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3 <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she completed her orientation as district director for <br /> District 9 with NCACC, and said data fact sheets are available at NCACC.org that provide a <br /> clear picture of how Orange County performs across key areas. She emphasized that while data <br /> helps understand numbers, conversations with people help understand lived experiences. She <br /> attended meetings at Caldwell with Commissioners McKee and Carter, and met with the <br /> Neighbor to Neighbor Rural Organizing Committee with Commissioner McKee to share county <br /> updates. She petitioned the board to make biannual community town halls a regular practice <br /> starting January 2026, held in different parts of the county and livestreamed to keep <br /> communities informed and connected. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he supported the petition for a biannual community town hall <br /> and noted the advantages for residents to have another way to share information with the <br /> county. He said he attended the Justice United meeting the previous evening to hear more from <br /> residents. He highlighted item 8-r, honoring Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook. He petitioned <br /> management to look at the possibility of additional staff or outside appraisal personnel to <br /> perform full appraisals on each property under appeal and those already appealed, stating that <br /> if appraisals come in lower than the reevaluation, that appeal value should be honored, and that <br /> certified appraisals lower than county reevaluation should be honored. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation <br /> The Board approved a proclamation declaring October 2025 as Disability Employment <br /> Awareness Month in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: October is recognized nationally as Disability Employment Awareness Month <br /> and 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of this observance, which began in 1945 and has grown <br /> to honor the contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities, including those with mental <br /> health conditions and other non-apparent disabilities. Orange County affirms its commitment to <br /> inclusion, opportunity, and respect for all people, and recognizes the ongoing importance of <br /> expanding access to employment for individuals with disabilities and promoting inclusive <br /> practices that ensure people with disabilities have equal access to good jobs and opportunities. <br /> Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources Director, introduced the item. <br /> Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH <br /> OCTOBER 2025 <br /> WHEREAS, October is recognized nationally as Disability Employment Awareness Month; and <br /> WHEREAS, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of this observance, which began in 1945 with a <br /> focus on workers with physical disabilities and has since evolved to include the contributions of <br /> individuals with all types of disabilities, including mental health conditions and other <br /> nonapparent disabilities; and <br />