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Attachment 2 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 March 6, 2025 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Thursday, March 6, <br /> 9 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT. Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton <br /> 12 and Commissioners Marilyn Carter,Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, and Earl McKee <br /> 13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> 14 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT. John Roberts <br /> 15 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> 16 Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> 17 appropriately below) <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present <br /> 20 except Commissioner Portie-Ascott. <br /> 21 Chair Bedford read the public charge. She explained the process for making public <br /> 22 comments for items not on the agenda vs. items that are on the agenda. She indicated that only <br /> 23 the five people that signed up to speak for item 5-a on February 4, 2025 and were unable to speak <br /> 24 will be allowed to speak during the public hearing. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 27 None. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 <br /> 30 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 31 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 32 None. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 <br /> 35 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 36 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 37 <br /> 38 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> 39 Commissioner McKee said he is the Board's representative on the Orange County Fire <br /> 40 Chief's Association and attended their meeting last night. He said Orange County had a 19-acre <br /> 41 wood fire the previous Sunday and commended the many fire departments that responded and <br /> 42 got the fire under control. He said part of the discussion at the meeting centered around <br /> 43 communications towers and additional equipment that are going to be implemented over the next <br /> 44 few years. He said these are costly, but worth it for community safety. <br /> 45 Commissioner Carter said that she and Vice-Chair Hamilton had the privilege to attend <br /> 46 the NACo conference in Washington, D.C. this past week. She said they were able to spotlight <br /> 47 the work of the Stepping Up Initiative here in Orange County, which started in 2015. She said she <br /> 48 is looking forward to getting feedback from county commissioners across the country on that <br /> 49 initiative. She explained that the courts, the Sheriff, larger law enforcement community, <br /> 50 Emergency Services, and numerous other partners have participated over the years with the <br /> 51 Criminal Justice Resources Department on the Stepping Up Initiative. She shared that the <br />