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2 <br /> <br />Molly Weybright graduated from the UNC School of Media and Journalism in 2018 with a <br />degree in Reporting and creative writing. Her fiction has been published in UNC’s official literary <br />magazine “The Cellar Door” and her journalism has been published on multiple news outlets <br />including the outer banks voice and WRAL. She is currently the intern for The Orange County <br />Arts Commission, where she writes two short feature pieces per month focusing on the arts <br />community of Orange County. <br />Molly Weybright read an excerpt from the “A Niente”. <br /> <br />Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:05 p.m. <br /> <br />2. Public Comments <br /> <br />a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br />Dr. Joshua Humphreys said he lives in Bingham Township, and his community has <br />learned that the County exercised an option to purchase land that cuts through the community. <br />He said this option was part of a larger real estate deal: 13 acres of a 70-acre tract. He said an <br />individual named Eric Knight is going to build a commercial brewery, and would double the use <br />of water in their neighborhood. He said his community, the Oaks, is historically significant, and <br />no one was informed about this. He said no one in their community was notified about the dual <br />development of this land: the County using part for the Mountains to Sea trail, as well as a <br />manufacturing facility, which will also serve as a major event venue. He said this neighborhood <br />is a very quiet, rural one. <br />Dr. Carl Hoffman said he also lives in the Oaks Community, and has done so for 44 <br />years. He said his property abuts the property in question. He said he and his wife have <br />worked to preserve this area for people to enjoy, and they have no commercial development <br />because they want this to stay in its natural state. He said he wonders why a brewery would be <br />built in their neighborhood, and not in Saxapahaw. He said he is surprised that there is no <br />zoning that prevents this. He said he is suspicious of the deal, and he would like to know the <br />timeline of events, and the intent and motivation of all parties involved. <br />Commissioner Bedford arrived at 7:15 p.m. <br />Mark Kleinschmidt, Clerk of Court, said one of his first objectives as the new clerk, was <br />to assess the facilities, and to work with County staff to meet the needs of the courthouse. He <br />said the County improved the HVAC system this past year, which will hopefully reduce the <br />humidity in the building. He thanked the Manager for her CIP, in order to ensure the safety and <br />security of the records in the courthouse. He said improvements within the estate division, <br />where he serves as Probate Judge, and improvements to the security of the public counter are <br />critical. He said he is so pleased and expressed his gratitude for the Board of County <br />Commissioners’ (BOCC) assistance, and the work of the staff and their day-to-day <br />responsiveness to their needs. He said he hopes to provide an annual update to the BOCC on <br />the condition of the facility, and invited the BOCC to take a tour. <br />Delores Bailey, EmPowerment Director, read a letter from Karen Reid, who lives on <br />Rogers Road: <br /> <br />To Whom It May Concern: <br /> As a longtime member (38years) of the Historic Rogers Road Community and <br />participant in the development of the 2016 Rogers Road: Mapping Our Community’s Future, I <br />am writing in support of rezoning and plans for the Greene Tract as stated in the 2016 Rogers <br />Road: Mapping Our Community’s Future. For many years, the wishes and concerns of <br />members of the Historic Rogers Road Community were not heard or represented in decisions <br />that directly affected our way and quality of life, so this plan was developed out of our desire to <br />be proactive in the inevitable.