Agenda - 09-05-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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13 1 Commissioner Jacobs said there is a bill in the legislature on how technology is 2 distributed by tower, and there is talk to put technology appendages on power poles. He said 3 he would like there to be an analysis on this issue, especially as the County is considering the 4 building of several large towers. 5 Commissioner McKee asked if there is anything in the Information Technology budget 6 about pilot projects for technologies such as repeaters on school buses to increase the 7 broadband in rural areas. 8 Jim Northup, Chief Information Officer, said there is no line item for research and 9 development, but the Department tries to explore technology to improve current networking 10 technology. He said he has been focusing on improving broadband around the County for the 11 past few years, and the hotspot option at the library was one successful outcome. 12 Commissioner McKee said the reality of modern education requires that families have 13 access to the internet, and broadband must be improved in the County. 14 Jim Northup said there is $500,000 earmarked in the Capital Improvement Plan for a 15 grant to help improve broadband in Orange County, which will focus on the northern rural areas 16 and some western areas of the County. 17 Commissioner Price suggested that Jim Northup talk with Google about securing 18 broadband on school buses. 19 Commissioner Rich said she met this morning with Lilyn Hester, Google's Head of 20 External Affairs for NC and SC, who is working on these types of projects around the State, all 21 of which have been grant funded. 22 Commissioner Burroughs said this is a topic to add to the Board's meeting with the 23 schools in the fall, and if residents with school aged children are contacting the Board of County 24 Commissioners (BOCC), those residents should be encouraged to lobby their school boards. 25 She asked if buses under the purview of the County have Wi-Fi. 26 Commissioner Price said if Lilyn Hester could talk to school administrators to try and 27 help sell the idea. 28 Jim Northup said such a meeting would be under the Manager's purview. 29 Bonnie Hammersley said she will bring it up at the superintendent's meeting next week. 30 Commissioner Jacobs said he was told that Orange County Schools' (OCS) bus drivers 31 do not drive the buses home at night so the transponder would just sit in the garage. He 32 suggested speaking to Fire and EMS stations to allow the County to add transmitters to their 33 buildings, as well as other County and community buildings. 34 Commissioner Rich said Lilyn Hester knows about the County's hot spot program, and 35 she believed that Ms. Hester has spoken to the superintendents. 36 Chair Dorosin said there are some mistakes on green sheet. 37 Bonnie Hammersley said staff will correct these issues. 38 Chair Dorosin referred to the last item, in which Commissioner Burroughs has requested 39 to add $1.75 million to the schools, from the lowering of the reserve percentage. He said it was 40 his understanding that the excess funds would be given in part to schools, and in part to other 41 areas. 42 Bonnie Hammersley said the BOCC vote was on lowering the percentage, and not on 43 the uses of the fund. She said her recommendation was for the schools to receive $1.3 million, 44 with $514,000 remaining for BOCC amendments. She said Commissioner Burroughs 45 requested an additional $450,000 from the remaining $514,000 also be added to the schools' 46 allotment. 47 Commissioner Rich clarified that any funds going to the schools are only for one-time 48 capital costs. 49 Commissioner Burroughs and the Manager said yes. 50