Minutes 12-09-2025-Business Meeting

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3 wished everyone happy holidays and said she is looking forward to working with the Board in 2026. Commissioner Carter echoed thanks to Commissioner Bedford and expanded on Commissioner Fowler's Tax Assessment Work Group update. She emphasized that the group had held four meetings in the last six weeks, with great work underway to get an RFP out for a consultant who would provide recommendations in the first quarter of the new year. Commissioner Carter highlighted a presentation from Wake County's tax assessor, who had been recognized by advocates and other assessors around the state for some innovative approaches. Wake County's changes included technology updates, bringing staff in-house, transitioning commercial appraisals in-house, moving to a two-year reappraisal cycle, and approaching everything with a customer service mindset. They were integrating operations with CRM software and their call center platform and notably were taking advantage of the local relationship with SAS, also based out of Wake County, to implement machine learning in their processes. She said she is excited to address the very valid concerns expressed by residents this year and shared that, in visiting a Chapel Hill neighborhood with a resident, those experiencing "valuation and tax sticker shock" appreciated that the Board was taking action. She noted that the WCHL interview would be on Thursday between 3:00 and 6:00 PM, and wished everyone happy, healthy, and safe holidays. Commissioner Greene wished happy holidays to everyone present and to the county's hardworking staff. She reported that the previous weekend's Abolition Day events went well, with one more event scheduled for tomorrow evening at 5:00 PM at the Seymour Center- a screening of Ava DuVernay's documentary The 13th about the prison industrial system and how it exploits a loophole in the 13th Amendment. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion including County Deputy Manager Cait Fenhagen. Chair Hamilton reported on the Alliance Health Board meeting she attended and said a letter was being sent to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services about concerns regarding Alliance Health's ability to continue meeting behavioral health needs due to being "financially squeezed." She promised to share the letter with the Board. Chair Hamilton highlighted an information item on the agenda about the Human Services Work Group, commending Deputy Manager Cait Fenhagen for her work. She emphasized it is vital that in this environment, where there is less funding and rising human services needs, to figure out how we can do it better and ensure more coordination between departments. She mentioned she would email information about cold-weather cots, which had been activated due to the recent cold temperatures, thanking all staff working to protect residents. She also thanked the community for their donations to the toy drive. She thanked everyone and wished them happy and safe holidays, noting this was the Board's last business meeting of the year. 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations None. 5. Public Hearings a. Public Hearing Regarding a Proposed Economic Development Recruitment Incentive and Performance Agreement Between Orange County and CITEL America, Inc. (Project Rooster The Board received the proposal to consider entering a Performance Agreement for the purpose of incentivizing CITEL's investment in Orange County; conducted the Public Hearing and receive public comments, and approved the performance-based incentive agreement between Orange County and CITEL America, Inc., subject to final review by the County Attorney, authorized the Chair to sign the Performance Agreement on behalf of the County, and authorized the County