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2 <br /> the Alliance Health Board of Directors, and she looks forward to hearing how they will continue to <br /> serve the most vulnerable county residents. <br /> Commissioner Fowler recognized the two proclamations on the consent agenda: <br /> Recognition of Child Care Work Appreciation Day, and Mental Health Awareness Month. She <br /> said they will not be read aloud tonight due to the packed agenda, but are available to read in the <br /> agenda packet. She recognized the importance of early childhood care providers to the health, <br /> safety, and development of children, as well as to the local economy as it allows parents of young <br /> children to join the workforce. She said even though we are coming out of the pandemic, there <br /> continues to be a significant number of people experiencing mental health challenges. She <br /> thanked partners in the county and the schools, as well as Alliance Health for their work to improve <br /> mental health care in Orange County. She encouraged anyone experiencing mental health issues <br /> to reach out to their provider, Alliance Health, or to call 9-8-8. She announced her attendance at <br /> the Chamber of Commerce event last week where each of the county and towns' Economic <br /> Development directors presented current development in the county. <br /> Chair Bedford said the other proclamation on the consent agenda is to recognize Older <br /> Americans Month. She said people age differently and there is a growing population of seniors in <br /> Orange County and she appreciates their contributions. She said there is a pilot expanding to <br /> Orange County through Alliance Health that will work with residents with traumatic brain injuries. <br /> She said there will be more news to follow on that. <br /> Vice-Chair McKee had no comments. <br /> Commissioner Richards thanked Commissioner Fowler and Chair Bedford for recognizing <br /> the proclamations on the consent agenda. She said she continues to work with the Orange <br /> Partnership for Young Children, and will be meeting with staff this week on some follow up on a <br /> the Board's petition to increase the availability of childcare and use the slots the county currently <br /> has. She thanked child care workers across the county. She also announced that it is Teacher <br /> Appreciation Day, and thanked educators in Orange County and expressed how important <br /> teachers are to educating children and said they deserve every bit of appreciation and more. She <br /> praised the Orange County Economic Development staff for their presentation at the event <br /> Commissioner Fowler mentioned. She shared that she also attended an arts competition on <br /> Sunday hosted by the Partnership for Young Children for participants under 5 years old. She said <br /> the youngest winner was 9 months old. The art of the winners will be displayed across the county <br /> for the next year. <br /> Vice-Chair McKee recognized Orange Grove Fire Department for their 5011 Anniversary <br /> event over the weekend. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she attended the Orange County Community Remembrance <br /> Coalition's Soil Collection Ceremony on Saturday at the Battle Courtroom. She said it was a very <br /> moving experience to honor five victims of lynching in Orange County in a very palpable way by <br /> placing soil from where they were lynched into two big jars. She said one will go to the Lynching <br /> Museum in Montgomery, Alabama sponsored by the Equal Justice Initiative, and the other will <br /> stay in Orange County. She said the Community Remembrance Coalition will have another event <br /> this coming Saturday also at the Battle Courtroom, which will be a panel discussion of Albion <br /> Tourgee, an important figure who touched ground in Orange County. <br /> Commissioner Greene said GoTriangle met last week and discussed when/if to re- <br /> introduce fares. She said she thinks, whatever is decided, surrounding public transportation <br /> entities should remain coordinated and consistent. She said she has also been attending the <br /> meetings discussing transitioning UNC Chapel Hill from its reliance on coal that has involved <br /> Senator Meyer and his office, UNC's Sustainability Office, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, some UNC <br /> students, and others. She said UNC is very interested in these discussions. She said two studies <br /> will be done—one funded by UNC about what it would really look like to transition off of coal. She <br /> said the other study would involve Orange County because it plans for the going away of the rail <br /> line that brings the coal through Orange County onto campus. She said it will look into the <br />