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<br />BOOK ~ PACE S29
<br />During the past eight years the Orange County Board oP Commissioners
<br />have endorsed legislation which has resulted in a State Uniform Fee Bi11,
<br />@uelification of Notaries, authvritq for the Register of Deeds to sot as a
<br />notary public and to administer oaths, the aaceptanae of out of state phyaiaal
<br />examination for marriage applicants and other legislation which was being
<br />proposed by the North Carolina Register of Deeds Asaooiation. '
<br />!"' The Register of Deeds quarters were enlarged as were the Clerk of
<br />Courts, Sheriffs, Tax Collectors, and a new court room was completed for
<br />- the expanded court system. Quarters for the full time registration bq the
<br />Board of Elections was provided as was apace for many other a. 2 am not
<br />sure that the people of this county fully realize the advantages of fill
<br />time registration with its loose leaf booklets and its permanent sgatem which
<br />was added during this peripd. The State Board of Elections has been very
<br />complimentarq.
<br />New programs such as the Community Action Agency with its mgriad of
<br />activities, the Mental Health Association from which you well could have an
<br />entire program, the Human Relations Council, and too many others to list
<br />were added during this period. Two fire districts which later were taken
<br />into the Town of Chapel Hill and ono west of Carrboro were established.
<br />Of interest to everyone should be the road programs during this period.
<br />The State either by contrast or with their own crews on about 37 miles did
<br />about'$3,000,000 of work; such as, the work on East Franklin Street and the
<br />Airport Road, the widening of 15-501 at Eastgata, the paving of some streets
<br />in Hillsborough and Mebane, the establishing of a truck weighing station on
<br />I-85, the improving and paving of NC 86 from near New Hope Church to 2-85
<br />and from US 70 tp the Caswell County line, and the resurfacing of two sections
<br />oP primary and eight sections of secondary roads.
<br />The County Commissioners were slightly involved in the rest oP the
<br />programs which spent about $3,500,000. This aoasiated of the secondary road
<br />program ($2,217,615 over eight years), and Governor Moores Bond Pro,jeata
<br />($971,100 over five pears} which together paved 112.75 miles and stabilized
<br />far future paving another !}.2.75 miles, the addition of about 21 miles to the
<br />secondary system at a cost of $35,000, the fixing of access roads to public
<br />schools at a coat of $238,332 and access roads to industry at a coat of
<br />$31,000, and the establishing of signals at intersections at a coat oP $35,830.
<br />This is a grand total pf $6,500,000. For your information, the 2¢ per
<br />gallon gaaoline tax will permit the same amount of work to be done annually
<br />as was done with stat®-wide bonds issued during Governor Moores term. The
<br />state spends about $275,000 per year. Moores bonds about $195,000 per year.
<br />This is about $195,000 per year to go with the Status regular annual
<br />expenditure in Orange of about $275,000. On the horizon and of keen interest
<br />to you is the improving of Hi hway 5)L from Graham to the Carrbaro bq-pass,
<br />the four-lancing of Highway 5~ from Orange County to the Research Triangle
<br />Park, and the coming of Interstate !}0 aaroas Orange County from near
<br />Hillsborough to the Research Triangle Park and an to I-95 near Smithfield.
<br />It has been my proud pleasure to serve during this peripd with Commisaionera
<br />Donald Stanford, Gordon Cleveland, Henry Walker, Harvey Bennett, William Ray,
<br />and Ira Ward. I want to thank each of them for their tireless and dedicated
<br />service to Orange County. Especially do 2 wish to thank Harvey Bennett f'or
<br />stepping aside as chairman for the past two years so that I might benefit
<br />#~om this additional exuarience.
<br />Let m® commend to each of you the fine administration that this oounty
<br />has had under Sam Gattia and the splendid work of a good group of county
<br />employees. Yvu have every reason to be proud of your County.
<br />There being no further business to Dome before the Board the meeting
<br />was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, December 10, 1970, and on January
<br />1~., 1971, for a publio hearing.
<br />Harvey D. Bennett, Chairman
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<br />Betty dune Hayes, Clerk
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