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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 197504155~'7 The Board was reminded that they had dinner meetings an Tuesday, April 15th, and on Thursday, April 17th. The County Administrator stated that he had currently four applications for the position of Recreational Director, however, each applicant was interested in knowing something about the type of Budget that could be anticipated for a Recreational Program. Mr. Gattis advised the Board that apparently this was important in the hiring of a Director. Discussion ensued. There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned. Flora Garrett, Chairman Betty June Hayes, Clerk MINUTES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Tuesday, April 15, 1975 County The $oard of/Commissioners of Orange County met in regular session on Tuesday, April 15, 1975, in the Commissioners Room of the County Courthouse in Hillsborough at 8:00 p.m. All members were present. Dr. Chaa3es Martin submitted to the Board of Commissioners a budget for the Orange County Gouncil on the Aging and requested the Board give its tentative approval to this document. This early endorsement is requested in order that the Regional Council of Governments can file a region wide budget for the Council on the Aging with the State. only Dr. Martin acknowledged this was tentative budget approval/and would not be consideree final until a regular budget approval is made in June. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson offered a motion to give tentative approval to a budget apprppriation from Orange County of $31839.00 and endorsement of the Council's total budget of $43,413.00. i Commissioner Whitted offered a second. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. The Chairman read to the Board of Commissioners a list of four names presented by the County Association of Fire Chiefs in nomination to the newly created County Fire Commission: 1. J. E. T.atta _ 2. Eugene Wilson 3. Wilson Efland 4. Robert Strayhorn Commissioner Jar.. Pinney moved the Board of Commissioners approve this list of nominations by accumulation. Commissioner Richard Whitted offered a second Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. Chairman Garrett then stated the Board of Commissioners would now consider naming one of its Members to the Fire Commission. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson moved Commissioner Norman Walker be nominated as the Commissioner Fire Commission Member. Commissioner Norman Walker requested the Board of Commissioners delay voting on this motion and allow him to discuss the entire fire commission program with the other - members of the Commission before he decides whether or not he would accept the appoint- ment. The Board agreed to holding this motion open until Commissioner Walker had reached a decision about accepting this position. Chairman Garrett then mentioned some discussion. that had taken place with several fire department chiefs about a County Fire Marshall. In summary the fire chiefs had said that while a County Fire Marshall was needed the chiefs were not willing for funds to finance this position to be taken from special fire district funds. Commissioner Walker stated some areas felt a County Fire Marshall was necessary. A delegation was present to request the Board of Commissioners use its influence with the State Department of Transportation to improve State Highway 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Representatives of this groupp stated they had a petition con- taining 560 or more names requesting this improvemenE be made. 508 Commissioner Whined then offered the following resolution. REQUEST Ta NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR IMPROVEMENTS ~ TO-STATE HIGHWAY 86 BETWEEN, CHAPEL HILL.AND_HILL$BOROUGH . "For some time the Orange County Board of County Commissioners has been concerned about the condition of Highway 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough and the fact that there are presently no plans in the Department of Transportation for improvements to this highway. This highway is the primary route to County services for a majority of Orange County citizens and is presently inadequate for the volume of traffic. The amount of truck traffic has increased significantly in the_past two years with the opening of a sanitary landfill for the County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro located i just off Route 86 midway between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. This.:highway serves as a ma or link for Chapel Hill and Southern Orange County Resi- dents to the interstate hig~way system, and has for some time served as a detour far Route 54 between Chapel Hill and Graham. We realize that a part of the problem will be solved when Route 54 West is completed, however, Route .86 was never designed to accomodate the traffic volume that is presently traveling this route on a routine basis. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners strongly urge that Route 86 between Chapel :-Till and Hillsborough be given careful study and consideration as you update your PYimary Highway Improvement Program. Your cooperation in hel~ing Orange County with its greatest primary road problem will be greatly appreciated. Commissioner Norman Walker offered a second. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. Commissioner Richard Whined introduced Mr. Lowell Speight, Associate Dean of the Durham Technical Institute. Mr. Speight stated that he was here to discuss with the Board of Commissioners the possibility of creating an advisory Board to help survey the resources and needs of the community. The purpose of this survey is to determine whether or not a reason- able need exists within the community to warrant D. T. I: coming to Hillsborough to offer courses. Mr. Speight specifically requested the Board of Commissioners hey _ him select the advisory group he had just spoken about. This group , he felt, should have ten or twelve members. It might well contain representatives of the School System, from Extension Services, the Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development i Commission. Commissioner Richard Whitted moved the Board of Commissioners appoint this advisory committee and also endorse Mr. Speight's efforts to explore additional training possi- bilities in Orange County. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson inquired about the financial commitment of Orange County if this program actually were implemented. Mr. Speight rgalied by saying the County's obligation in this case would be to provide ,and maintain a building. His agency would be able to provide instructional personnel. He further stated his agency would probably be confronted with the same problems other State agencies are having in regard to funding. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson then offered a second to Commissioner Richard Whitted's motion to name the advisory committee. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. Mr. Kenneth Strayhorn representing the New Hope Rescue Squad made a brief report of the readiness condition of this Squad effective May 1st. He stated that in making the duty roster for the months of May and June the Squad is unable to provide volunteer attendants during the daylight hours either of these months. Also the Squad s treasury is not strong enough to pay for these attendants: Commissioner Pinney inquired about the number of calls the Squad was presently making.. Since January 1, 1975, Mr. Strayhorn replied, the Squad had made 58 calls which required 225 man hours of work during the period 1/1/75 - 3/30/75. Mr. Strayhorn then requested the Board of Cosrauission~s provide $1,560 to the New Hope Rescue Squad in order that they might hire two daytime attendants during the months of May and June. _ Commissioner Norman Walker offered a motion to this effect. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson offered a second. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson introduced Professor Marvin Silver, Jospeh 5traley and Dan Koenigshofer of the UNC Department of Physics who wished to discuss with the Board of Commissioners the possibility of a County-wide Energy Conservation Task Force. :r; S~~ Professor Marvin Silver spoke suggesting that at the local level a very creditable effort at energy conservation could be launched. At this level groups close to people could show to the public what is happening to the cost of energy and how best we can locally conserve. A group such as this would be quite a bit more effective than some more remote group organized with nationally recognized names. Dr, Joe Straley then reviewed with the Board a series of slides depicting the increased cost of energy, where he was personally using the most energy and suggested the only practical ways energy can be conserved. Dr. Straley stated that Mecklenburg, Forsyth, and Caldwell Counties already had organized Energy Task Forces. Dr. Dan Koenigshofer reviewed the cost implications of energy conservation touching upon such things as building orientation, a small reduction in hot water temperature and car pooling. Professor Silver summarized and pointed out again where the costs of energy will go during the next ten years. Today the average American spends 8% of his income for energy, by 1976 this will go up to 10% and 1985 to 25%. Commissioner Pinney asked if homes facing south or west might not use more energy in cooling than they .might have saved by being oriented in this direction rather than North, Professor Straley replied by saying this is probably not correct. Professor Silver suggested a group be asked to look at various County agencies and see how they can conserve energy. Commissioner Norman Gustaveson then suggested the Board proceed in two phases: I. A group with some expertise be organized to draw up some general guidelines. II. A group to conduct a long range energy conservation study be named. Membership tv both these groups should come from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, the County and the University. Commissioner Whitted moved we endorse the Energy Task Force concept at the Group I stage. Comma§sioner Norman Walker offered a second. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. It was agreed that Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough should be asked to join in with the County to organize this study. Commissioner Norman Walker moved that Cozmmissioner Norman Gustaveson be named Chairman of this group. It was agreed that Professors Straley, Silver and Koenigshofer would be named to this group. Chairman Garrett brought up the question of County endorsement of the special request of the Highway Department that the Soard of County Commissioners approve the Highway Department adding roads to the secondary system. It seemed to be the consensus of the Board of Commissioners that the request of the Highway Department be answered as follows: The Board of County Commissioners appreciates this opportunity to both comment and endorse the addition of roads to the system, however, the Board feels it is not in their .jurisdiction to decide on this matter and as such they feel any comment is inappropriate. The Board of Commissioners received from the Tax Supervisor a new property tax value on University Ma11. The Tax Supervisor explained haw these values were derived and recommended a $5,975,000 value be set on University Mall for the year 1974. Commissioner Jan Pinney offered a motion to this effect. A second came from Commissioner Norman Gustaveson. Vote: Ayes 5 Noes 0. Motion declared passed. There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned. ~(a-~ ~. Q ~~I` Flora Garrett, Chairman S: M: Gattis, Acting Glerk r