Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
APPROVED 6121199 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />Regular Meeting <br />February 16, 1999 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 16, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. <br />in the Board room at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Alice M. Gordon and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Moses <br />Carey, Jr., Stephen H. Halkiotis and Barry Jacobs. <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill <br />STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser and <br />Clerk to the Board, Beverly A. Blythe. All other staff will be identified as appropriate. <br />Prior to the County Commissioners meeting, The Disability Awareness Council held a reception at 7:00 to <br />celebrate their receiving a $2,500 award from the National Organization on Disability and United Parcel Service. <br />The Orange County Disability A wareness Council won the award for increasing the participation of people with <br />disabilities in community life. <br />1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA <br />The Board agreed to add to the agenda a Closed Session for the purpose "to establish the County's position and <br />to instruct the County Manager and the County Attorney on the negotiating position regarding the terms of a contract to <br />purchase real property," NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5). <br />2. CITIZEN & AUDIENCE COMMENTS <br />a. Matters on the Printed Agenda - NONE <br />b. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br />Chair Gordon asked that citizens who would like to speak to an item on the printed agenda to please sign <br />the clipboard so they are not overlooked. <br />PUBLIC CHARGE <br />Chair Gordon dispensed with the reading of the public charge. <br />3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned the accident that happened last week at the railway crossing located at the <br />Burnsville intersection. He urged the Board of County Commissioners to write another letter to ask for signaling at this <br />railroad crossing. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he was surprised when he received a call about the 150,000 gallon hog spill in <br />Orange County. He wants the staff to know he appreciated the update from Extension Director Fletcher Barber. He <br />understands that the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the County Extension Director have tried to help <br />this person. However, this person has such an attitude that the Sheriff's deputies must accompany state officials when <br />they go to his home. He asked if there are any other situations like this in Orange County and John Link said that he is <br />not aware of any. The individual today has begun to work with the County to initiate best management practices. <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to a newspaper article which said that Orange County is second in the state <br />in abandoned lagoons. She is concerned because of the drinking water watersheds. She asked for a report on these <br />abandoned lagoons and Commissioner Jacobs agreed saying that he was told by the Soil and Water Conservation <br />Department that the article in the News and Observer was grossly inaccurate. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the CP&L intervention and asked for a report on what the County's <br />consultant filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on behalf of the County. Also, he asked for an accounting of <br />what others have donated to this cause, how much money has been committed, and the short-term and long-term costs. <br />John Link said that they did get a response from Diane Curran on the cost of each step in the process which he <br />will provide to the County Commissioners. <br />Chair Gordon said that responses have been received from Dr. Thompson and Diane Curran on what they filed <br />last Friday. She mentioned that we are trying to schedule a meeting with our legislative delegation.