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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-01-20; 4-f - Update on COVID-19 Response and Funding Allocations 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 1, 2020 Action Agenda Item No. 4-f SUBJECT: Update on COVID-19 Response and Funding Allocations DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) County Department Operational Status Summary Travis Myren, 919-245-2308 PURPOSE: To receive an update on the County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the use of supplemental State and Federal funding. BACKGROUND: Since March, all County operations have been adjusted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. County employees have been asked to work from home if possible, and those employees who are reporting to a physical work location are providing services using new protocols and procedures to minimize person to person contact and avoid potential exposure to COVID-19. A summary of the current operational status for each County department is included as Attachment 1. The Health Department has guided the County's response efforts. At a policy level, the Health Department has provided recommendations on local regulations, general public health protocols, personal protective equipment, and re-opening strategies. At the clinical level, the Health Department has executed communicable disease protocols and case investigations and organized community testing events. The Department has led the County's public information and education campaign by producing daily text messages and social media content, maintaining a Countywide website and dashboard, and issuing weekly newsletters. The Emergency Services Department has coordinated emergency support functions through the Emergency Operations Center. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated on a continuous basis since March 9, 2020. The EOC has responded to over 1,012 resource requests from municipal and community organizations and provided over 121,000 items. Emergency Services has also facilitated daily briefings for key staff members, organized a multi- jurisdictional information sharing meeting, and through the Emergency Support Functions, the Department has supported direct services related to food distribution, community testing, hotel occupancy for the homeless population, and continues to track, report, and request federal reimbursement for related expenses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This update focuses on the application of supplemental State and Federal resources designed to respond to the pandemic. These allocations are included in Budget Amendment #1 which is on the consent agenda for the September 1 meeting. This report does not include direct 2 COVID-19 related expenditures for which reimbursement is expected through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). CARES Act Funds Allocated by the County The County received two funding allocations through the Corona Virus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act. CARES Act funds were distributed to counties based on population. CARES Act funding must be used to fund expenses directly related to the County's response to the pandemic. These funds cannot be used to supplant currently budgeted expenses or to replace revenues such as sales tax or occupancy tax that have suffered as a result of the pandemic. The CARES Act funds must be used by December 31, 2020, or they will be reverted to the State. Orange County's allocation in each round of funding was $2,665,753 and $2,881,614 for a total of $5,547,367. Of that total amount, the County retained $3.2 million while $2.3 million was distributed to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Mebane based on a per capita allocation. For the first round of funding, the Towns submitted requests for the use of funds to the County. In general, approximately $400,000 was used for emergency housing assistance, $600,000 was allocated to personal protective equipment, $500,000 was allocated to personnel expenses, and the remaining amount for technology to support remote working and economic support to local businesses. For the second round of funding, municipalities are required to report their use of funds to the County by the end of August. The County has used its $3.2 million CARES funding allocation to support a range of expenses directly related to response efforts. The following table details how the funds were allocated to various expenditure categories. TotalCARES CARES Round 1 Round 2 Building Modifications,Sanitization,and Signage $ 580,000 $ 580,000 Technology to Support Remote Work $ 186,602 $ 316,541 $ 503,143 Court Navigator -6 months $ 31,457 $ 31,457 Food Acquisition and Distribution $ 56,000 $ 50,000 $ 106,000 Reemployment Services $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 50,000 Child Care&Support Services $ 75,000 $ 75,000 Landlord Incentives $ 50,000 $ 50,000 Emergency Housing Assistance-Eviction Prevention $ 188,736 $ 965,000 $ 1,153,736 Emergency Housing Assistance-Foreclosure Prevention $ 100,000 $ 100,000 Legal Counsel for Eviction Prevention;Translation $ 57,590 $ 58,000 $ 115,590 Reimbursement for Employee COVID Leave $ 104,251 $ 131,795 $ 236,046 Visitors Bureau Advertising $ 25,000 $ 50,000 $ 75,000 Revaluation Staffing Supplement $ 40,000 $ 40,000 Long Term Recovery Coordinator $ 101,500 $ 101,500 County Allocation TOTAL $ 1,546,136 $ 1,671,336 $ 3,217,472 3 • Approximately $1.4 million or 42% of the County's total CARES Act allocation is dedicated to support housing needs and prevent evictions and foreclosures. • Another $1.2 million or 36% is being used to protect employees and facilitate remote work. • The remaining funds are allocated to other services directly impacted by the pandemic including: o Assisting residents who must navigate the Courthouse under new safety protocols and access community services differently, o Acquiring and distributing food, including locally raised dairy and produce products, o Supporting childcare and reemployment services, o Reimbursing the County for employee leave time taken by employees who are required to isolate or quarantine, o Reimagining and producing tourism and marketing materials in response to changing travel restrictions and preferences, o Supplementing the revaluation effort that was delayed during stay at home orders, and o Funding consulting services to plan for the County's long term recovery and resiliency. COVID-19 Related Funds Awarded to Specific Programs In addition to the CARES Act funding directed to the County for local distribution decisions, other CARES Act or Corona Virus related funding has been directed to specific County functions: • The Department on Aging received an additional $200,000 from the Area Agency on Aging for food distribution programs. • The Board of Elections received $153,766 to prepare for and respond to impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 election cycle. These efforts include cleaning and sanitizing polling places and supporting an anticipated increase in mail-in ballots. • The Partnership to End Homelessness was awarded a COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grant to hire a 1.0 FTE Rapid Rehousing Case Manager to expedite permanent housing solutions for residents who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The grant runs through June 30, 2022. • The Partnership to End Homelessness and the Criminal Justice Resource Department were awarded an additional COVID related Emergency Solutions Grant to implement a Harm Reduction and Street Outreach program. These funds will support a 1.0 FTE Harm Reduction Clinical Coordinator and 2.0 FTE Peer Specialists. These positions are designed to serve individuals in the community who are experiencing homelessness and/or behavioral health issues. The program is intended to increase access to housing, provide consistent case management, address individual clinical needs, increase deflection from the criminal justice system, and facilitate the transition into housing and 4 community-based treatment programs. This grant runs through June 30, 2022 and fills a long standing gap in the homeless service system. • The Department of Social Services received supplemental funding to support staffing needs in child and adult protective services. This $66,787 award adds 3.0 FTE for six months ending on December 31, 2020. • The Health Department has received a total of $298,647 to hire additional case investigators, COVID-19 testing technicians, and a temporary data analyst to monitor, analyze, and report on COVID-19 statistics and trends. County Economic Development Funds Finally, the County has consolidated and reallocated small business funds to create an Emergency Small Business Loan and Grant Program. This program has opened for two rounds of applications and has awarded a total of $135,000 in loans and $385,000 in grants to 78 small businesses located in Orange County. The program has a balance of $329,583. Budget Amendment #1 proposes to reallocate $50,000 of that balance to the Arts Commission to fund a supplemental grant program for arts organizations. The County and its community and municipal partners are also conducting an economic impact assessment and will use the results of that survey to recommend further distribution of funds consistent with the needs expressed in the survey. Survey results will be available in early September. Long Term Recovery Planning Although the response effort to COVID-19 is ongoing, the County and its municipal partners have allocated a total of $175,000 to retain a consultant to support long term recovery planning. As part of the effort, the County has organized over 150 community organizations and representatives to help create recommendations that will promote an expeditious and long term recovery and improve resiliency. These organizations are organized into seven Recovery Support Functions focused on the local economy, the health system, human services, housing, natural and cultural resources, community planning, and public information. With the assistance of the consulting group, these support functions are being asked to characterize and quantify the impact of the pandemic, create a framework for building recovery strategies and priorities using a social justice and racial equity perspective, and develop strategies for consideration by local governing boards for consideration and implementation. The Recovery Support Functions had an initial orientation and convening over the summer. These groups are now meeting individually. An economic impact assessment survey has been distributed to the business community. This survey is open until the end of August. A public values survey is currently under development and will be distributed in early September that will offer additional community context for the work of the Recovery Support Functions. The first work product, an initial COVID-19 Impact Assessment is due in the coming weeks. Final work products, including recommendations, will be presented to local governing boards in early 2021. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The County has received a total of $6.4 million in COVID-19 related funding as of the end of August. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY 5 The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. • GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang activity, substance abuse and domestic violence. • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impacts are applicable to this item: • ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that: 1) conserve energy; 2) reduce resource consumption; 3) increase the use of recycled and renewable resources; and 4) minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. • CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1) promoting public transportation options; 2) decreasing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles, and 3) otherwise minimizing the need for travel. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the update on the application of COVID-19 related funding. 6 Attachment 1 County Department Operational Status August 26, 2020 Aging On-site activities at both Orange County senior centers have not reopened. In the meantime, please see our New or Modified Programs, Services and Resources for older adults during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond here. Lunches are distributed curbside 3-times a week. A hot meal and a boxed lunch are distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, ensuring that our registered lunch participants receive 6 meals weekly. At this time we are only accepting new applications for those county residents age 60 and over and who can pick up a meal at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill or Passmore Center in Hillsborough. Those in group quarters will only be considered if they can identify someone to come and pick up their meal. Email Isabel Jackson or call 919-245-4256 to register for the lunch program. Download a paper copy of our monthly Virtual Activity Calendar including all of our videos, live classes and online programs. Register for classes online. Choose display option "Detail" and search by title, activity code and more to find and register for you class or event. Visit our Senior Center Programs, Caregiver Support Services and Volunteer Connect pages for more information and details. Animal Services The Animal Shelter is closed to the public but most services are available via appointments. Call 919-942-7387, and follow the prompts that best fit your needs. Please note the following changes: • In shelter operations, Meet and Greets with pets are virtual and will be available by appointment. More details at: https://www.orangecountync.gov/287/Available-Pets. • Owner surrenders or bringing stray animals to shelter: We are currently asking that public delay surrenders if at all possible. Please call to make an appointment for bringing any animal to the shelter: 919-942-7387, option 2. After-hours night drop is open and being checked daily. • Reporting lost &found pets: Visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/295/Lost-Found or call 919-942-7387, option 2, if you need help filing a report. • Licensing: Visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/343/Licensing for details and instructions. • Donations: Visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/364/Donations for details and instructions. 7 Child Support Services Staff will be available by phone (919-245-2175) or email. The State's automated system can be reached at 800-992-9457. Additionally, the echildsupport portal (https://www.ncchildsupport.com/ecoa/) can be used for the following: • Apply Online for Child Support Services • Case Information • Payment Information • Pay Child Support Criminal Justice Resources Department • The CJRD in the Courthouse is open and accessible for clients and stakeholders. The Director Caitlin Fenhagen is in the office daily and can be reached at 919-245-2303. • Referral forms and information available on the CJRD website: www.orangecountync.gov/432/Criminal-Justice-Resource-Department • Pretrial Services—Will continue to complete intakes at Jail and provide recommendations for release for stakeholders for daily first appearances or bond motions. Call Ted Dorsi (919-245-2970) or Cait Fenhagen (919-245-2303) or cell (919- 423-4272). • Treatment Courts—Court sessions are being held virtually. Coordinator and Case Manager still working with participants and ensuring support and accountability. Call Sean O'Hare (919-886-8855) or Shana Harper (919-245-2305). • Adult and Youth Behavioral Health Services—Allison Zirkel (919-245-2304) and Nancy Lappenbusch (919-245-2311) will continue to coordinate mental health and substance use services and referrals for in-custody population primarily and will continue to provide case management and therapeutic support for court-involved individuals who have been released. Allison is working primarily from the CJRD office in the Courthouse. Nancy will work remotely and only in court, office or Jail as needed. • Pre-Arrest Diversion— Desmond Frierson (919-245-2312) will be working remotely and at the Courthouse and is accepting referrals, completing intakes and providing case management. • Local Reentry Council —Our Coordinator and Case Manager are working in the office and remotely and are still accepting referrals and supporting and providing case management and resources for LRC clients. Keith Patterson (919-245-2064) or Tiffany Bullard (984-439-5998). • Restoration Legal Counsel —Attorney Emma Ferriola-Bruckenstein (919-451-0281) is working in the Courthouse and remotely and is accepting referrals, completing intakes and preparing motions and orders. • Courthouse Navigator—Social Worker Katie Corely (919-695-5442) is working in the Courthouse daily to assist with navigation and resource needs for individuals attending court under new COVID conditions. 8 DEAPR • All Orange County parks are open, except for Soccer.com. • Facility rentals are not being taken through Sept. 11 and until the state moves into Phase 3 of the reopening. • Environment and Agricultural Center staff is available by phone (919-245-2510) or email. • Central Recreation Center recreation staff are available by phone (919-245-2660) or email. • Registration for virtual fall recreation programs is available by phone (919-245-2660) or online: https://server4.orangecountync.gov/wbwsc/Webtrac.wsc/search.html?module= AR DSS Applications for Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services can be completed online at epass.nc.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do For assistance with completing applications for DSS programs, call 919-245-2800. Orange Works employment center is accepting appointments only. Please call 919-245-2800 and ask for employment services. Economic Development Orange County Economic Development staff is available by phone and e-mail to assist with all economic development inquiries. Call (919) 245-2325 to leave a message, or send an e-mail to edcmail@orangecountync.gov with questions. The department's main web site is www.growinorangenc.com and information about the County's Agriculture Economic Development Grant Program and the Small Business Investment Grant Program, to include all applications and guidelines, can be found at Elections The Orange County Board of Elections will resume in-person services offered to the public on Aug 31. Staff continues to work and can be reached by telephone at 919-245-2350 and email at vote@orangecountync.gov, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. —5 p.m. The public is encouraged to utilize our website to access voter registration forms and information at https://www.orangecountync.gov/1102/Voter-Registration and absentee ballot request information and forms at https://www.orangecountync.gov/1104/Absentee-Voting-By- Mail. These forms can be mailed to PO Box 220, Hillsborough, 27278 or dropped off at our office at 208 S. Cameron St, Hillsborough, 27278. Our foyer is open during business hours and forms may be obtained and/or placed in a secure drop box. Erosion Control/Stormwater Functions & Services Staff will primarily work in the field with social distancing protocol. They may stop in the office if non-digital plans are not available. The division will be closed to walk in traffic. If a meeting or a question is requested or posed, please email or call. • Plan Review: By electronic submittal at our drop off site (131 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough West Campus Office Building 1st floor lobby) 9 • Check Submittal: Secure Drop Box; Same location as above. Provide email so a scanned receipt can be sent via email. If personal and physical receipt is necessary, please make an appointment. • Permits: After plan review is complete, permit acknowledgement will be received via email and permit received at Preconstruction meeting. • Preconstruction Meeting: The Preconstruction Meeting will be held in the field employing social distancing precautions. • Inspections: Inspections will be conducted as needed. Instructions regarding field conditions or activities will be sent via email, as well as, any required reports from 3rd party inspectors. • Communications: Please use the numbers or emails listed below. Office Numbers • Main number: 919-245-2575 • Steve Kaltenbach skaltenbach@orangecountync.gov: 919-245-2588* • Kenny Owens kowens@orangecountync.gov: 919-245-2584* • Nathan Jacobsen njacobsen@orangecountync.gov: 919-245-2580* • Craig Benedict cbenedict@orangecountync.gov: 919-245-2592 *These numbers will be forwarded to their mobile numbers. Health In order to protect everyone's health during the COVID-19 pandemic, Orange County Health Department is no longer accepting walk-in appointments. However we are offering telehealth appointments to meet your immediate medical needs. If you need medical attention please call 919-245-2400 to schedule a telehealth appointment. Please do not walk into the clinic to request an appointment. If you are having a medical emergency, as always, call 911. Below are the hours for the Health Clinic at Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough. • Mondays: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. telehealth and by appointment only • Tuesdays: 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. telehealth and by appointment only • Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. telehealth and by appointment only • Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. telehealth and by appointment only • Friday: 8 a.m. -Noon telehealth and by appointment only Below are the hours for the health clinic at Southern Human Services Building in Chapel Hill: • Mondays: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. by appointment only • Tuesdays: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. telehealth by appointment only • Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. by appointment only • Thursday: 9:30 a.m.—6:30 p.m. by appointment only • Friday: 8 a.m. - Noon telehealth by appointment only Dental Clinic at Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough The Orange County Health Department Dental Clinic is open for emergency appointments only. Due to current restrictions on patient and staff numbers, we are unable to accept walk-in appointments. Please call to schedule an appointment if you are having a dental emergency. Phones are checked every day and your call will be returned within 24 hours. 10 We have new protocols in place to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff, but unfortunately we are unable to do many procedures at this time due to a low number of masks, gowns and other protective measures. Please bear with us as we work to get our clinic back to normal operations. The health of our patients and staff is our number one priority and we look forward to reopening for all services as soon as we can. Orange County Environmental Health Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m. A face covering is required for in-person business in the lobby of the West Campus Office Building. Visitors and community clients may contact Environmental Health during business hours at 919-245-2360. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. Payment is accepted as cash, check, or card in person; as check by mail; and with card by phone. Phone and email transactions are preferred. A list of contacts and access to the customer service portal (NCPIP) are available at www.orangecountync.gov/641. For free cessation services and nicotine replacement therapy; call the SmokeFreeOC line at 919- 245-2480 or email smokefreeoc@orangecountync.gov Housing and Community Development All Housing & Community Development programs will remain available via phone and Internet. Socially distanced in-person appointments will be scheduled if required. • Phone: 919-245-2490 • Fax: 919-644-3056 • A complete list of updates and changes to protocols is on our webpage: http://orangecountVnc.gov/2331/COVID-19-UPDATES Human Resources Please call our main number at 919-245-2550 for information before visiting the office. Limited services are available. Human Rights and Relations If you experience discrimination in housing because of the COVID-19 pandemic or for other reason, please contact the Orange County Department of Human Rights and Relations at: • Telephone: (919) 245-2487 • Email: Human Relations@orangecountync.gov • Website: orangecountync.gov/humanrights • TTY: 711 11 Inspections • Office Hours:The office is closed to the general public. Staff will be primarily working at home and in the field from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If making your permit payments call (919) 245-2600 to pay with credit card. • Meetings: Meeting are avoided. Correspondence and communication will be occurring by phone or email. • Plan Review: Residential reviews are performed electronically by reviewer working from home. Commercial projects are reviewed in office by Chief Building Official, one physical set of plan documents are needed for review. • Fee Payment: Payment by credit card will be processed by phone only. Cash payments cannot be accepted at this time, Checks are discouraged, please make all payments by credit card. • Check Submittal: Payment of cash, credit card and checks are processed in office. Customers are encouraged to pay by credit card over the phone. In person payments are to be scheduled. • Permits: Submission and processing of permit documents are through electronic and remote means. Submission of large format plan documents are to be coordinated with plans examiner or property development specialist. • Preconstruction Meeting: Not being scheduled until after this crisis abates. • Inspections: Request for inspections are taken with call to: (919) 245-2600. Please identify when scheduling if inspection is to be performed in an occupied building. Inspectors are working remotely from home and vehicles. All inspections are scheduled for the next business day. Coordinate any specific inspection need with the inspector himself. Statutorily required • General Statute 143-139 mandates code enforcement inspections be performed within 2 business days of being requested. • General Statute 153A-357(a1) requires Residential plans to be initially reviewed within 15 days of submission Communications Please use the numbers or emails listed below.ralcorn@orangecountync.gov *These numbers are forwarded to their mobile numbers. **These emails receive application and document submissions • Robert Alcorn* (245-2617) ralcorn@orangecountync.gov • Christopher Wiggins* (245-2620) cwiggins@orangecountync.gov • Gregg Lassiter* (245-2615) dlassiter@orangecountync.gov • Jennifer Geda** (245-2607) igeda@orangecountync.gov • Keith Barnhouse* (245-2605) rbarnhouse@orangecountync.gov • Jocelyn (Josh) Gentry** (245-2612) agentry@orangecountync.gov 12 • Elijah Lawrence* (245-2610) elawrence@orangecountync.gov • Linda Pulley** (245-2601) ocinspect@orangecountync.gov • Mark Dunlap* (245-2602) mdunlap@orangecountync.gov • Maria Hernandez** (245-2619) mahernandez@orangecountync.gov • Michael Rettie* (245-2604) mrettie@orangecountync.gov • Romina Khandani** (245-2616) rkhandani@orangecountync.gov • Nicholas Perry* (245-2622) nperry@orangecountync.gov • Jeanneane Norwood** (245-2600) ocinspect@orangecountync.gov • Greg Byrd* (245-2483) gbyrd@orangecountync.gov Libraries The libraries remain closed to the public, but all branches are offering curbside services. Contact the library branch to learn more about available services or to arrange a dropoff or pickup. Main Library-919.245.2525 Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Carrboro Branch Library- 919.969.3006 Tuesday and Thursday, 4-8 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Cybrary-919.918.7387 Monday and Friday, Noon-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to curbside service, the following services are available: • Library Card: Call 919.245.2525, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or use our Online Form to gain access to all of our online services and to borrow library items. • SEA and Educator Accounts: These accounts give automatic access to all library collections for students and staff with Orange County Schools, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, The Expedition School, and Eno River Academy. • Virtual Branch: Visit the virtual branch to find out about our online program offerings, eBooks and audiobooks, free access to Ancestry.com and more. • Online Catalog: Use our catalog to: place holds; create reading lists; keep track of what you've already read; and, search Novelist to find your next good read. • Reference Questions: 919.245.2525, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday- Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 13 Planning Office hours Current Planning offices shall be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily for the receipt of applications and handling of previously scheduled appointments. Until further notice, members of the general public needing to see a planner will need to schedule an appointment to do so. Planning staff can be reached at the following: • Michael Harvey, Supervisor: (919) 245-2597 or mharvey@orangecountync.gov • Patrick Mallett, Planner 2: (919) 245-2577 or pmallett@orangecountync.gov • Molly Boyle, Planner 1: (919) 245-2599 or mboyle@orangecountync.gov • Tyler Sliger, Planning Technician: (919) 245-2598 or tsliger@orangecountync.gov Meetings: Meeting(s) shall occur by appointment during revised operating hours listed above. Please note staff will observe appropriate social distancing requirements and maintain six feet separation at all times. Plan Review: Applications for development projects shall be accepted: • Electronically via e-mail • By Mail sent to: • Orange County Planning • ATTN: Current Planning Division • PO Box 8181 • Hillsborough, NC 27278 • Dropped off in person during the revised operating hours listed above. Submittal of Fees: Fees can be submitted with the application (mail and in person). Those applicant's needed to pay using a credit card shall be contacted by staff to process a payment over the phone. Permits: Permits shall be processed as quickly as possible. Please note deficiencies in the application submittal will impact staff's ability to process the development request. Inspections: Inspections shall be completed either on a first come basis or via appointment. If staff is required to meet applicants in the field, appropriate social distancing policies shall be adhered to. Communications: Current Planning staff can be reached at the e-mail addresses and phone numbers listed above. Recycling/Solid Waste • Solid Waste Administrative Offices will be closed to the public until further notice. • Curbside collection of 18 gallon orange recycling bins is suspended until further notice. This is being done to minimize collectors' contact with household recyclables. Residents who wish to start using a blue roll cart instead of a bin can call 919-968-2788 or send an email to recycling@orangecountync.gov to request a 95 gallon cart. • If you wish to continue using your bins, you may recycle at any of the five Waste and Recycling Centers during operating hours or any of the four unstaffed recycling-only sites open 24/7 (www.orangecountync/recycling for locations). Residents are 14 encouraged to limit their use of the Waste and Recycling Centers to one time each week to support social distancing and the safety of the staff and other residents using the sites. In addition, residents should remain in their vehicles until the receptacle needed is free so as to allow residents to maintain six feet distance from others. • Curbside Recycling will be collected as usual. AS ALWAYS: Keep out any tissues, paper toweling, bagged materials or other contaminants. Register of Deeds Register of Deeds services are available via appointment only. Please see the list below for specific services. If you need something else, please call 919-245-2685. • Attorneys are urged to utilize our Electronic Recording System Simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657. • Marriage License: Complete the online marriage application then call 919-245-2700 to schedule an appointment. Applicants only allowed in the office. • Notaries that need to take their oath: 919-245-2685. • Veterans needing to record their discharge papers: 919-245-2700. • Attorneys, paralegals, etc., may mail in their documents or use the drop box located at the front of the building, this includes Assumed Business Name filings. Please read instructions located on the drop box before you place your document inside. • If you have a Plat or documents requiring a Split, Merge, or multiple PIN sheet please call 919-245-2685. Tax Staff is currently available to assist you during normal business hours by phone 919-245-2100, email tax@orangecountVnc.gov, LiveChat https://www.orangecountync.gov/842/Chat, or mail Orange County Tax Office, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278-8181. Although our doors are closed to the public, when necessary we are providing services in person by appointment between the hours of 9am-4pm, and masks are required. Residents are encouraged to make payments by mail (address above) or at the outside drop box at the tax office entrance, 228 South Churton Street, Hillsborough. Payments may also be made by credit/debit cards: https://web.co.orange.nc.us/PublicWebAccess/ or 1-844-435-3981. Field appraisers continue the field review of properties mainly from outside, and on occasion there is a need to review the interior of a building. Field appraisers are equipped with protective equipment to provide for the protection of residents and for their own protection. Transportation Services Regular service is being provided for all the fixed routes with the Hillsborough Circulator operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Orange—Chapel Hill Connector 9:45 a.m. - 3:50 p.m., and Orange—Alamance 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For medical appointments, reservations are required. Non-Medicaid Trips: Call Reservation Line 919-245-2004. Medicaid Trips: Call Orange County Department of Social Service Voicemail 919- 245-2774 or Fax 919-732-2137.