Agenda 10-21-2025; 8-a - Minutes for September 16, 2025 Business Meeting and September 25, 2025 Joint Meeting with Schools

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2 1 in her life. He said regardless of the outcome of the meeting, he will continue to push for 2 broadband internet in every part of the county. He said he intended to run for re-election in 3 2026. 4 Commissioner Greene thanked everyone in attendance. She said she attended the 5 reenactment of the V Provincial Congress of North Carolina in Hillsborough, where they talked 6 about democracy and standing up for freedom. 7 Commissioner Carter thanked everyone in attendance. She said the federal government 8 declared a major disaster for Orange County from Tropical Storm Chantal, which means that the 9 county and municipalities are now eligible to participate in FEMA public assistance requests. 10 She said that includes grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and 11 restoration and mitigation of facilities. She said there are lots of needs in the state, but she 12 expressed appreciation for the elected officials who made it happen. She said she attended a 13 reappraisal class at the School of Government in the previous week. She said she attended the 14 Partnership to End Homelessness town hall where there was a lot of engagement on how to 15 address the unhoused members of the community. 16 Chair Bedford had no comments. 17 Vice-Chair Hamilton thanked everyone in attendance and for all the comments sent in by 18 email. She said they welcome input from the community and that they always must work on 19 ways to communicate better. She said the Lumos situation is frustrating, and that the county 20 depends on funds from the state and federal government to do big infrastructure projects, as 21 well as public-private partnerships. She says they can see the limits of those arrangements. 22 She said broadband is a vital service and they wish they could have direct public funding for 23 providing that service. She petitioned to reconvene or reinstate the broadband task force to 24 figure out how they can serve the whole county. She said she attended the employee 25 appreciation event and thanked county employees for all the work they do. 26 Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked everyone in attendance and for the comments sent 27 in by email. She said she attended the Partnership to End Homelessness and the town hall, 28 where over 120 people were in attendance. She said they heard from non-profit providers, 29 leaders from the partnership, and a HUD technical assistance representative. She said that one 30 person suggested using empty buildings and then unhoused people could use that address to 31 get a job. She said another person suggested creating a safe encampment area. She said 32 listening closely to those who are unhoused and connecting them to housing with dignity is our 33 goal. She said attended the final session of the 51h cohort of the Hunt State Policy Institute. 34 She said their last session focused on higher education and workforce development. She said 35 she met a UNC student, Zachary Tucker, who is serving as an intern with the Hunt Institute and 36 his energy and curiosity helped her understand why their work matters. She said she attended 37 employee luncheon at Blackwood Farm and enjoyed meeting with employees. 38 Commissioner Fowler thanked everyone in attendance. She said that she attended the 39 Triangle West CAMPO rail subcommittee where they received a report on a rail study. She said 40 the goal is to develop a strategic approach to the incremental expansion of intercity passenger 41 rail within the greater metropolitan RTP area. She said this new approach seeks funding from 42 the federal railroad administration as opposed to the previous method of commuter rail 43 development funding through the FTA. She said the study created a matrix of possible small 44 projects between Mebane and Clayton, including stops in Hillsborough, Durham, RTP, and 45 Raleigh. She said she attended the employee luncheon and expressed her appreciation to 46 employees. She said she was heartened to see the turnout for the Homelessness in Orange 47 County update. She said she attended the behavioral health subcommittee and received a 48 presentation from Dr. Luke Smith of EI Futuro on the status of mental health needs and 49 resources in Orange County, particularly for the Latino population. She said the subcommittee 50 will attend the Last Fridays event in Hillsborough on September 26th, highlighting September as 51 suicide awareness month and providing information and resources such as 988 for individuals