Agenda - 08-24-2005- - Laserfiche WebLink

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NO r three possible dates in August to have a public hearing on this matter on both ends of the County and to hear the answers to the questions, Commissioner Jacobs asked who would sift through all of the information — a group of citizens or the Board. Shaping Orange County's Future suggested setting up a task force. Commissioner Foushee said that it is important to get answers to the questions from Commissioner Jacobs, She agreed about holding the public hearings as soon as possible. She does not think it is necessary to create a task force prior to the public hearings, Chair Carey said that he would like to proceed after the public hearing, but he also thinks that creating another task force to study this further and make recommendations is a step that he hopes the Board will not take. He thinks the decision about how to elect County Commissioners is going to be apolitical decision that the Board will have to make He has told the public that the Board will take an action on this one way or another. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to approve the scheduling of public hearings on Wednesday, August 24'° and Wednesday, August 31 s'. UNANIMOUS Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the Chair and the Clerk look at creating some work sessions in September or October to sift through the information. Chair Carey and Commissioner Halkiotis agreed with this. Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to see more than one method proposed There are other ways to have district representation and not to increase the board to seven commissioners. She would like to see variations with five commissioners, Commissioner .Jacobs said that Evelyn Cecil put together some historical information that goes back to 1938. Since that time, there have been 19 County Commissioners from Chapel Hill Township, 18 County Commissioners from the other townships, and 3 County Commissioners who moved from Chapel Hill Township to other townships. 2. Recommendations for Reallocation of $12.8 Million in Programmed Debt John Link said that this item is a process for the Board to affirm how to proceed with allocating funds remaining of the $12 8 million initially designated for the CHCCS Elementary School #10. The Board has already appropriated $3.5 million for the OCS Middle School #3 and $4.3 million for the CHCCS High School #3. The staff recommendation was for the Board to consider the remaining appropriations for the projects as listed in the abstract. Commissioner .Jacobs said that the only change he would make is to try and find more money for conservation easements. He said that Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stencil sent him an email that someone from the federal government wants to come and do an event with Orange County because it has reached $10 million that they have given North Carolina in conservation easements since the early 80's He believes that Orange County has received $2 million just in the last few years. Orange County has the model program, and he is concerned that they will run out of money in the next two -year period. Budget Director Donna Dean said that they have talked about moving some of the Lands Legacy money into conservation easements. Commissioner Jacobs said that he is comfortable with not changing this as long as there is some general agreement that there will be sufficient money to keep this program viable. Commissioner Gordon said that she is not ready to decide this yet because she does not know the other options. She thought that when the Board approved the conservation easements, it agreed to look over and evaluate the criteria. Commissioner Halkiotis said that Commissioner Jacobs' suggestion is very valuable. He thinks that the rural community has benefited immensely from the conservation easements. He agrees with Commissioner Jacobs in principle He challenged the Manager and staff to figure