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35 <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton said a new advisory board will bring on community leaders, and they <br /> will help get the word out. She said that they need to create an institution where people can come <br /> in and talk about issues, build trust, and then take that information out to their communities. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he often hears from community members that important <br /> information is not on the website, or it wasn't communicated through the radio or public signage. <br /> Commissioner Carter said that when the strategic communications plan is presented to <br /> the Board, they will hear that the Community Relations Director is engaging with communications <br /> leaders across different organizations. She said it's not the full scope of Vice-Chair Hamilton's <br /> suggestions, but it is a piece of the work. <br /> Chair Bedford said that during the census, for each census block, one or two community <br /> leaders participated. She said that the search engine for the website should be improved. She <br /> said that a previous proposal seven years ago was very expensive, but things may have changed. <br /> She said that people should be encouraged to sign up for the alert so they can get essential <br /> information. She noted that Durham has a "one-call" option, where a live person answers and <br /> they keep data on the questions and responses generated from program. She asked if the county <br /> hired communications specialists for various departments. <br /> Travis Myren said two or three were hired and distributed across bigger departments. He <br /> said that a discussion they need to have is if those positions should be centralized. <br /> Chair Bedford said she does not find the county to be effective at communication <br /> externally. She said that the proposed changes to the strategic communications plan should be <br /> tested and piloted. She said she isn't seeing an advisory group, but a way to pilot different <br /> methods of communications. <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton said that the communication specialists were expected to be liaisons <br /> to the community, but they got pulled into other roles at the county. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said the Family Success Alliance has community navigators who <br /> might be helpful in this work. <br /> Wil Glenn said the one-call program in Durham is a separate department. <br /> 4. Discussion on Tax Collector's Reports <br /> The Board: <br /> 1) received information on the statutory requirements of the Tax Office to make available <br /> tax collection reports to the BOCC at its Business meetings; <br /> 2) received explanations of the meanings behind the reports; and <br /> 3) provided input on the content of the reports. <br /> BACKGROUND: Each month at the early Business meeting of the Board of County <br /> Commissioners (BOCC), the Tax Office provides three Tax Collector's reports as information <br /> items: <br /> • Numerical Analysis <br /> • Measure of Enforced Collections <br /> • Foreclosure Chart <br /> At the Board's request, the Tax Office is providing a information to explain the purpose the reports <br /> serve for the BOCC and the public, the history of the reports and why they are provided. <br /> Additionally, the presentation will review each report, and the terminology used in the reports will <br /> be explained. In addition, how the enforced collection measures are used will be explained. <br /> Staff also request input from the Board on the content of the reports to ensure that the reports <br /> meet the data needs of the Board and the public, as well as the statutory requirements. <br />