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1 <br /> APPROVED 1112/23 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> September 19, 2023 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, <br /> September 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair McKee and <br /> Commissioners Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Jean Hamilton, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and <br /> Commissioner Richards <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager <br /> Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present, <br /> except Vice-Chair McKee and Commissioner Richards. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> Chair Bedford dispensed with reading the public charge. <br /> Commissioner Richards arrived at 7:01 pm. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> Mary Bratsch-Hines said Orange County Solid Waste will soon be seeking the Board's <br /> approval to build a large-scale waste and recycling center on land currently owned by OWASA at <br /> the corner of Orange Grove Rd. and HWY 54. She provided the Commissioners with a copy of a <br /> letter that she and other residents presented to OWASA last week in opposition to the proposed <br /> sale. She said the site plan developed by the Solid Waste Department does not represent the <br /> number of nearby homes. She said there are 70 residential properties within 2000 feet of the <br /> proposed site, including 35 homes that are within 1000 feet. She said this represents 2.5-4x <br /> greater residential density than exists within 1,000 feet of any other waste and recycling center in <br /> Orange County. She said other centers are sited alongside commercial or industrial properties, <br /> which is far more appropriate than in a residential area. She said her biggest concern is increased <br /> traffic because of closing the Bradshaw Quarry and Ferguson Rd. waste and recycling centers. <br /> She said the plan is for the new waste and recycling center to be open 6 days a week and would <br /> make traveling on that part of Orange Grove Rd. treacherous. She said her children and dozens <br /> of others ride the bus on this road each day. She said the bus stop is very close to the proposed <br /> site entrance, and the entrance is also on a blind curve in a 55 MPH zone. She said the intensified <br /> traffic places all at risk. She said rural residents haven't asked for a waste and recycling center, <br /> especially not at this price and location. <br /> Barry Lawrence said he and his wife live in the Collins Creek community which is adjacent <br /> to the proposed waste and recycling center on Orange Grove Rd. He said he is concerned by the <br /> smells, the noise, the traffic, and runoff this proposed plan would cause and the impact it may <br /> have on his property value, quality of life, and possibly contaminate his well. He said this proposal <br />