furthered by local entities. She said she anticipates a similar scenario