Minutes 12-01-2025-Business Meeting

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2 Commissioner Portie-Ascott volunteered to serve as the voting delegate for NCACC. The Commissioners agreed by consensus. Commissioner Portie-Ascott was nominated by Commissioner Bedford to serve as the alternate voting delegate for NACo. The Commissioners agreed by consensus. Commissioner McKee volunteered to serve as the alternate voting delegate for NCACC. The Commissioners agreed by consensus. 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda Chair Hamilton read the public charge. 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Adam Beeman said he is running for the at-large seat on Board of County Commissioners. He said the county needed to expand access to wastewater treatment. He said that historically, the county has pushed people towards private wells and septic systems. He said he is hearing more about community septic in areas without central sewer. He said that is going in the wrong direction. He said wastewater isn't just pipes and pumps, but is a public health long-term cost. He said central systems, such as OWASA, Hillsborough, and Mebane are investing in additional capacity. He said communities around the county are making room for more users. He said businesses look for sewer availability and clear boundaries before investing. He said when businesses see boundaries tightening, like in Hillsborough, they look elsewhere and take their property taxes and jobs, which does nothing to help the Orange County homeowner with an over- growing tax bill. He said when we haven't planned our wastewater system well, we are choosing to fund everything off the backs of homeowners. He said leaning on private and community septic and wells looks flexible and cheap on paper. He said community systems are complex to operate, easy to undermaintain, and when they fail, they fail with big backups, contamination, emergency contracts, and pressure on the Board to run central sewer. He gave an example of the Piney Mountain situation in 1987. He asked the Board to make central wastewater the backbone of the county's growth strategy. He asked the Board to align land use, service boundaries, and capital spending so growth supports affordability, public health, and a stronger commercial tax base. b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner Greene said there are upcoming events this weekend to recognize Abolition Day. She said there is an event on December 5 at UNC's Kenan Theater with Mike Wiley. She said the event is free, but registration is required on the Chapel Hill Public Library website. She said on December 6, there is an event at the Century Center in Carrboro featuring Justice Anita Earls and Martha S. Jones, a historian from Johns Hopkins University. She said there will also be two panel discussions with eight local legal historians. She said also on December 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Flyleaf Books Professor Jones will talk about her memoir The Trouble with Color and Commissioner Greene will participate in the conversation. She said on December 10, a documentary called "Thirteenth," which is about the prison industrial complex and how it furthers the same strategies of incarceration against black people that has been used since before the 13th amendment. She said it is at the Seymour Center at 5:00 p.m. Commissioner Portie-Ascott petitioned for the Board of Health memorandum included in the Information Items to be presented to the Board at their first business meeting in January. She said she enjoyed the Cedar Grove community Thanksgiving luncheon. She said there is fear in the community, and she hears it from people who are concerned about high taxes, immigrant