Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> talked with the DSS Director and staff at the reception to get a better understanding of traditional <br /> Medicaid vs. the Medicaid waiver program. She attended a special presentation on housing from <br /> the former Wake County planning director. She said it was interesting to see how they streamlined <br /> their permitting process for residents. <br /> Commissioner Greene agreed that the presentation Commissioner Portie-Ascott <br /> mentioned was very well done. She said her takeaway was the importance of combining land use <br /> with transportation planning. Commissioner Greene took a moment to recognize a couple of <br /> events that took place over the summer that the Board forgot to mention at their last meeting. She <br /> said the UPROAR festival was a tremendous success and hopes the Board and staff will support <br /> Katie Murray in planning another event. She said there was also a groundbreaking for the Lumos <br /> project, which will bring broadband to over 20,000 households in Orange County. She said <br /> because the Board used$10,000,000 directly from the federal government,this process is moving <br /> more quickly than some other counties using other funding sources. Commissioner Greene also <br /> encouraged everyone to get their vaccines this season. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton thanked Commissioner Greene for bringing attention to UPROAR <br /> and updates on Lumos. She said she attended the Alliance Health board meeting earlier this <br /> month. She said for those who don't know, Alliance Health is the Manage Care Organization for <br /> the county, which provides mental health services for residents with Medicaid and uninsured <br /> residents. She said Alliance Health is working hard to improve services to residents, get ready for <br /> Medicaid expansion, and have a plan to coordinate physical and mental health. Commissioner <br /> Hamilton said the Capital Needs Work Group is meeting tomorrow morning and will receive a <br /> report from a consultant regarding the capital needs of schools. She said this presentation will <br /> likely also take place at the joint meeting with the school boards on September 26`h <br /> Chair Bedford said two volunteers from the Board are needed to serve on the Naming <br /> Committee for the 203 Project. Commissioner Greene and Commissioner Richards volunteered <br /> to serve. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations <br /> a. Presentation of the Schools Safety Task Force Final Report <br /> The Board received a presentation on the Schools Safety Task Force Final Report. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Charge and composition of the Schools Safety Task Force were <br /> established at the Board's November 15, 2022 Business Meeting. With a subsequent amendment <br /> to the Charge approved at the Board of Commissioners' April 18, 2023 Business meeting, the <br /> Task Force was charged to: <br /> 1) Discuss ways in which the Orange County government, schools, law enforcement, and <br /> community can enhance the safety of the school environment to protect from external <br /> threats and promote the education of Orange County K-12 public school students; and <br /> 2) Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners new or amended policies, <br /> ordinances, and/or practices that will address those external threats and provide a safer <br /> school environment for our students, teachers and staff. <br /> Task Force members were appointed in December 2022 and January/February 2023. <br /> Commissioner Jean Hamilton and Commissioner Earl McKee served as Co-Chairs for the Task <br /> Force, and Retired District Court Judge Jay Bryan served as the facilitator. The Task Force met <br /> six times between February and June 2023 and explored the primary topic areas of: <br /> • Protest/demonstrations <br /> • Active Assailants, and <br /> • Public Access to School Property During School Hours. <br />