Agenda - 03-07-2019 8-a - Minutes

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4 1 Commissioner Price asked if the Chiefs are interested in a particular spot at Blackwood 2 Farm. 3 Phillip Nasseri said the location needs to have at least 2 acres of space, but it is up to 4 the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. He said it would be nice to have a flat, 5 clear space. 6 Chief Sullivan said Orange County is blessed to make all kinds of decisions, and this is a 7 direct reflection of the quality public safety services that undergird the community. 8 Commissioner Dorosin said he is the new liaison to the Fire Chiefs committee, and there 9 is a lot to recommend Durham Tech as a site: water and sewer already there; goal of trying to 10 create an Orange County fire academy at Durham Tech. He said the Board of County 11 Commissioners can play a more significant role with Durham Tech and this process, and this is 12 an opportunity to work collaboratively. He said the Commissioners need to prioritize these 13 negotiations, as this facility hits on multiple goals that they share. 14 Commissioner McKee said the $17 million figure came out of the Emergency Services 15 work group from 2011-12, and that number is probably low now. He said there is a deadline for 16 this process because this a federal grant, and time is not on their side. 17 Commissioner Price said echoed Commissioner McKee's comments about time. She 18 said if they decide to go with Durham Tech to make sure they partner with them in all aspects of 19 fire training. She said $17 million is too low. 20 Chair Rich said she is impressed with how the fire departments coordinate with one 21 another, and a lot can be learned from this coordination. She said she has a meeting with 22 Durham Tech this week, and she will discuss this with them. She asked if there are more 23 specifics available about the timeline, as March is very soon. 24 Phillip Nasseri said they need enough time to get the grading done for the facility, and 25 the foundation marked up. He said the facility is pre-fabricated, and takes about 5 days to 26 assemble. He said he is trying to get everything done expeditiously. 27 Chair Rich said the grading at Durham Tech would be easier than Blackwood Farm. 28 Phillip Nasseri said there is a lot of rock at Durham Tech, and is not the most level 29 terrain. He said if Durham Tech agrees to the memorandum of understanding, it can help fund 30 to remove the rock. He said if Durham Tech does not work as a location, it has said that some 31 funding may still be available for another site, as long as Durham Tech can use the facility. 32 Chair Rich asked if the Town of Hillsborough would need to be involved in approval. 33 Travis Myren said Durham Tech's existing Special Use Permit would allow for any 34 educational facilities related to the educational mission. He said if the Town sees this facility as 35 fitting those parameters, it is possible that the current SUP would cover the installation of this 36 facility. He said if the Town will not allow the SUP to cover the installation, the time line will be 37 much longer. 38 Commissioner Marcoplos agreed with pursuing the Durham Tech site, but asked if the 39 Millhouse Road site could be more specifically pinpointed, should Durham Tech fall through. 40 Chief Sullivan said the Town of Chapel Hill has a small parcel of land between the transit 41 and the public works facilities. He said this property was supposed for a transfer station and he 42 may be able to use this property temporarily. He said the structure is portable, and could be 43 moved at a later date. He said the County has two large parcels on Eubanks, which may also 44 be possibilities. 45 Commissioner Dorosin asked if those locations are too far south. 46 Chief Sullivan said possibly. 47 48 Chief Hayes (Eno Fire Department) said it was brought to his attention that a resident 49 came to the February 5th Board of County Commissioners meeting with some complaints, which 50 he wanted to address: