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3 <br /> <br />Commissioner Marcoplos had no comments. <br />Commissioner Dorosin reported that he attended the Fire Chief’s Council meeting in <br />July, and the Board is meeting with them in October. He said there is a need for additional <br />funding for the training facility, around $60,000. He said he would like to flag this item, and <br />consider if the County can provide the funds to complete this project. <br />Chair Rich said at the last meeting she informed the Board of a letter from Governor <br />Cooper about the budget, and has now also received a letter from Senator Berger stating that <br />the Governor’s letter did not contain all the facts. She said this is all a moot point given that the <br />General Assembly voted the budget on September 11. <br />Chair Rich referred to the Climate Walk, and said that all involved are being asked to <br />take public transportation. <br />Chair Rich said she and Commissioner Marcoplos did a field trip to West Virginia to <br />research the process of taking trash and turning it into fuel. She said members of the Solid <br />Waste staff also attended, and this was very interesting. She said it is not a question of if this <br />will happen, but when, as recycling cannot continue as it has been. She said a neighboring <br />cement plant used the fuel to operate its plant (80% waste fuel, and 20% coal). She said it is <br />hoped that UNC will get on board in the future, and the County will need to start thinking in <br />bigger ways, sooner rather than later. She said there would need to be a regional plant, <br />involving several neighboring counties. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said the neighboring cement plant used the fuel, and this is <br />quite successful. He said this is a real option for local cement plants. <br />Chair Rich said renewable energy must be used moving forward, and the County must <br />start having hard conversations to address this issue. She said it will cost money to fight the <br />climate crisis. <br />Commissioner Greene said asked if there is anything that enters the air as a result of <br />burning the trash. <br />Chair Rich said the gas is clean, as everything that is not clean burning is removed. She <br />said some goes to the landfill and some goes to recycling. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said it is cleaner, and nothing is completely clean. He said <br />there is an environmental impact of using the landfill, and all variables need to be weighed out. <br />Commissioner Dorosin asked if any Board members attended the Chapel Hill Carrboro <br />City Schools (CHCCS) press conference about new software being unveiled to make schools <br />safer. He said there is concern among parents about this software, and the collection of data <br />on the students. He said it would be good to bring this issue up at the next school collaboration <br />meeting. <br />Chair Rich said she would take that as a petition. <br /> <br />4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br />NONE <br /> <br />5. Public Hearings <br /> <br />a. Public Hearing on Refinancing Existing Bond Obligations <br />The Board conducted a public hearing on the issuance of up to $24 million to refinance <br />existing debt to achieve debt service savings; and consider voting to approve a related <br />resolution supporting the County’s application to the Local Government Commission (LGC) for <br />approval of the refinancing plan. <br />Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, presented the information below: <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The County and its financing team estimates that the total amount to be <br />refinanced is an amount Not-to-Exceed $24 million in Limited Obligation Bonds. Although the