Minutes 09-16-2025-Business Meeting

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