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2 <br /> <br />Ross White is the author of two chapbooks, How We Came Upon the Colony (Unicorn <br />Press, 2014) and The Polite Society (Unicorn Press, 2017). His poems have appeared in <br />American Poetry Review, New England Review, Poetry Daily, Tin House, and The Southern <br />Review, among others. His manuscript in progress, Guilt Ledger, was selected by Edward <br />Hirsch to receive the 2016 Larry Levis Post-Graduate Stipend from Warren Wilson College. He <br />teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Follow him on Twitter: <br />@rosswhite. <br />Ross White read a poem called “Taking It”. <br /> <br />2. Public Comments <br /> <br />a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> Elise Alexander read the following comments: <br /> <br />Good Evening Commissioners. Thank you for all of your diligent work for the benefit of <br />Orange County residents. <br /> <br />My name is Elise Alexander, and I have been a resident of Orange County for over 25 <br />years. My home adjoins the Keith Arboretum. Tonight I put into record a critical issue for <br />the responsible use of the arboretum: the apparent misuse of the existing septic system. <br />Currently, according to Orange County records, the Keith Home septic system is <br />approved for a residence with three bedrooms, not for large groups. It is our <br />understanding after speaking to an Orange County Environmental Health representative, <br />that septic system permits are approved in accordance with the number of people using <br />the system. <br /> <br />According to current Air B&B advertisement for the Keith Home, there are now four <br />bedrooms, not three as the septic permit allows, and an additional bathroom has possibly <br />been added. According to advertisements ROMR and East West Organics, as of 10am <br />this morning, are still accepting requests for weddings/corporate events/family reunions <br />and party events that can exceed 100 persons. They have built a deck onto the house <br />that they specify will seat 100 people. Representatives who book Keith Arboretum state <br />that indoor bathrooms are available during large events only by renting the Keith Home. <br />The system of the home is approved for residential three bedroom use only not <br />commercial groups of over 100. There would be no way to monitor excessive use of in <br />home facilities. <br /> <br />There are also no bathroom facilities in place for large camping groups. Photos on the <br />Internet show multiple tents on the property adjacent to the Keith home. If the home <br />bathrooms are not being used, are the large groups of campers permitted to openly use <br />surrounding lands for elimination purposes. What is the impact on the arboretum itself if <br />large groups are permitted open elimination? Please note that this property is in the <br />University Lake Watershed that provides water to residents. <br /> <br />Thank you for your time. <br /> <br />Marilee McTigue read the following comments: <br /> <br />Good evening. I’m Marilee McTigue and I live on Pickard Mountain near the Keith Arboretum. I <br />realize that this is the last BOCC meeting before the summer break and you have a packed <br />agenda, so I will try and keep my comments brief. <br />