Agenda - 10-07-2008- 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 3 of 4 161 grid like road construction should be encouraged in the plan. This is the safest, most efficient way to move traffic along roadways. The plan should also specify where major roads should be constructed in the future, similar to what is done in Midwest where major roads were built a mile apart on a grid before any building developments were ever put in. Point three: Increase home safety. Incentives should be put in place to encourage people to minimize the use of wood in the construction of homes and other buildings. Outside of adornments like molding, I believe wood should even be prohibited in the construction of apartment complexes, office buildings, motel/hotels, and other multi-unit structures, mostly because; of the danger of fire. Countries in which wood is not used for construction have almost no building fires. And then, termites are another problem with wood. It is bad for the environment to be dousing one's property with dangerous chemicals to kill termites. Both fire and the use of,dangerous chemicals to kill termites could be avoided with non-wood building materials. We have lots of red clay in North Carolina that could be turned into sturdy, insect resistant, inflammable bricks. Incentives should be in place to increase their usage. Point four: With respect to fostering economic development in a sustainnble way in Orange County, I see the need for nthree-pronged approach. A. Encourage close collaboration with UNC researchers to develop new products, technologies, and services that can be "greenly," and cleanly developed and produced in Orange County. B. Since North Carolina is a state which denies workers the right to unionize and thereby protect themselves from the abuses of employers, it is incumbent on state and county governments to do that for them. The comprehensive plan should advocate for livable wages, and the 40 hour work week fior all employees. This would be one way of addressing the need for affordable housing, and the elimination of poverty. C. Improve education to meet the needs and talents of all children. I think we know how to educate academic, college bound kinds of students; but we still have a way to go if we want to develop swell-trained, competent cadre of trades people. In order to do that,. we need to show respect and appreciation for students who are more inclined toward vocational competencies, rather than academic skills. We must show our respect by offering top notch training and apprenticeship programs in a variety of vocational careers at the beginning of a student's high school career. Students who opt for a vocational track should have the option of participating in any vocational program within the county, either at a high school, or a community college, if a comparable program is not offered at 6/6/2008