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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 7, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: OWASA Update on Unpaid Bills <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> November 17, 2020 Letter from OWASA Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager, <br /> Board Chair Ray Dubose 245-2300 <br /> Todd Taylor, OWASA Executive <br /> Director, 968-4421 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive a presentation and information from the Orange Water and Sewer <br /> Authority (OWASA) on impacts to customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. <br /> BACKGROUND: At the October 20, 2020 BOCC Meeting Commissioner Mark Dorosin made a <br /> petition regarding the Board and OWASA to identify ways to assist residents experiencing back <br /> payments during COVID-19. A request was made to Executive Director, Todd Taylor to provide <br /> information to the Board at a future meeting. <br /> The Orange County Emergency Housing Assistance fund provides rent and utility assistance to <br /> avoid shut offs and eviction using investments from the County and the Towns of Carrboro, <br /> Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. Assistance is available to Orange County residents at or below <br /> 60% of Area Median Income and in 2020 has provided more than $2 million in assistance to <br /> almost 900 County residents. Of that, $17,502 was paid to OWASA to pay arrears and avoid <br /> shut offs. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving the presentation. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated <br /> with this item. <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no environmental impact associated with this item. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation <br /> as information and provide any feedback as necessary. <br />