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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />February 5, 2003 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 5 February 5, 2003 <br />and inform them which spaces must be vacated to comply with the consent <br />order and the other failures. <br /> <br />C. Public Health Preparedness Grant Proposal <br /> <br />North Carolina received funds from the CDC to enhance public health preparedness at <br />both the state and local levels for the last two fiscal years. Approximately $2 million of <br />funds from that grant are being made available to local health departments on a <br />competitive basis for the period beginning February 1 through August 31, 2003. <br />Funds may be renewable pending renewal of the grant application from CDC to North <br />Carolina. <br /> <br />Staff submitted the grant proposal in January to the Region IV Public Health Response <br />Team for initial review. Following their review and recommendation, grants will be <br />forwarded to the state by January 31 for decision. Notification is expected by the state <br />in mid-February. <br /> <br />The grant will assist the department in two primary areas; enhanced communications <br />equipment in the event of an emergency and increased staff resources to further <br />develop the plans that have been drafted and to start a public health volunteer corps <br />for the county. <br /> <br />D. Board of Commissioners Retreat Materials <br /> <br />The Board of Commissioners annually holds a planning retreat to consider priority <br />issues for the coming calendar year. Their retreat was scheduled this year for January <br />25, 2003. The Commissioners requested that each volunt ary Board or Commission <br />complete an informational sheet for their consideration. This year, each department <br />head was also asked to provide information summarizing various items for the <br />department. <br /> <br />Board members were given both requested informational forms for review. Both the <br />Chair and Vice-Chair reviewed the Board informational form prior to forwarding it to <br />the Commissioners. <br /> <br />E. Possible Legislative Priorities <br /> <br />The North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD) drafts legislative <br />priorities each year that they determine will affect the provision of public health <br />services throughout the state. As much as possible the Association attempts to <br />coordinate the priorities with the Association of County Commissioners and with local <br />Boards of Health. <br /> <br />The draft priorities were provided to the board members for consideration along with a <br />new tobacco tax resolution of a $.75 tax increase per pack of cigarettes. Last year the <br />Board adopted a resolution that supported a $.45 increase. The new increase is being <br />supported by a variety of organizations such as the American Lung Association, the <br />American Heart Association, and NCALHD, and others. <br /> <br />Motion to support the new tobacco tax resolution and forward to the Board of County <br />Commissioners for consideration was made by Martha Stucker, seconded by Jonathan