Minutes-11-02-2023-Business Meeting

Browse Search

2 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner Hamilton reminded everyone that there is a municipal election and review the dates and times for voting. She said she attended the October 25t" Central Pines Regional Council meeting, and the council received a $1 million planning grant through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. She said the council will work with counties and municipalities in the region to get proposals together and apply for up to $4.6 billion in funding. She said it's great to work with this organization who have the expertise to assist with federal grants and bring that funding to our communities. She said she attended the Alliance Health Board meeting this afternoon. She explained that Alliance Health is the County's LME/MCO, which is a mental health organization that provides mental health services to residents with Medicaid and those without insurance. She said the state wants to reduce the number of LME/MCOs and the plans for that will be coming out soon. Chair Bedford petitioned staff to consider whether neighborhood information meetings for special use permits, conditional districts, and governmental uses can be sent to renters as well as property owners in the impacted communities. She also petitioned staff to review the criteria for solid waste sites in different planning areas as part of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. She said she and Commissioner Portie-Ascott went to a kickoff for the Comprehensive Plan last week and said she looks forward to that process. She said she went to Raleigh today to an open house for a behavioral health urgent care and a clubhouse program for folks with mental illness, which was around the corner. She said they did not have a diversion facility there, but it was still interesting to see. She also said there will be an Orange County Veteran's Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, November 10t"at 11:00 am at the Veteran's Memorial on Homestead Rd. in Chapel Hill. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she attended the Medline Industries ribbon-cutting with Vice-Chair McKee and Commissioner Fowler and they took a tour of the facility. She said she attended a community meeting at Mt. Zion AME Church and shared information with them on how to participate in upcoming engagements sessions on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. She said she attended a class conducted at the UNC School of Government, and the instructor explained the plan to decrease LME/MCOs in detail. She thanked Laura Jensen for coordinating a tour for her to see AL Stanback and Partnership Academy. She said the tours helped her visualize some of the things that were discussed by the Schools Capital Needs consultants in their presentation to the Board. Commissioner Greene said she participated in the Walk to School and dance party at Ephesus Elementary on October 51" and was also given a tour. She said she got to see some of the building needs but also got to see all of the great work happening in the classroom. She said November is National Novel Writing Month and the Orange County Library will be hosting a Write- In on Saturday from 9:00 am-6:00 pm. She said there will be a country ham, sausage, and egg breakfast at Schley Grange on November 41" Commissioner Fowler said she attended the Cooperative Extension Breakfast on October 19t" and there was great programming on 4-H and support for gardening, farming, and nutrition. She said it was amazing to see the technology being used at Medline Industries when she attended the ribbon cutting. On October 251" she said she attended the Inter-Governmental Parks Work Group and reported that there will be an updated Interactive Parks and Trails map including new additions and repaired links. She said she attended the Chamber Women's Networking Friendsgiving at the Fearrington. She said there was a presentation on the importance of culture to leading an organization. She said she also looks forward to the Veteran's Breakfast at the Passmore Center on November 10t" as well as the breakfast at Schley Grange. Vice-Chair McKee arrived at 7:14 p.m. Vice-Chair McKee said there will be a table for Lumos at the Schley Grange breakfast.