HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19730220MINU'PES CF THE ORANGE COIINTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
February 20, 1973 '~ .4 ~ P: CE 53~
The Board of County Commissioners of Orange County met in regular session
at 5;00 o~clock p.Nl. on Tuesday, February 20, 1973, in the Diatriat Courtroom
of the Caui'thouae in Hillsborough.
Members present; Chairman C. Norman Walker and Commissioners Henry S. Walker,
Ira A. Ward, Flora Garrett and Riahaxd E. Whitted.
Members Absent: None
Chairman Walker announced that this meeting had been anheduled for the
purpose of hearing from representatives of any of the munisipalitiea ox special
tax distriots relative to the 1973 tax year assessment ratio.
Mrs. Mary Scroggs, Chairman of the Chapel Hi11 School Board, spoke in
behalf of the Board adopting a one hundred (1000 percent assessment ratio:.,
Upon the conclusion of her request she asked Robert Hanes, Superintendent of
the Chapel Hill School System, to state hfs views on the requested ratio
Mr. Hanes stated that in view of the increases that were being experienced
in operating cost that a higher tax ratio would be necessary to provide an
adequate tax base.
Chairman 4lalker read a lettex from the Hillsborough Town Board. Said
letter requested that the Board of Comanisaionexa consider establishing the 1973
assessment ratio at one hundred (1000 percent of value. No other persons were
present to diacuea the pros or cons of the matter.
The Chairman reoognizad Mary Davison. Mrs. Davison stated that a
Statewide Planning Committee had recommended to the General Assembly that an
Emergency Medical Sexwices Department be established within the department of
Human Reaouraea. If this proposal should be enacted then it would require the
establishment of an Emergency Medial Services Advisory Council be created
in each county of the state. This would mean that a sufficient upgrading oP
the training required oP local providers of local medical services and it would
be the responsibility of each County sounoil to coordinate all medical services
with plans that were developed on a state level.
Chairman Walker reoognizad Stan Whitfield, Representative of the New Hope
Rescue Squad. Mr. Whitfield stated that the newly organized New Hope Rescue
Squad was pexma.nently quartered in the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department
building and that they were using an ambulance unit which had been donated to
them by the South Orange Rescue Squatl unit. Be stated that the current member
ship was twenty nine, but that the unit hoped tv inareaae its membership to
between thirty five and forty persona. The squad was attempting to raise about
$8,000 to purchase equipment and a new ambulance and that they would appreciate
any financial assistance that the County could render.
Mark Burnham presented amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance entitled
"Planned Unit Development". He stated that theca amendments were currently
being studied by the County planning Board.
Chairman Walker brought the matter of the 1973 assessment ratio back to the
attention of the Board. Cammisaioner F1oxa Garrett and Commissioner Richard E.
~rThitted atatad that they felt they could support an assessment ratio of one
hundred percent (1000 . Commissioner Ira A. Ward stated that he felt an
asaeaament ratio of one hundred percent (100;0 would compound the presently
existing inequity betzrean the real property tax paver and the personal property
tax payer, therefore, he was of the opinion that the one hundred neraent (100 e)
assessment re_tio was undesirable. Commissioner Henry S. Walker stated that he
had not fully made up his mind as to which assessment ratio would be suitable.
It was agreed that the Board would postpone notion on this matter until a later
date.
Chairman Walker stated that he felt the Board should consider the question
of financial asaietanae to the various rescue squads of the county. Cammisaioner
Ira A. Ward gave the background of the ambulance service that did exist in the
Southern portion of the County. Ha atatad that the Chapel Hi11 Funeral Home
- and the South Orange Rescue Squad were rendering service in the Southern part
of the County and that it was an established feat that both of these units were
needed in order to render proper ambulance care to the citizens of that area.
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Commissioner Richard E. Whitted presented the following proposed policy
for ambulance service;
Serviceange County~s participation in Providing nnergency Mediae].
For the purpose of this policy Bnergeneq Medical Service shall
include Ambulance Service and necessary First Aid for; accident
victims, Medical Emergencies, and transportation of bedridden patients
to and from medical treatment facilities. -
This service is currently being provided by two volunteer rescue
squads and a private Funeral Home in Chapel $i11 on a contractual basis j
with the County. The Orange County Board of Cozmnisaioners expresses
its appreciation for this much needed and excellent services that these
three unite are preaentlq providing.
The Board realizes that financial assistance from the County is
desirable so that this FAnergeney Medical Service may continue to be
provided in Orange County. The Board in an attempt to make appropriations
on an equitable and fair basis seta forth this policq.
VOLUNTEER PROVIDERS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Personnel - Since these are volunteer unite the County shall
not provide funds for the salaries of any personnel.
Building - The County shall u on r® ueat
Construction of a Ambulanceg3ervicea$uildinte in
extent of the Count ~ B• The
footage area large anoughrtocaccomodatelfour (~)q~e
vehicles (?Note; One storage area should also serve
as a service area).
Equipment - The County shall upon request, make annual approximations
and to subsidize the operating expenses of each volunteer
Support unit, Ths maximum a
ppropriation shall be $10,000 annually.
PRIVATELY OWNED PROVIDERS OF EI'~RGENCY SERVICES
The County shall reimburse private providers s reasonable and
customary fee on a claim by claim basis for providing services for
accidents and medical emergencies -only~ Transportation of bedridden
patients shall,be the responsibili Op the provider of the service,
Discussion ensued concerning the presented policy. It was agreed that
further consideration would be necessary before any action could be taken.
_IIpon motion of Commissioner Ira A. Ward, seconded by Commissioner Richard
y~l, 00 OttodthetSouth CrangenResoueiBq~dyindrecognition ofeserv3iaesarendered
and aervioes performed through Jung 30, 1873, and that a committee comprised
of two County Commissioners, one representative from each of the three
organized Resaua Squads operating is the County and one representative from the
Chapel Hill Funeral Home b® appointed as a committee to study and formulate
a policq for County assistance to agencies and organizations that are providing
emergency medical services to the County.
Chairman Walker appointed Commissioner Flora Garrett and Commissioner $enry
S. Walker to serve on the recently established committee.
Upon motion of CetrmLisaioner Flora Garrett, seconded by Commissiener Richard E•
Whitted, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
"Whereas the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, owns
and operates electric, telephone, water and sewer utilities, some or
all of the services of which are used by the citizens and aonsumars of
our political subdivision;
And [•IYiereas the Univeraitq, in the immediately foreseeable future
wial, apparently, sell or otherwise divest itself of the ownership and/or ,
operation of some or all of these utilities;
And Whereas 3t is vital that the provision of these utility aervioes
in future ba assured and the best way, economically and otherwise, to
assure such is to continue the ownership and/or operation of one or
some or all of such utilities in the hands of the consumers of auah;
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~~_r 7 P~~E 533
And Whereas technical studies-»engineering, economic, and legal--are
needed tv furnish this governing body the iriformati.on needed for deaisiona
on theee matters;
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And Whereas a formal entity of some t$pe is needed to arrange for and
supervise such studies Which entity (or other eatity(ies) sponsored by it)
could, also, advance bids or other proposals for acquisition and/or
operatSng one or some or all of such utilities and could, thereafter
aoquire and/vr operate suoh;
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~tnd Whereas such an entity would be representative of other politScal
subdivisions presently and prospectively using ouch utility services;
And Whereas a non-profit corporation would be an appropriate form for
suoh entity;
Now, Therefore, be it reao].ved that this governing body;
1) Finds as foot all foregoing in this $eaolution; and
2) Approves the incorporation of Consumers Utility Corporation and,
for that purpose, the filing of Artialea of Incorporation therefor,
in form and substance substantially shown an "Dchibit A" attached
hereto and made apart thereof; and
3) Appoints, as among the initial Directors thereof, Ira A. Ward,
Richard E. Whitted, and John L. McKee.
(This last one will be the seventh citizen or non-officer member
and h3.s name should be the third one on the Resolution of each
governing body.); and
!}) Finds that the public interest, including specifically the public
interest of this political subdivision, wov].d be best'served by all
actions foregoing in this Resolution."
Upon motion of Commissioner Ira A. :~!ard, seconded by Commissioner Richard
S. ?dhi.tted, the following Resolution was moved and unanimously adopted;
"?dhereas, the Board of Commissioners of Orange County has this date
adopted a resolution approving the incorporation of the Consumers Utility
Corporation, which corporation is authorized to have certain technical
studies made relative to the water, telephone and electric utilities of
the 'Chiversity of North Carolina; and whereas, said studies are neeeesary
for determining the feasibility of said Consumers Utility Corporation
acquiring one or more or s11 of said utilities:
NOW, THEREk'ORE, BB IT'RESOLVBD, that the Board of Commisaionere of
Orange County does reserve its judgment as to the feasibility of aoquiring
one or more of said utilities until 1t has the results of said technical
studies."
There being no further business to coma before the Board the meeting was
adjourned to meet again on Thursday, February 22, 1973.
C. Norman Walker, Chairman
~. M. Gatti s, Acting Clerk
MINUTES CF THE DRANGE COUPTTI'
BOARD OF COMMIS3IDNFRS
February 22, 1973
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in adjourned session on
Thursday, k'ebruary 22, 1973, at 8 o'clock P,M,
Members Present; Chairman C. Norman Walker and Commissioners Henry $,
Walker, Ira A. tdard, Flora Garrett and Richard E, Whitted.
Members Absent; None