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MINUTES 'y
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OCTOBER 21, 1980
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session
on Tuesday, October 21 , 1980, at 7:30 P.M., in the Commissioners Room,
Orange County Courthouse, in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Commissioners present: Commissioners Gustaveson, Walker, and Willhoit.
Chairman Whitted and Commissioner Barnes sent messages they would arrive
shortly after the meeting convened.
Vice-Chairman Willhoit assumed the chair.
Agenda Item 1: Agenda Modification
Commissioner Gustaveson requested addition to the agenda of an
announcement concerning the Human Service Conference. The Chairman added
this as item #14.
Agenda Item 2: Comments from the Audience
No persons in the audience desired to comment on matters either on
or not on this agenda.
Agenda Item 3: Minutes of October 6, 1980 Meeting
Commissioner Gustaveson moved, seconded by Commissioner Walker,
to approve the minutes of October 6, 1980, as submitted. Vote: ayes, 3;
noes, 0.
Agenda Item 5: Addition of Fox Run to the State
Secondary Road System
Commissioner Gustaveson moved the Board accent the recommendation
of the Department of Transportation and approve the addition of Fox Run
to the state's secondary road system.
Commissioner Walker seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 3; noes, 0.
Agenda Item 8: Approval of CETA Contracts
Commissioner Walker moved CETA contracts numbered 134943820 for
$49,991 ; 134853820 for $74,748; 134803820 for $128,587, and 134893820 for
$74,385 be approved.
Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 3; noes, 0.
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Agenda Item 10: Marketing Agreement with DOS for Sale
of a Tax Approval System
Commissioner Gustaveson moved the Board authorize execution of an
agreement between Orange County and Distributed Data Systems, Incorporated
authorizing DDS to market a tax approval system developed by Orange County. -
Commissioner Walker seconded the motion,. Vote: ayes, 3; noes, 0.
Agenda Item 11: Execution of Certain Assurances with
Federal Agencies Relating to the County
Department on Agina
Commissioner Gustaveson moved the Board authorize its Chairman to
execute certain assurances relating to federal funding of the County
Department on Aging.
Commissioner Walker seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 3; noes; 0.
Agenda Item 12: Appointments
Commissioner Gustaveson spoke about the new selection committee
necessary to name a portion of the delegates on the Capital Health Systems
Agency Board of Directors. He then moved the Board name one of its
members to this committee; authorize the Board of Health to name one of
its provider members to this committee; and that the County's Health and
Medical Care Advisory Committee name one of its consumer members to this
committee.
Consideration of this motion was deferred until Commissioners Barnes
and Whitted arrived.
Agenda Item 9; Proposals from MICA concerning FICA I and II
Don Tarkenton, 'Area Manager for MICA, reviewed a proposal to the
county concerning certain social security payment procedures. The Board
agreed to take this proposal under consideration.
Commissioners Barnes and Whitted arrived during Mr, Tarkenton's
presentation,
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Agenda Item 4: A Public Hearing on Cable T.V. Franchise
Proposals
The Chairman called to order a public hearing concerning the
franchising of Cable T.V. in the unincorporated areas of Orange County.
Mr. Pete Pettis, Vice President and General Manager of Alert Cable T.V.,
spoke reviewing the franchise proposal submitted by Alert. He suggested
the Board of Commissioners should give special attention to the financial
capability of his company as well as the experience they have with
Cable T.V. franchising. They offer a system using the latest technology.
At the conclusion of his statement the Chairman offered the audience the
opportunity to question Mr. Pettis.
Q. Norman Vogel inquired about the service density proposed by Alert?
A. Mr. Pettis replied they proposed coverage to any area that provided
35 houses a mile; or to any area petitioning for service if they have 17
petitioners per mile.
Q. Mr. Vogel asked if Alert proposed to construct 160 miles of Cable
within two years from franchise issuance?
-k The company responded yes if the demand for service was that great.
Q. Granger Barrett inquired what the basic $6 charge provided?
A. The company responded, fourteen (14) basic channels. The cost of
premium channels are added to this charge.
Q. Granger Barrett asked about rebuilding cost that appear after the
early years of the proposal?
A. Alert's response indicated much of this cost related to replacement
of converters which have a life-expectancy of four (4) to five (5) years.
Q. Norman Vogel inquired when would the Hillsborough headend be activated?
A. Alert's response was, almost immediately.
Q. Commissioner Barnes inquired, was the installation at Carrboro complete?
A. Alert answered, yes.
Q. Commissioner Willhoit inquired about two-way communication. How would
the need for this service be established?
A. Alert's response, through advice of a local advisory committee.
Q. Norman Vogel asked, are F.M. Channels only for background music?
- A. 110.-F i c ancw.w. !lat.
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As no other questions were asked of Alert, the Chairman turned the
floor over to Jim Heavner of Village Cable. Mr. Heavner asked the Board
to consider the following points: -
Alert Cable T.V. has many concerns other than Orange County;
Village has no other concerns.
Alert is controlled by"foreign"management; Village is controlled
locally.
Consider the level of local performance--Alert was franchised in
Carrboro in 1976. The first customers were turned on in 1979 and
installation is still in progress. Village was franchised in Chapel Hill
in 1979. Construction was completed ten (10) months later.
Village has already conducted a housing census of Orange County and
knows where lines are to be constructed.
Village is prepared to build to a density to 30 homes per mile.
Village anticipates serving 4,300 customers. Alert proposes to serve
2,400. This difference is covered by anticipated 70% market penetration
versus a 49% penetration.
Village is offering a 38 channel service with 35 channels actually
being used.
Village projects franchise fee to the county of $140,000 over the
next five (5) years and proposes to construct a $2,000,000 plant.
Alert proposes a local staff only one-half the size of Villages staff.
Village proposes three (3) satellite antennas.
At the conclusion of Mr. Heavner's remarks the Chairman opened the
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floor to questions.
Q. Norman Vogel asked, did Village propose to construct 160 miles of
Cable within two (2) years?
A. Village response, yes--regardless of customer density.
Q. Gralger Barrett inquired if a 02%increase in the prime rate during
the next two (2) years would curtail construction plans?
A. Village answered, no. Financing was already firm.
Q. Granger Barrett: Does Village have permission from the Town of
Carrboro to serve schools within the Town's corporate limits?
Q. Granger Barrett: How does Village record depreciation?
A. Straight line.
Q. Norman Vogel : After initial installation, what intention does
Village have to continue expansion of service?
A. Village answered, they expect to install annually about 15 miles
of new line. This will cover new areas that reach a buildable density.
Q. Norman Gustaveson to Norman Vogel. Can one easily describe the.
technical difference between the headend used by Village and Alert?
A. Village response: They use a harmonically related unit to minimize
apparent distortion. Alert's response: They use the best unit available.
As no additional questions were forthcoming, Chairman Whitted declared
the public hearing adjourned.
Agenda Item 7: Prisoners Advocacy Council
Representatives of this Council spoke with the Board and Sheriff
regarding conditions presently existing within the county jail. They
-f=elt they were unduly harsh and that the building was in too poor a condition
to house inmates in a humane manner, Mr. Robert Brown stated this group
basically agreeded with the reports of prior grand juries in their indict-
ments of jail conditions. Mrs. Barry Hall stated inmates received poor
treatment, water was often standing on the jail floors, lighting
was poor, diet was inadequate, the smell was foul and space was too limited.
Mr. Kirk Osborne an attorney pointed out there was no exercise area and
no place for attorneys to privately confer with their clients. Mr. Hannon
Isaacs gave to the sheriff a set of federal standards for jail operation
and construction.
A representative of the Council spoke briefly concerning pre-trial
release programs. Mrs. Dorothy Bernholz told of the Bar Association's
concerns over jail operational policies and a pre-trial release program.
Joe Nassif, architect in charge of jail design, reviewed the construction
schedule he established for the new jail stating he felt the Board of
Commissioners would be in .a position to award bids on the first Monday
in December. The sheriff spoke concerning certain operational changes
he has recently made dealing with diet, sheets,mattresses, etc.
Agenda Item 14: Announcement
Commissioner Gustaveson pointed out the Human Service Conference
would be held soon and the Board members should register to cover as
wide a variety of the sessions as possible.
Agenda Item 12: Appointments — Continued
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Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion of Commissioner Gustaveson
concerning appointments to the Selection Committees of the Capital
Health Systems Board. When Chairman Whitted called for a vote there were
ayes, 4; noes, 0., Commissioner Walker having left the meeting.
Commissioner Barnes moved the Board authorize its Chairman to name
the Board's representative to this committee. Commissioner Gustaveson
seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 4; noes, 0.
Agenda Item 6: Subdivision of Carrie Copeland Property
Commissioner Walker moved the Board accept the recommendation of the
Planning Board, that certain road construction requirements attendant to
the development of this minor subdivision be suspended and this plat approved.
Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 4; noes, 0.
Dalton Loftin , attorney representing the property owner in this
minor subdivision recording, pointed out to the Board what he perceived
to be the awkwardness of the mechanics involved in the present subdivision
r ordinance. He observed the approval process for this subdivision was
started in June or July and is only reaching completion in October. He
stated the planning staff had not been as cooperative as it light have
been thus prolonging the approval process.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the
meeting was adjourned.
Richard E. "#-t
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