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1 <br /> APPROVED 4115/25 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> March 6, 2025 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Thursday, March 6, <br /> 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton <br /> and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, and Earl McKee <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT. John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT. County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present <br /> except Commissioner Portie-Ascott. <br /> Chair Bedford read the public charge. She explained the process for making public <br /> comments for items not on the agenda vs. items that are on the agenda. She indicated that only <br /> the five people that signed up to speak for item 5-a on February 4, 2025 and were unable to speak <br /> will be allowed to speak during the public hearing. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> None. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> None. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner McKee said he is the Board's representative on the Orange County Fire <br /> Chief's Association and attended their meeting last night. He said Orange County had a 19-acre <br /> wood fire the previous Sunday and commended the many fire departments that responded and <br /> got the fire under control. He said part of the discussion at the meeting centered around <br /> communications towers and additional equipment that are going to be implemented over the next <br /> few years. He said these are costly, but worth it for community safety. <br /> Commissioner Carter said that she and Vice-Chair Hamilton had the privilege to attend <br /> the NACo conference in Washington, D.C. this past week. She said they were able to spotlight <br /> the work of the Stepping Up Initiative here in Orange County, which started in 2015. She said she <br /> is looking forward to getting feedback from county commissioners across the country on that <br /> initiative. She explained that the courts, the Sheriff, larger law enforcement community, <br /> Emergency Services, and numerous other partners have participated over the years with the <br /> Criminal Justice Resources Department on the Stepping Up Initiative. She shared that the <br />