Minutes 04-02-2024 - Business Meeting

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