Minutes 05-03-2022 Business Meeting

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1 APPROVED 6/7/22 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUSINESS MEETING May 3, 2022 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Renee Price, Vice Chair Jamezetta Bedford, and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), and Anna Richards COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Sally Greene COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) Chair Price called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda Chair Price said the closed session did not need to be held at the end of the meeting. Chair Price dispensed with reading the public charge. 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Polly Dornette thanked the Commissioners for the plan to bring broadband to residents. She said the plan was intended to leave no one behind, but a large section of Efland is not covered. She said she had communicated for two years with Commissioner Greene and Commissioner McKee, along with Jim Northrup, about inaccuracies in the map about where Spectrum claims they are covering. She said Spectrum has repeatedly refused to provide service to her neighborhood on Redgate Road. She said her whole neighborhood was excluded from the plan. She said they were repeatedly told they would not be left behind, and that she has dozens of emails that assured her neighborhood they would not be left behind. She said North State does plan to cover her neighborhood as part of their other efforts, but that they would not be protected by pricing or timelines established by the broadband plan. She said there is no guarantee that they will be served in the timeline that everyone else is. She said her neighborhood was previously quoted $20,000 by Spectrum to run service to house. She said they are not protected from installation fees due to being excluded from the plan. She said she was so excited by the meeting where some residents were nearly in tears, because they are so desperate for broadband service. She said she was crushed that her area was excluded. She wants to know why her area was excluded from the plan. She said they want to be included and protected by the same things the county fought hard for for residents. She said she appreciates anything that can be done to bring service to her neighborhood.