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1 <br /> APPROVED 6117/25 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> May 6, 2025 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 6, <br /> 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton <br /> and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.All commissioners were present. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> There were no changes to the agenda. <br /> Chair Bedford read the public charge and explained the process for making public <br /> comments. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> Beverly Scarlett read a short passage on the history of discriminatory taxation in North <br /> Carolina. She said that residents are still experiencing discriminatory taxation with revaluation. <br /> She described the impacts of discriminatory taxation on families. She said it was important to <br /> remember land owners who are legacy land owners in the county. She asked what residents <br /> like her, as legacy land owners, are supposed to do. She said it is less about race now and <br /> more about socio-economic status. She said that the poorer people are getting taxed more and <br /> the wealthy people are taxed less. She said she has participated in 20 appeals and shared <br /> information about her research with the Board of Commissioners. <br /> Soteria Shepperson thanked the JCPC committee members who have recommended <br /> funding for Grow Your World, the non-profit she is co-executive director of. She said they have <br /> had significant community impacts. She thanked those in the community who support Grow <br /> Your World. She said they are hoping to partner with AL Stanback to provide mentoring. She <br /> described some of the successes the organization had in the past year through their programs. <br /> Sophie Suberman, also a co-executive director of Grow Your World, said it's easier to <br /> access a vape than free afterschool mentoring. She said that opioid funding requests for county <br /> and community-based programs are considered separately. She expressed concern that equity <br /> is not achieved by separating funding. She said community-based programs serve those most <br /> impacted by addiction. She read some of the positive comments students made about <br /> participating in the mentorship program at Grow Your World. <br /> Mary Leonhardi said the Styrofoam recycling program she participates in has grown and <br /> needs the support of a larger organization to continue its success. She encouraged the county <br /> to look into Styrofoam recycling. <br />