Agenda - 03-21-2006-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT z ~ 7 8 9 10 I1 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2.3 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 3.3 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 4.3 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 Bob Strayhorn is a farmer in Orange County and he was representing his farming practices in his community and the Exchange Club of Hillsborough. He said that they are extremely disappointed in what has been presented. He said that it was totally inadequate for what they were hoping and trying to convey to the Board over the years.. He has been working with people in the County for over 20 years to address this issue. He said that since there has been development in Orange County, they have been trying to have infield around Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the Towns.. He said that every time this is done, it dilutes the influence of the rural communities, He said that without something to help them be involved in the decision- making, they are in a na-man's land. He said that without seven members and district elections, they have the same thing they have now. He sees no improvement whatsoever. He said that Chapel Hill Township where he lives could elect all five members now. He said that it would be nice to have other people involved in this and they want to be included or they are going to lose the agricultural interest. He is very frustrated. Jeff Schmitt lives in Cedar Grove Township. He is the past president of the Orange- Durham Cattleman's Association and current member of the board of directors. In 1980 the population of Orange County was 77,000, of which 26,500 of the citizens resided in the six townships outside of Chapel Hill and voting was an an at-large basis, While Chapel Hill Township had a two to one majority, rural representation had been a reality on the Board of County Commissioners, By 2000, the County's population had increased to 115,000, and non- Chapel Hill Township's increased by 12,500 during this period, but the growth in the Chapel Hill population was almost double and two-thirds of the population of the County resides in the Chapel HiII Township. He said that most if not all of the demographic components are dominated by Chapel Hill. He said that there are many citizens in Chapel Hill who feel that County residents, that is, non-Chapel Hill residents, should have a voice for County Commissioners nominated in and elected by those citizens of the County., He said that the effective voice in County government of the 39,000 citizens is slowly eroding. He said that 39,000 citizens deserve their own representative -nominated by and elected in the general election by them. He said that the voice of these citizens is a more conservative voice than the Chapel Hill Township, He said that if there is countywide voting in the general election, the Chapel Hill influence will dominate and there will not be a two-party system. He echoed the comments of Bab Strayhorn and suggested that if they go forward with Proposal 5, they will be wasting taxpayer money. He said that this proposal does not address any of the concerns that have been voiced over the past 13 years regarding district representation, Kat Cheek said that she worked for 37 years with the U. S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. She is now serving on the Board of the North Carolina State Grange and is president of Schley Grange. Most of the members of the Schley Grange signed the petitions asking for the consideration of nominating and electing County Commissioners by district. She owns land in northern Orange County but resides in Chapel Hill and she understands both sides of the County. It concerns her that Chapel Hill is one side of the County and northern Orange is another side of the County. She wants to get something done that will keep the County united in all that it does.. She thanked the County Commissioners for all of their work. She said that she is hearing much disappointment with this proposal, and it does not change what they have now, She said that unless you give consideration to the proposal the citizens gave, the County will still be divided.. Vern Miller is from Caldwell Community and he pointed out the divisiveness of this proposal, He said that everyone knows that Chapel HiII has the weight in the County and he said that the people in the outlying areas are now a minority in the County. He said that after they attended a public hearing in the fall, everyone that talked at the meeting -most of them from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area -was in favor of the citizen's proposal. He is very frustrated with County government and the song and dance. He said that the County Commissioners do not seem to want to act on this proposal.