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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19750121The Orange County Board of Gommissioners met on Tuesday, January 21, 1975, at 8 P,M. in the Commissioners Room at the Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Members Present: Chairman Flora Garrett, Commissioners Norm Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker, and Richard E. Whitted, Members Absent: Nvne, S. M. Gatos, County Administrator, Neal Evans, Fiscal Officer, A, B. Coleman, Jr County Attorney, and Betty June Hayes, Clerk to the Board, were also present. Chairman Garrett inquired of the Board if they would agree to defer from the Agenda to allow C. W. Davis to make a presentation. The Board agreed to defer from the Agenda, Mr. Davis requested the Board to consider allowing Union Grove Methodist Church to.file tax form AB'10 for 1975, He stated that the Church trustees were not aware of this exemption and, therefore, the deadline for filing the proper form was not met. The Board referred the matter to Bi11 Laws, Assistant Tax Supervisor, Chairman Garrett referred the Board to Item ~~1 on the Agenda: (Russell Nicholson: North Carolina Civil Preparedness Agency to make a short presentation concerning Civil Preparedness.) Russell Nicholson, Jim Buffalo, David Britt and Burch Compton, Civil Defense Director were present. A detailed program and discussion on the needs of Civil Preparedness were presented by these representatives. It was pointed out that the County could employ a full-time coordinator and secretary and that the Federal Government would assist in the training and finances of a permanent Civil Preparedness Department. Chairman Garrett asked, "Could we coordinate this into one Center?" Mr. Britt replied, "It certainly can be done, of course, you would be working with a different State Agency and very probably another Federal Agency involved. I will not attempt to speak to their role or preempt them in any manner. However, the role of Civil Preparedness is to coordinate all public functions within a jurisdiction. They don't direct anything, you as elected officials direct. The Federal Government has many programs and the State in turn administers or supports or adds to some of these programs. The decision on where to locate and how to operate belongs to Local Government. You could have an Emergency Operating Center in which medical commupication of medical directions could be brought to bear from that location the same as your Sheriff, your fire, your Rescue, as every other service you perform in your jurisdiction, could be done fron one center and this we recommend, its economical to begin with. It would give you a facility where you could gather together portions or all of these services at any time you choose. With the communications and facilities you could make your decisions and give your directions. To answer your question directly 'Yes Ma'am, it can all be placed in one facility if that is your decision',:' Chairman Garrett asked "What about half the cost of matching cost from the Federal Government?" Mr. $ritt replied, "When you get into matching funds the Federal Government will not allow any Federal money to match Federal money. Now Emergency Medical Service could put a certain amount of money in the facility and Civil Preparedness could put a certain amount in it. You would have to add up how many total dollars were Federal and Local must match that Proportionate share that is prescribed by each of the Federal Agencies. In the case of Civil Preparedness it is fifty (50%) per cent. I won't speak to the others because I might be wrong, but I do know you cannot match Federal money with Federal monies. It has to be Local vs: Federal. Chairman Garrett referred to Item ~~2 on the Agenda: (Mr, Fred Parker: Orange County Emergency Medical Services Council to review the goals of this Council and tv discuss their implementation.) Fred Parker, Dick $eauchane, Mary Davison and Dr. Tom Griggs of the Orange County Emergency Medical Service Council were present. _, These representatives were present to request that Orange County commit itself to participate in a Emergency Communication System, which is in the initial design stages. It was pointed out that this Emergency. Communication System would tie in with the needs that had been previously presented by the representatives from North Carolina Civil Preparedness Department. ~~~ The Board was also advised that the office of Emergency Medical Service had money to provide financial assistance to Local Government for the implementation of the communication system once they had been designed, It was specifically requested that a letter be addressed to Mr. James p, Page, Chief, State Office of Emergency Medical Services, stating that Orange County desires the additional design work now being conducted in this area to insure its interface with all other public safety agencies within the County and its configuration with new Federal Regulatory Guidelines for Emergency Medical Services Communications. Upon motion of Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, it was moved and adopted, that the Office of Emergency Medical Services be requested to complete the design work now being conducted in the area of the Emergency Medical Communication System. Chairman Garrett referred to Item aka on the Agenda: (Community Development Program: Any matters needing the attention of the Board at this time,) Chairman Garrett recognized Mark Burnham, of the Region J Council of Governments. Mr. Burnham read a Memo from Pearson Stewart concerning the passibility of funds being reduced for the Community Development Program. Mr. Burnham stated that there were three (3) entities that are involved and wanting to get going. Then super impose on that the need has development under Communication Development. These studies of 201 and 208 will help identify the area of need under the Community Development Program. That makes the County and Hillsborough extra anxious to get things under way. Now in this situation 208 is anxious to get something started, but they were hesitant to do the initiating on their own. They want to respond to needs rather than being at all dictorial, They would like Orange County to request them, through letter, to hold a meeting of the County and Hillsborough and 208 persons to study this situation and perhaps figure out what an appropriate area would be and get prepared £or some engineering work on the 201 area and that would have a great bearing on the Community Development Program that we are working for, Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Whitted, it was moved and adopted, that the Board write a letter requesting that a meeting be scheduled with Hillsborough and 208 Planning Group to delienate the area to instigate 201 proceedings. Chairman Garrett referred to Item ~k4 on the Agenda: (County Administrator: Report on progress toward acquiring County Planner.) Mr. Gattis advised the Board that there were three (3) candidates for the position of County Planner and that he was in the process of interviewing these individuals and that he hoped to have a decision on the matter on or about the first o£ February. Chairman Garrett referred to Item 4k5 on the Agenda: ( Continued discussion of proposed County Recreation Program.) Commissioner Whitted suggested that action be deferred on Item ~k5. The Board deferred action. Chairman Garrett referred to Item 4b6 on the Agenda: (Appointments: 'For information only' A. County Planning $oard: Charles Johnson, Term Expired 9/27/738 Giovanni Micol, Term Expired 9/27/738 Robert Sonar, Term Expired 12/6/74, B, County Board of Adjustments: Logan Irving, Term Expired 10/7/74. C. County Emergency Medical Services Council,) Commissioner Walker moved that the Board reappoint the persons named under Section A & B on the Agenda, Discussion ensued. Commissioner Walker then withdrew his motion. Chairman Garrett stated that she had been contacted by the Emergency Medical Service Council and that this Council recommended that Lacy Tinnin be reappointed as a member of the County Emergency Medical Service Council. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Whitted, it was moved and adopted, that Lacy Tinnin be reappointed as a member of the Emergency Medical Service Council. Chairman Garrett xeferxed to Item ~k7 on the Agenda: (Approval of minutes of Board for meetings of December 16th, 23rd and 30th.) Item:.:~k7 on the Agenda was deferred. Chairman Garrett referred to Item 9k8 on the Agenda: (Arts Council.) Chairman Garrett presented an announcement from North Carolina Axts Council. Said announcement advised the Board that a new program of cash grants to local government units for arts programming in their community. A total of $50,000 will be awarded in grants of $5,000 and less. Discussion ensued, ~' ~9 The Clerk was requested to write far additional information concerning said grants. Chairman Garrett referred to Item ~k9 on the Agenda: (increased Funding for National Association of Counties.) Chairman Garrett questioned the County Administrator about the increase dues of the National Association of Counties. Discussion ensued. No action was taken. Chairman Garrett referred to Item 410 on the Agenda: (Plat from County Planning Board for approval: A. Town of Carrboro.) Chairman Garrett recognized John McAdams of the firm Rose, Pridgen and Freeman. The County Administrator stated that last night a plat was presented by the Town of Carrboro to the county Planning Board. There was a question as to whether or not the plat could be approved. The County Planning $oard granted two (2) variances which they have the authority to do and unanimously approved the Carrboro plat. For as far as the Town of Carrboro is concerned, there is considerable urgency in getting that plat recorded as they would like to proceed with the securing of a Building Permit and start with the construction of a water tank right away. The variances issued by the Carrboro Planning Board were: One. A variance as to lot size. 'T'hey base that, as I understand it, on assumption that no water or sewerage connection are contemplated on this parcel of property. It is just a unit of ground on which a water tank is to be erected and they felt that the 40,000 square foot provision within the Ordinance really was unduly harsh. The Second variance was a variance as to the Right of Way, as the Ordinance requires a sixty (60) foot right of way. They felt that after the initial construction there would be no traffic into or put of this parcel.of land except two (2) or three (3) site visits for the purpose of inspecting the operation. Other than that there is no function for the right of way other than to handle the initial construction. So they unanimously approved the plat. This procedure is a little irregular. The Subdivision Ordinance does give the County Planning Board the authority to issue variances on plats. Discussion ensued. The County Attorney reviewed the position of the Town of Carrboro and the Board. John McAdams stated that neither of the adjoining property owners object to the construction pf the proposed water tank and the Town of Carrboro had planned to purchase additional land from Robert Oakes, however, it was learned that this property was covered by restrictive covenants which prevented the construction of anything in excess of sixty (60) feet in height. The proposed tank is to be one hundred (100) feet. There did not seem to be anything anyone could do about the restrictive covenants, so the Town kept one common property line and switched the tank site over to the Gilmore property. Discussion ensued concerning zone changes and further discussion ensued on the matter. No action was taken. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned for an Executive Session and also adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, January 29, 1975, at 8 p.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina. ~~ Flora Garrett, Chairman Betty June Hayes; Clerk Approved Items Filed: None.