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Attachment 4 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 June 3, 2025 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, June 3, <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 Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> 13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Earl McKee <br /> 14 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT. John Roberts <br /> 15 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT. County Manager Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen <br /> 16 (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below). <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present <br /> 19 except Commissioner McKee. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 22 Chair Bedford made a motion to remove item 8-k from the Consent Agenda and refer it to <br /> 23 the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Fowler. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Kristin Prelipp, Assistant Community Relations Director, introduced the graduates of the <br /> 28 2025 Orange County Government Academy. She shared some information about what they <br /> 29 learned during their classes, and the group took a photo with the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> 30 Chair Bedford read the public charge and explained the process for making public <br /> 31 comments. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 34 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 35 Allison Mahaley said she understands and appreciates the needs that the Board is trying <br /> 36 to balance with the budget. She asked the Board to give special scrutiny to the Orange County <br /> 37 Sheriff's Office budget. She mentioned new employees over the past few years and updates to <br /> 38 law enforcement vehicles, along with other items. She said Orange County includes seven law <br /> 39 enforcement jurisdictions including the Sheriff's Office. She said SROs are not necessary in <br /> 40 school buildings based on her personal experience. She said the 16 years she worked with 11, <br /> 41 12, and 13-year-olds she never needed a law enforcement officer. <br /> 42 Bernadette Pelissier said she was previously on the Board of County Commissioners and <br /> 43 during that time she was the liaison to the Ag Preservation Board. She said that agricultural land <br /> 44 peres and if farmland is not preserved and houses are built, that land will never come back. She <br /> 45 said this is something happening nationwide. She said that she is concerned that if the <br /> 46 conservation easements are deferred for ten years, it will be forgotten. She said there was a <br /> 47 survey done in 2023 and 70% of respondents said farming was not their main source of their <br /> 48 income. She said that high cost of land and small profit margins make it hard to make a living <br /> 49 farming. She said that development is considered by residents and farmers as the biggest threat <br /> 50 to farmland in this county. She said that there is a lot of demand for conservation easements. She <br /> 51 said a lot of farmland has been lost. She said that they need to let farmers know that conservation <br />