Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> 1 collect it. She said in 2020-21 the process will be a grant process, and the CFE will rank them <br /> 2 for the Orange County Board of Commissioners. <br /> 3 Commissioner Greene said she heartily supports Commissioner Dorosin's timeline and <br /> 4 getting the monies out this year. <br /> 5 Commissioner Greene said she was thankful for the Manager's clarification of the <br /> 6 process, because she thought the process was open to all, and wondered where the idea for <br /> 7 solar arrays came from in the first place. <br /> 8 Commissioner Greene said she hoped the process for the next fiscal year will be more <br /> 9 timely. <br /> 10 Commissioner McKee said he was in agreement with Commissioner Dorosin about the <br /> 11 schools not being able to use the monies how they pleased. <br /> 12 Commissioner McKee said he has no issue with putting it out for open call, but there is <br /> 13 no other component in the County that has the backlog of CIP projects like the schools. He said <br /> 14 he would be supportive of giving priority focus to the schools because it would allow the funds to <br /> 15 be used for climate mitigation, but would also take off some percentage of the schools' backlog <br /> 16 of capital projects. He said he hydropower project would be a good pilot project. He said he <br /> 17 would not vote for giving the schools a two-week ultimatum. <br /> 18 Commissioner Marcoplos said the schools have an advantage in the scoring process, <br /> 19 and are not being shortchanged. He said the Board cannot vote to accept the hydropower <br /> 20 disbursement until it is clear what the schools are going to do, and that is why he wanted a two- <br /> 21 week window. He said OCS was supportive of this timeline. <br /> 22 Commissioner Price said the BOCC has a meeting in early May, and that should give <br /> 23 the schools ample time to review the solar array projects. She said if the schools decide this is <br /> 24 not a priority, then the Board can look at the hydropower project in May. <br /> 25 Commissioner McKee clarified that if the Board proceeds with the hydropower project, it <br /> 26 would just reduce the amounts available to the schools from $150,000 to $135,000. <br /> 27 Commissioner Dorosin said there seems to be a Board majority that wants to give the <br /> 28 money out this year, so the schools need to say one way or the other as soon as possible and <br /> 29 there is no shame if the schools cannot proceed this year. He said the Board needs to have the <br /> 30 CFE to look at past-proposed projects, or consider new ones. He asked the Manager if there <br /> 31 were any other County projects in the queue. He said he will not vote to save the funds for next <br /> 32 year. <br /> 33 Bonnie Hammersley said the only project that did not get approval was the hydropower <br /> 34 project. <br /> 35 Chair Rich said she contacted both Board of Education chairs today, and asking them to <br /> 36 have a decision in two weeks does not show a lack of partnership, nor is it disrespectful. She <br /> 37 said there has been plenty of time for the schools to decide, and if it does not work then the <br /> 38 County needs to move forward. <br /> 39 Commissioner Price said she was not trying to push the decision out too far, but rather <br /> 40 did not know when the two school boards were holding meetings. <br /> 41 Commissioner Marcoplos said the Board's motion should say that it will give OCS two <br /> 42 weeks, given the OCS meeting on April 201h, and around two for CHCCS, based on its meeting <br /> 43 schedule. He said the County can start publicizing that it is looking for projects for next year. <br /> 44 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the Board wants to vote on the hydropower project. <br /> 45 Chair Rich asked if the next BOCC meetings could be identified. <br /> 46 Donna Baker said April 21 st, May 5th, or May 191h <br /> 47 Commissioner Greene said she now understands that CHCCS did not say a flat no, and <br /> 48 supports giving both districts two weeks, or close to it, and she supports leaving out the $30,000 <br /> 49 and keeping it in the queue, but to spend all the monies this year. <br /> 50 Commissioner McKee asked if the $30,000 would fund the hydro project. <br />