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1 <br /> APPROVED 8126/25 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> June 3, 2025 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, June 3, <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 Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Earl McKee <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen <br /> (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below). <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present <br /> except Commissioner McKee. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> Chair Bedford made a motion to remove item 8-k from the Consent Agenda and refer it to <br /> the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Fowler. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Kristin Prelipp, Assistant Community Relations Director, introduced the graduates of the <br /> 2025 Orange County Government Academy. She shared some information about what they <br /> learned during their classes, and the group took a photo with the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Chair Bedford read the public charge and explained the process for making public <br /> comments. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Aqenda <br /> Allison Mahaley said she understands and appreciates the needs that the Board is trying <br /> to balance with the budget. She asked the Board to give special scrutiny to the Orange County <br /> Sheriff's Office budget. She mentioned new employees over the past few years and updates to <br /> law enforcement vehicles, along with other items. She said Orange County includes seven law <br /> enforcement jurisdictions including the Sheriff's Office. She said SROs are not necessary in <br /> school buildings based on her personal experience. She said the 16 years she worked with 11, <br /> 12, and 13-year-olds she never needed a law enforcement officer. <br /> Bernadette Pelissier said she was previously on the Board of County Commissioners and <br /> during that time she was the liaison to the Ag Preservation Board. She said that agricultural land <br /> peres and if farmland is not preserved and houses are built, that land will never come back. She <br /> said this is something happening nationwide. She said that she is concerned that if the <br /> conservation easements are deferred for ten years, it will be forgotten. She said there was a <br /> survey done in 2023 and 70% of respondents said farming was not their main source of their <br /> income. She said that high cost of land and small profit margins make it hard to make a living <br /> farming. She said that development is considered by residents and farmers as the biggest threat <br /> to farmland in this county. She said that there is a lot of demand for conservation easements. She <br /> said a lot of farmland has been lost. She said that they need to let farmers know that conservation <br />