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14 <br /> not part of the group and had no understanding of what the proponent of the group meant by <br /> those simply, he created this with staff so there was some way to understand how to use the <br /> criteria versus the different methods. He said the questions were designed to help people think <br /> about what the issues were. <br /> Dr. Hazirjian said she cannot necessarily parse what went into everyone's calculations, <br /> but there was a great deal of discussion over the course of meetings about economic barriers <br /> to service, issues related to having a great deal of population density in one area of the county <br /> and spread out in other areas, etc. She said, in theory, at-large districts can give people an <br /> opportunity to be represented by a local person, but in this particular county, due to how the <br /> population is divided, it is thought to be a foregone conclusion that the person elected is very <br /> likely to be from District 1. <br /> Patrick Mulkey said he is from the rural area of the county and there are different things <br /> to deal with there. He said there is no garbage truck to pick up trash or recycling, as there is in <br /> the towns, and if the water does not work, rural residents do not call the water department, they <br /> have to call a plumber because they are all on well systems. He said these are some of the <br /> things in rural areas, for which residents do not call upon government, and taxes go up, but no <br /> one knows who is listening on the county commissioner level. He said with a single member <br /> district, residents could pinpoint that person and give them a call. <br /> Commissioner Richards thanked the group for the thought it put into this report. He said <br /> part of her goal is learning more about District 2, because she lives in, and is more familiar with, <br /> District 1, but sees herself as a commissioner for the whole county. She asked if there is <br /> thinking about what provincial single districts are versus commissioners who look at the whole <br /> of the county. She asked if there are any thoughts about how a "One Orange" approach may <br /> be discouraged by having the separate districts. She said if she were to be representing just <br /> Chapel Hill, for example, her motivation to learn about the rest of the county may be different. <br /> Patrick Mulkey said a lot of discussion dealt with confusion that voters have in trying to <br /> figure out whom to call and who will represent them. He said he understands the issue that <br /> single member districts will not create a unified Orange County, which he thinks is unrealistic. <br /> He said it will come down to the character and trust in candidate, just like every election, and <br /> being able to hold a candidate accountable, which he thinks is more easily done with single <br /> member districts. He said it is a hard thing to negotiate at the county commissioner level, and <br /> cited the difference in per pupil funding between the two school districts. <br /> Dr. Hazirjian said in the group's discussion, several people, including herself, felt there <br /> is value in at-large districts because those elected at-large are supposed to be thinking about <br /> the whole county. <br /> Dr. Hazirjian exited the meeting due to technical issues. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton thanked the group for its thoughtful work. She said she is <br /> concerned about the evidence used to reach the conclusions. <br /> Dr. Hazirjian's connection was re-established and Chair Price invited her to finish her <br /> comments. <br /> Dr. Hazirjian said there is the concept that there is a closer tie between single member <br /> districts and the members they serve, but everyone is entering into conversation with fellow <br /> Commissioners with concern about the whole county. She said it comes down more to who is <br /> elected, rather than whom they represent. She said in a system where there is no at-large, <br /> there is a sense that the people representing the districts are not just about their districts but <br /> also think about what is better for the whole. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she was thinking about the evidence that supports the <br /> recommendations of the BEAG and has a number of concerns, one being the public input <br /> survey. She said 413 individuals divided by the number from the 2010 census of folks over 18 <br /> years of age is 0.3% of the county, which is not a sample that would be considered <br />