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1 <br /> APPROVED 5/5/26 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> April 7, 2026 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday,April 7, 2026, at 7:00 <br /> p.m. at the Whiffed Human Services Building in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jean Hamilton, Vice-Chair Amy Fowler, and Commissioners <br /> Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, and <br /> Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below.) <br /> Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.All commissioners were present. <br /> 1.Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> None. <br /> Chair Hamilton read the public charge and reviewed the instructions for making public comment. <br /> She noted that comments on printed agenda items would be taken when those specific matters come <br /> before the board. <br /> 2. Public Comments(Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> None. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below. <br /> 3.Announcements, Petitions,and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner McKee petitioned the board to include a discussion at the work session on Tuesday, <br /> April 1,2026,regarding the possibility of adding a provision to the Longtime Homeowners Assistance(LHA) <br /> Program. His proposal would hold harmless those residents 70 years or older who have owned their homes <br /> for 20 years and have income levels at 30% or below of Area Median Income from tax increases, as long <br /> as they own the house or until they pass away. He noted that this would benefit between 90 and 110 <br /> people and said he would bring information back to a work session. <br /> Commissioner Greene reported on the most recent GoTriangle meeting, sharing the encouraging <br /> news that ridership on routes 400 and 405 from Chapel Hill to Durham had doubled since the service <br /> moved to 15-minute frequency. She said it is a game changer when you can just walk up to the bus stop <br /> and know that a bus is coming any minute. On behalf of the Visitors Bureau, she announced that the <br /> Savannah Bananas would be coming to town over the weekend. She said it is a major coup for Chapel Hill <br /> because many towns were competing for this opportunity.She highlighted the Visitors Bureau's impressive <br /> return on investment for fiscal year 2024-25, with a $776,000 investment returning $9.9 million, largely <br /> driven by major soccer matches including the Manchester and Celtic Football Clubs and the Mexico and <br />