HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 11-29-2010MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR ALAMA 1 E COUNTY
HELD ON MONDAY, N vEl BEi 29, 20 1
The Alamance County Board of Comm issioners nnet in Special Session on Monday, November 29, 2010, at
7:13 p.m. at the Mebane Arts and Community Center, 633 Corregidor Street, Mebane, North Carolina. The
following members of the Al manee County Board of Commissioners were present: Clair Massey, Vice
Chair Boswell, and Commissioners Lashtey and Vaughan. The following members of the Orange County
Board of Commissioners were present: Chair Fousliee and Commissioners Henunin er, Jacobs, and
uhas . The following uneinbers Nvere absent: Alainance County Commissioner Sutton, and Orange
County Commissioners Gordon, Pelissier, and Nelson.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Y-- Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director, welcomed
everyone to the inectin . Chair Massey introduced Alainance County Commissioners and Commissioner-
elect Torn Manning as well as staff Nvho were present: Craig Honeycutt, County Manager; Tim Burgess,
Assistant County Manager; Clyde Albright, County Attorney; Bruce Walker, GIS Manager; Jason Martin
Planning Manager; Jessica dill, Planner; Pat Jones, Clerk to the Board; and Tory Frink, incoming Cleric to
the Board. Chair Foushee introduced the Orange County Commissioners and Commissioner-elect Earl
McKee as well as Orange County staff who were present: Frank Clifton, County Manager; Willie Best,
Assistant County Manager; John Roberts, County Attoni ; Craig Benedict, Planning Director; and Donna
Balser, Cleric to the Board.
CALL TO ORDER — Chair Massey called the Alamance County Board of Commissioners to r ler. Chair
F ushee called the Orange County Board of Commissioners to order.
WELCOME — Mebane Mayor Glendel Stephenson formally N elc m d everyone to the nneeting and
introduced Mebane Mayor Pro -Teen Patty Phillips and Mebane Council members Everett Green and Jill
Auditori.
STAFF PRE SEN TATION — County Managers Frank li on and Craig Honeycutt made opening
reunarks. Mr. Honeycutt noted that both c u nfles are in agreement on 91 % of the line, taking into account
the North Carolina Geodetic Survey (N CGS) line, as well as the petition process as approved in Session
I,aw 2010 -61, Senate Bi11 1362 (kcal bill). He stated that Alaniance County 's staff recommendat !on is I
keep to the original guidelines of t petition process and support Orange ounty's staff recommendation is
to make adjustments where the NCGS line is not reasonable or is unduly burdensome. Bruce walker begat
with a history of the county line issue, which both counties have been working on for over four years. He
stated the NCGS delivered a preliminary survey line in 2008 which identified a distinctive line recorded at
the state level that will stand the test of time. Three public hearings were held, multiple letters were sent,
and on November 9, 2009, at a joint meeting between both counties the Coninii ssioners mandated that a
compromise be established to ensure that school children are taken care of A memorandtan of
uaderst nding was approved by both county in an agers ire tiie spring o f 2 0 10 and both couMy attorneys
wrote a local bill granting both counties the authority to develop the county line process. The local bill was
approved by the Senate. This suinnier staff presented approved admInistrative eriter1a to d etc rinine
qualification for the petition process that began in the fall, In October 2010, after review, Orange County
staff proposed an adjustment to % of the line and Alannance County staff supports Orange County's
recommendation request to move the process fo v rd, He stated that tonight's meeting is being held to
review and discuss the proposal, and with a 100% consensus, the process will move forward and a
resolution will be written. In accordance with the local bill there is a deadline of December 15, 20 10, to
finish the administrative criteria process. The official survey is due by May 15, 2011, and will be
submitted to the state upon completion. Mr. walker provided a review of the approved petition criteria.
The focus was on the 16 homeowners and businesses who were qualified to petition because they are
within 150 feet of the NCGS defined, original county iine. One unique area in the southern. part of Cane
Creek that was a completely land-locked peninsula was part of the criteria.. The rest of the properties that
did not qualify, mostly vacant land or h nies that were not moved, were part of the 77% of the criteria.
Based on that criteria, letters were sent on September 1, 2010, to everyone involved. Those who qualified
to petition received a letter that offered an opportunity to stay in their current county or let the N S lino
stand for their property. As a result, 47 of 68 current Ala nance County property owners petitioned to stag
in Alamance County, with 5 households that did not qualify officially requesting to keep their children in
their current school system in accordance with the local hill. In Orange County, 16 out of 55 qualified
property owners petitioned to stay in Orange County and 11 households that did not qualify requested to
beep their childr'en in their current school system. People who sent in petitions covered 14% of the line
and, combined with the %, total the 1% that is agreed on. He reviewed maps of the people who
petitioned. He stated that 100% of the Mill Creek and North ?ninth Street property owners who qualified
petitioned to stay in Alamance County. People along the line who house or property was split, who quali
line very close to the NCGS line through various subdivisions, in some cases the petition criteria did not
ineet the need entirely, but it was brought to the Commissions tonight to take a look at some unique
situMions. like this. He asked for guidance from the joint Commissions, that, if they decide that there
should be some additional adjustments to what was noted by the public tonight, staff could reflect that with
decisions in December 2010 and within the local bill that will be done by May 2011.
COMMISSIONERS' DELI I fI -- Alain nce Chair Massey asked for clarification on the Morrow
Mill and Village of the Oaks issues. Mr. Clifton stated the goal of Orange County has been to address as
any possibilities as they could within a reasonable process and suggested to the Commissioners, if they
Feel seine of the input is reasonable and makes. sense to make adjustments, both boards can put their
recommendations into a formal process and send it to the legislature. It is then up to the legislature to adopt
it and ultimately set the fine. He suggested if the two boards want to c mmodate seine of the requests
heard tonight, that they pr vide that direction to sta ff to work it out and bring it back to the boards. rir,
Honeycutt stated, with respect to the %, Alam nce County understands and agrees with the reasoning and
is willing to do what is needed to move this process forward while staying within the administrative
criteria. He noted that some issues are still outstanding in the interlocal agreement and need to be resolved.
Orange Commissioner Jacobs expressed a desire to ccommodate these individuals in attendance who
requested waivers. Orange Commissioner YUhasz stated lie wants to respect the expectations of
landowners who have been taxed in one county or the other and revisit those areas where it makes sense for
properties to be in the county where they are taxed. He expressed a desire to have a county line that is easy
for the citizens to recognize. Orange Chair Fouslice stated she warts to keep people where they have been
paying taxes where it is practical and reasonable. She stated it appears that it would be unduly burdensome
for Alamance County emergency vehicles to reach Morrow mill Road area residents who have always
lived in and received services from Orange County. She suggested that staff could go back and look at
those types of situations as well as the situation that was described in the Village of the Oaks. Craig
Benedict stated in order for staff to have direction to bring something forward by the December meetings,
two or three areas of interest need to be addressed. He stated there is agreement on the 7% NCGS line
and the 14% petitiunable line. There is also the % Orange County recommendation that reflects both focal
bill criteria and some petitionable criteria. If the Boards have coil sell su on that, it can be added. He noted
that one area that was heard tonight was the Morrow Mill area, the Deward area where Peifer, Shoppler and
Howard spoke, and at some point it was agreed to put that back. The other one was the Village of the Oaks,
the Lambert situation, to review the cul-de-sac issLIe Oil Scarlet Oak Lane. Both Boards agreed to try and
address the concerns of those who spoke tonight.
ADJOURNMENT — There being no f €xrther business to be brought before the Boards, Com inission r
Lashley moved to adjourn the A lai ante County onu issioner ' meeting. The motion was seconded by
Vice Chair Boswell, and it was approved unanimously. Chair Foushee adjourned the Orange County
Commissioners' meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia H. Jones
Clerk to the Board