Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> 1 there is a lack of respect for women in hockey. She said before the women's locker room was <br /> 2 removed, male referees and employees were allowed to use it without warning. She said that she <br /> 3 has walked into the women's locker room and found a group of grown men staring at her. She <br /> 4 has also been in the women's locker room when a male employee walked in. She said this is <br /> 5 unfair for women hockey players and she used to use it as a safe place to get ready. She said the <br /> 6 ice is not properly maintained and there are constant issues of cracking concrete, uneven ice, <br /> 7 uneven boards, and thin spots that cause damage when the skates hit the bottom concrete. She <br /> 8 said that as of right now, the Hogs have a one-year guarantee to use the SportsPlex and as a 43- <br /> 9 year-old organization, feels the Hogs are as much a part of the Sportsplex as the Sportsplex is to <br /> 10 the Hogs. She said she feels that they should be guaranteed a spot at the Sportsplex for many <br /> 11 more years to come. She said that she is concerned that if the Hogs leave, the Sportsplex <br /> 12 management will not be able to secure enough coaches to sustain the number of kids playing and <br /> 13 that are reached at an affordable price. She said that other programs run by the management <br /> 14 company should be allowed to run at the Sportsplex because the diversity in programming allows <br /> 15 the Sportsplex to represent the whole community. She said that she hopes to call the Sportsplex <br /> 16 home after college and into adulthood. <br /> 17 Gretchen Holquist said she is a parent of a current Hillsborough Hogs player. She said <br /> 18 that there is an unspoken sense that travel is better than rec sports, but rec sports are a very <br /> 19 important aspect of kids' lives. She said her son chose not to pursue travel hockey. She said this <br /> 20 month he will be representing Orange County in band. She said that would not have been possible <br /> 21 without the Hogs being flexible and encouraging him to do both. She said the management is <br /> 22 offering programs at more cost. She said they will place travel above the rec program. She said <br /> 23 the travel teams also represent a higher stream of revenue and the decisions will default to travel <br /> 24 due to the income needed to support the Sportsplex. She asked that the commissioners continue <br /> 25 to work to make sure that the Hogs are allowed to lead the recreational hockey program. <br /> 26 Alex Charns said the recreational hockey program is very important to him. He said he is <br /> 27 the father of Willo Charns that spoke earlier. He said that as a coach, he is at level four out of a <br /> 28 total of five in his certifications. He said that his son is a Zamboni driver and sometimes comes <br /> 29 home at 5:00 a.m. because he is out fixing the ice and he loves making sure it is ok. He thanked <br /> 30 the Board for what they have done and asked them to continue to do it. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 33 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 34 <br /> 35 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> 36 Commissioner Hamilton had no comments. <br /> 37 Commissioner Fowler said she attended the Board of Health meeting and heard from the <br /> 38 Campus and Community Coalition on their efforts to prevent alcohol abuse. She said they had a <br /> 39 thorough overview of the Community Health Assessment study. <br /> 40 Chair Bedford had no comments. <br /> 41 Vice-Chair Greene had no comments. <br /> 42 Commissioner Richards said she attended the Visitor's Bureau meeting on March 21. She <br /> 43 said a major international soccer match will be held in Orange County on July 23. She said she <br /> 44 attended the Jordan Lake stakeholder meeting, and that the Jordan Lake rules re-adoption is <br /> 45 underway. She said she also attended the NC Rural Summit on March 21 and 22. She said <br /> 46 people from all over the state attended and discussed many of the issues Orange County is <br /> 47 interested in, such as housing and land preservation. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 <br />