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Parks Division Annual Update-Dan Derby, Superintendent of Parks provided his annual update to the Council. Derby spoke on the tremendous usage increase of parks due to COVID 19 and the reopening of athletic activities ranging from soccer,baseball and football. He added that this fiscal year has presented staffing issues for the Parks division. Parks has gone from the usual 12 seasonal staff to 7, and currently now having 3 seasonal workers. Derby said staff have worked really hard to make sure events are able to be held and fields ready for activities. He gave a history of the changes in Orange County Parks system from when he was hired in 2004, from going from 4 parks to now 12, and 200 acres to about 1300 acres of land that make up parks and preserves as of 2021. Derby gave an update on the Blackwood Farm Park that is currently closed for renovations. The County hopes to reopen the park in a year. Derby closed with updates on the Mountains to Sea trail(MST). Tippin asked if Derby could give a status update about MST near Seven Mile Creek and how close it is to being connected to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. Derby spoke on his view of the MST. Derby noted that the County and partners have purchased property and are looking to connecting to trails in Orange County, and looking for solutions as it relates to Highway 1-40. Greg Hughes asked about the location of the North Campus and if it is an office space only or recreation. Derby replied that it is office and facility maintenance space only. Stancil added that the North Campus does house the new Parks Operations Base, a central location for Parks to have supplies and equipment located, and he noted that he has discussed an open house for the council and others to come visit the new facilities. Hughes asked did the new location free up space for other use somewhere else. Stancil explained the old location on Millhouse Road was shut down and staff were relocated to a mobile unit,but are now are in the new facility at North Campus which is more centralized. Dan Derby provided his contact information to the council in case anyone would like to reach out to him. Old Business: Mountain to Sea Trail(MST) - Stancil provided a document showing maps of the route for the MST. Stancil explained the three phases of the capital investment plan that are guiding the work. Phase one was based on funding from the state and their interest to extend the existing MST before beginning to build new sections. The idea was to get from Riverwalk and Gold Park to Occoneechee Mountain then across Dimmocks Mill Road and into the Seven Mile Creek Natural Area. Stancil explained that the Eno River Association and Town of Hillsborough secured a way to get to Occoneechee Mountain. Currently trailwork is underway within the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. Stancil added that negotiations are still in process with other landowners in between the two points,but have had progress working with the Friends of MST and Eno River Association. Stancil then outlined the projected route for hikers for MST. Currently there is a push to get pedestrian crossing lights on both sides of interstate bridge on Dimmocks Mill Road. Stancil spoke about the conservation easement with the Friends of Moorefields. Stancil stated the second phase is the section from Alamance County near the Cane Creek Reservoir. Stancil added lands owned by OWASA were approved for the MST to traverse on their property from Buckhorn Road and that efforts with other willing landowners were nearing conclusion for adjoining properties(as shown on the map). Stancil went over expectations for the MST route through Bradshaw Quarry Road to connect to Saxapahaw and Alamance County. Stancil explained the reason for the connection of Saxapahaw and Hillsborough towns.An update on MST work was presented to the BOCC on September 14. Greeson asked about Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road and the safety of getting onto the trail. Stancil explained that the connection into Alamance will be on an adjoining road. He also described new easements along NC 54. Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2030 Review-The 2030 Master Plan document was reviewed from last meeting regarding the progress of the recommendations. Stancil said a lot of the funding identified in 2014 has been redirected to other needs given new and changed situations since 2014. Stancil explained that in November and December the Council would need to start to talk about the work plan for 2022, and whether any of these items should be part of that. Stancil proposed the question does the council have any priorities among the recommendation for the Master Plan in the upcoming year. Chair Rhodes asked what enrollment looked like in the fall for soccer and other programs. Stancil answered that numbers were 68%