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Attachment 1 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 September 4, 2025 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Thursday, <br /> 9 September 4, 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, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> 13 Ascott <br /> 14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> 15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> 17 Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> 18 appropriately below) <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present, <br /> 21 except Commissioner McKee. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 24 Chair Bedford made a motion to postpone item 6-a to a future meeting. Commissioner <br /> 25 Greene seconded the motion. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:01 p.m. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Chair Bedford read the public charge. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 34 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 35 Rebecca Gallegly spoke about her concerns regarding a proposed rezoning issue for a <br /> 36 78-acre development on Highway 86 that would affect her small neighborhood of 14 homes and <br /> 37 Eno River Academy. She expressed worry about the potential for sewage from over 50 septic <br /> 38 fields contaminating Strouds Creek, which is a major tributary to the Eno River and protected <br /> 39 watershed. She noted that Eno River Academy students use the creek daily as a significant <br /> 40 learning tool for creek studies and hiking. She asked the commissioners to consider not rezoning <br /> 41 the agricultural land for a development. <br /> 42 Cathy Owens shared a handout with the Board regarding the agricultural features of the <br /> 43 proposed development on Highway 86. She has lived at 158 Blackman Lane (also 1501 NC <br /> 44 Highway 86 North) in Hillsborough for 24 years. She emphasized the importance of agricultural <br /> 45 use and the rural buffer to their lifestyle and how they raise their children. She noted that the <br /> 46 developer consistently calls their pasture "vacant land," which she characterized as "smoke and <br /> 47 mirrors." She detailed the wildlife on the property including deer that neighbors rely on for food, <br /> 48 bears, wild turkeys, and mollusks in Strouds Creek. She mentioned that their barn is one of the <br /> 49 20 oldest dairy barns in North Carolina and that Daniel Boone has walked through their front yard. <br /> 50 She strongly advocated for maintaining the rural buffer. <br />