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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 October 7, 2025 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, October <br /> 9 7, 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 <br /> 22 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 23 A motion was made by Chair Bedford and seconded by Commissioner McKee to remove <br /> 24 item 8-d from the agenda. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Commissioner McKee noted that one applicant for item 11 was not included in the agenda <br /> 29 packet and asked that the Board take time to review the application before making a decision. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Chair Bedford read the public charge. She reviewed the instructions for making public <br /> 32 comment. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 35 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 36 Sara Stephens from Duke Energy said she is the new district manager with Duke Energy, <br /> 37 and she will be the county's representative. <br /> 38 An individual named Gurley said he wanted to speak on a possible bridge at Ayr Mount <br /> 39 and asked for more information. <br /> 40 Chair Bedford said that would probably be a topic for the Town of Hillsborough or the non- <br /> 41 profit. <br /> 42 Laura Streitfeld requested that a discussion on the Strategic Communications Work Group <br /> 43 be put on a future agenda. She suggested changes to improve communications with the public. <br /> 44 She asked that Board of County Commissioners meetings be included in the weekly Orange <br /> 45 County newsletter and on social media posts, not just a separate link to events. She said Planning <br /> 46 Department project pages do not include outcomes of meetings. She asked the Board to consider <br /> 47 how they might engage the public more effectively in important decisions that are taking place. <br /> 48 She said it's important to have a big public turnout to influence decisions about land use and other <br /> 49 issues, but posted signs for planning and zoning meetings are small and illegible to passing <br /> 50 drivers. She said neighborhood meetings are run by developers who cannot advise neighbors <br /> 51 about the procedures for engaging in the process and don't appear to report thoroughly on some <br />