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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />August 27, 2025 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas & Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts/ <br />August Page 9 <br />D. Issuance of a Permit to Construct a Car Port <br /> <br />Motion to issue a permit to Mr. Richard Gurlitz allowing the construction of a car port on <br />his property as required by the recent district court decision was made by Commissioner <br />Amy Fowler, seconded by Dr. Shielda Rodgers, and carried without dissent. <br /> <br /> <br />IX. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action <br /> <br />A. Media Items <br /> <br />Libbie Hough, Communications Manager, presented the media packet to the board. Topics <br />included: legislation to protect workers from heat stress, several articles about youth mental <br />health, the elimination of funding for programs in the Fairview community, new funding for the <br />Great Trails State Program, recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Chantal, disproportionate <br />levels of homelessness among individuals who have been incarcerated, increased naloxone <br />trainings among law enforcement, and an update on the Chapel Hill Crisis Assistance, <br />Response, and Engagement (CARE) Team which partners clinicians with law enforcement to <br />address mental health issues. <br /> <br />Ms. Hough suggested revising the format of the media packet in the future, providing hyperlinks <br />alongside short summaries rather than a packet of articles; Board members expressed support <br />for this idea. <br /> <br />Ms. Hough also presented some updates that she has made to the website and thanked Board <br />members for providing feedback. <br /> <br />Media items were in the packet, which focused on Orange County’s events, our <br />involvement in various efforts, and various public health topics. <br /> <br />B. Upcoming Health Director’s Annual Review <br /> <br />Ms. Stewart reminded the Board that her annual review will be on the agenda at the September <br />meeting. She shared that the survey has been streamlined based on past feedback from the <br />board. Board members will receive an email link to NeoGov allowing them to log in and <br />complete her annual evaluation, which must be done in advance of the September meeting. <br /> <br />C. Health Directors Report <br /> <br />Ms. Stewart presented her report to the Board. Below are brief highlights of her report. <br />• Ms. Stewart applauded Dr. Rodgers for receiving the Visionary Pioneer award from her <br />alma mater, the University of Maryland School of Nursing. <br />• Ms. Stewart included some information in her report about Medicaid rebates and what <br />they mean. She shared that there is a committee which is trying to watch and anticipate <br />potential impacts of the Big, Beautiful Bill. So far, state tobacco control has taken a big <br />hit, with most of the staff being let go, but no program impacts are yet anticipated for the <br />Orange County Health Department. <br />• In July, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) informed the General <br />Assembly that they need $819M to maintain Medicaid as-is for FY2025-2026, not <br />including Medicaid Expansion; the General Assembly allocated $500M, $319M short. To <br />keep Medicaid operational, there will be cuts to the Medicaid reimbursement rate for