|
Board of County Commissioners Contact: David Hunt Return to Orange County Home Page |
News Releases September/October 2005 Click on subject to read news release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2005 Contact: Donna BakerClerk to the Orange County Board of Commissioners (919) 245-2130 Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting Calendar Update The Joint Planning Area (JPA) meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill has been canceled. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2005
Contact: Noah
Ranells
Orange County Farms on National Conference Tour Orange County farmers will be hosting busloads of
conference attendees on October 18 as part of the ‘The Finest Small
Farm Experience You Could Ask For.’ The tour is part of the 4th
National Small Farm Conference whose 2005 theme is Enhancing
Opportunities for Small Farmers and Ranchers.
The conference runs from October 16 to 19, 2005, at the Sheraton
Greensboro Hotel / Koury Convention Center at Four Seasons in
Greensboro, NC. Co-hosted by North Carolina A&T State
University and North Carolina State University, the conference includes
sessions on farm policy, risk management, marketing, organic
agriculture, alternative enterprises, and program development. Workshops
will address women in agriculture, grant writing and funding
opportunities, international agriculture, and North Carolina Small
Farmer Initiatives. The conference will conclude with a listening
session on the 2007 Farm Bill. There will be a total of 3 tour groups visiting
Orange County. One busload of visitors will visit Stanley Hughes’ Pine
Knot Farm. Hughes was recently recognized as the 2004 Small Farmer of
the Year. That same group
of visitors will also visit Ken Dawson & Libby Outlaw’s Maple
Spring Gardens farm in Cedar Grove and Annie Baggett’s Sunshine
Lavender Farm in Hurdle Mills. A second tour bus will focus on Chapel Hill
Creamery in Orange County as well as Homeland Creamery in Guilford
County. A third tour will
focus on vegetable, meat, and egg enterprises at Fickle Creek Farm in
Efland and Cane Creek Farm in Saxapahaw. “There is a great deal of focus on Orange County
farmers as part of this national conference,” noted Noah Ranells,
Orange County Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator; “it
demonstrates that Orange County farming is evolving to meet the demands
of niche markets.” Ranells added that niche marketing is going
mainstream, as major food retailers such as Earthfare, Whole Foods, and
even Harris Teeter offer large selections of organic foods. “Direct
marketing through Farmers Markets, restaurants, and community supported
agriculture provide important avenues for some local farmers,” Ranells
said. For additional information please contact Noah Ranells at 245-2330 or nranells@co.orange.nc.us. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2005
Contact: Donna
Dean
Orange County Holds Information Sessions on Special Tax for Orange County Schools Orange County will hold two public information
sessions on the Orange County Schools Special District Tax, which will
appear on the November 8, 2005 ballot for voters in the Orange County
School District. The sessions will be held on October 19, 2005 at
the Northern Human Services Center, 5800 HWY 86 North in Cedar Grove and
on November 1, 2005 at the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret
Lane, Hillsborough. Both
sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. County staff members will present basic information
related to the referendum and respond to questions from the public. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2005
Contact: Jerry
Passmore
Orange County Breaks Ground for New Senior Center A groundbreaking ceremony for the New Southern Orange Senior Center will be held on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 27, 2005
Contact: Donna
Baker
Orange County Hosts Final Listening Session There is only one more “listening session”. The final session will be on Wednesday, October
5, 2005 at 7:00 pm, at the Government Services Center, 200 South Cameron
St., Hillsborough. The sessions, hosted by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, provided an informal and relaxed opportunity for
residents to share their concerns and thoughts related to county
government. As many as 70
and as few as 2 members of the public attended past sessions. Sessions were arranged for residents who did not
feel comfortable making a presentation to the Board in a public.
They were able to share their issues in a more casual setting
near local neighborhoods. With
a wide range of the topics, the public was able to share their thoughts
and concerns with the Chair and at times, one other Commissioner. Sessions were open to the public. Results of the sessions are posted at the website
below. http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/ListeningSessions05.htm # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2005 Contact: Monica EvansOrange County Board of Commissioners' Office (919) 245-2125 Outstanding Volunteers Honored at Reception The Orange County Key
Volunteer Awards and the North Carolina Awards for Outstanding Volunteer
Service were presented in a local event on September 22, 2005 at the
Chapel Hill Senior Center. Each year Orange
County recognizes its most outstanding community volunteers in an awards
ceremony. Individuals and groups were nominated by the agency at which
they volunteer. All the volunteers nominated were recognized at the event. A panel of judges selected the top five volunteers (individuals and groups) as Orange County recipients of the N.C. Outstanding Volunteer Awards, formerly the “Governor’s Awards.” Each county in North Carolina is allowed to select five volunteers for this prestigious honor. The five winners of the NC Award will also be honored on Tuesday, October 25th, in Lexington NC with a reception hosted by the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. North Carolina
Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients representing Orange County: Margaret Ricki Hudson-Orange
County Department on Aging Heather Jenkins-Orange
County American Red Cross Lisa Stifler-
Family Violence Prevention Center Education Committee of Chapel
Hill Museum-Chapel
Hill Museum Chapel Hill-Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
INC-
Citizens of Orange and Chatham Counties Susan Gravely, CEO of Vietri Inc was the guest speaker at the event. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2005 Contact: Todd JonesDirector, Information Systems (919) 245-2285 Orange County Adds Wireless Access Orange County now offers wireless network access at
Board of County Commissioners’ meeting locations. The Orange County Board of Commissioners alternate
meetings between the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough and the
Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill.
On occasions the Commissioners may hold work sessions in the
Government Services Center in Hillsborough.
As of this month, all three locations offer wireless network
access to the public. Wireless network connectivity allows the public
access to the Internet. For
years, the agenda with detail information on items has been posted to
the Internet. Now
individuals attending Board meetings can access the agenda and details
during meetings. Members of the media have already used the network,
writing up to the last minute of a deadline, to share meeting news with
the public. In addition, the Whitted Library also has wireless network access. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2005 Contact: Monica EvansOrange County Board of Commissioners' Office (919) 245-2125 Orange County Boards and Commissions - Recent Appointments At its September 13, 2005 meeting, the
Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed the following citizen
volunteers to County Advisory Boards and Commissions.
### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2005 Contact: Donna BakerClerk to the Orange County Board of Commissioners (919) 245-2130 Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting Calendar Update Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 153A-40,
the Board of County Commissioners provides notice of the following
changes in the 2005 meeting schedule. A Work
Session has been added for Monday, October 3, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the
Government Services Center, 200 South Cameron Street in Hillsborough.
The work session is prior to the scheduled 7:30 p.m. regular meeting at
the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2005 Contact: John LinkCounty Manager, Orange County (919) 245-2300 Orange County Personnel Director Retiring County Manager John Link has announced the retirement of Orange County Personnel Director Elaine Holmes effective March 1, 2006. Holmes has served as Personnel Director for the past 15 years. In that capacity, she has managed a comprehensive human resources program for the County, including employee recruitment, selection, pay, benefits, training, and employee relations. Link said, “Elaine has served Orange County with great distinction. Her professionalism and superior work ethic have been the benchmarks by which we are measured as Orange County employees. She has created a personnel system that is admired and emulated throughout North Carolina. Elaine has truly earned a long and fulfilling retirement and she has all of our best wishes.” Elaine’s
accomplishments include: · Building the Personnel Department’s services and programs to a comprehensive level and developing the well qualified, experienced staff that will continue these programs. · Working through innumerable employee personnel issues with professionalism and empathy, while at the same time recognizing the needs of the organization. This has built a working relationship of trust and confidence that has served both employees and the organization well. · Developing an excellent benefits package for County employees. · Completing a Countywide job classification and pay study of all County positions to update the County’s job structure and support an equitable pay plan. · Successfully transitioning Town of Chapel Hill Solid Waste employees, Orange County Rescue Squad emergency transportation employees, and Orange County Animal Shelter employees into Orange County government. Holmes said, “I have enjoyed my years with Orange County. I’ll miss the day-to-day work with the employees and department heads. They are talented, committed and care deeply about serving the citizens of this County. At the same time, I’m excited and looking forward to the new opportunities and experiences offered by retirement. I’m planning to travel, spend more time with my family and pursue activities at home and in the community.” “I’ve had a 36-year career in human resources management. I’m fortunate to have found early in my career the work that I love to do and the opportunity to do it. As I look back on my years with Orange County, I’m particularly proud of the Personnel staff. They have built strong human resources support for Orange County employees and departments,“ Holmes added. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2005 Contact: Dianne ReidDirector Economic Development (919) 245-2325 Enhancing Agriculture and Opportunities for Farmers in Orange County Noah Ranells joined the Orange County Economic
Development Commission as the Agricultural Economic Development
Coordinator. His job will
focus on opportunities to: 1) encourage new agricultural businesses; 2)
enhance the viability of existing agricultural enterprises; and 3) raise
awareness of the agricultural economy and its benefits to local
communities. He will also
work with other county staff to simplify regulations for local
agricultural enterprises. This
is a 20 hour per week position. Ranells is enthusiastic about opportunities for
agriculture in Orange County. “If you look around North Carolina and
the United States, there are exciting new opportunities for farmers,”
Ranells said. Many former
tobacco farmers are considering new farming ventures and it is important
to have options available for farm families who want to keep their farms
viable and productive. “There will be some difficult decisions to be
made, but many options exist,” Ranells added. Dianne Reid, Economic Development Director, notes
that the position is an excellent match for Ranells’ skills and
interests. His active
participation as a volunteer on various Orange County boards and
committees have made him aware of issues important to both farming and
non-farming communities. “Sometimes
those concerns are shared interests among the two constituencies and at
times the priorities are different,” Reid notes.
It is all about open communications.
“As long as folks are willing to talk about what is important
to them, their families, and the farming community, this can only
improve the agricultural future for Orange County,” Ranells concluded. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2005 Contact: David StancilOrange County Environment and Resource Conservation Director (919) 245-2598 Conservation Easement to Protect Arboretum The
Orange County Board of Commissioners approved the acquisition of a
conservation easement for 36 acres of land owned
by Dr. Charles Keith during the September 7, 2005 board meeting. The
easement is located in the Pickard’s Mountain area of southwestern
Orange County, which has been a priority for the County’s Lands Legacy
Program and other land trusts for many years. Dr. Keith owns 81 acres of
land adjacent to Pickard’s Mountain - including the headwaters of
Morgan Creek, which is part of the University Lake protected watershed.
The new easement adjoins land previously protected by conservation
easement with Triangle Land Conservancy. In the early 1980’s, Dr. Keith and his
late wife Barbara began an ongoing arboretum with a remarkable variety
of trees and shrubs from around the country and other parts of the
world. Today, it is said to
be one of the largest arboretums east of the Mississippi River, with an
estimated 5,000 different species.
Dr. Keith hosts visitors locally and from around the country to
tour the collection. The
conservation easement would help protect the Keith Arboretum, the
undeveloped woodlands, and the Morgan Creek headwater streams located on
the property. All future
development rights would be relinquished, with the exception of
potential walking trails, new maintenance structures for the Arboretum,
and a possible future visitor center.
Two tracts would remain entirely undeveloped. This
project increases the protected farm and forestlands associated with the
Pickard’s Mountain area – one of the more significant natural areas
in the County - from 479 to 515 acres, including an Orange County Lands
Legacy easement of 2003 with Lewis and Everett Cheek of Lemola Ayrshire
Farm. Other protected lands are held in easement by Triangle Land
Conservancy (Maple View Farm, William Burlingame) and the Conservation
Trust for NC (Tim Toben). The Keith property includes the Keith residence (a restored 1830s log
cabin), undeveloped woodlands, Morgan Creek headwater streams, and the
arboretum. Dr. Keith has agreed to convey the conservation easement to Orange
County at a bargain price of $108,000 ($3,000 per acre), which is well
below the $406,800 appraised value of the development rights that will
be removed from the property ($11,300 per acre). The purchase amount
would help fund a stewardship endowment for a nonprofit foundation that
Dr. Keith has established for the long-term care of the Arboretum.
“Thanks to the vision of Dr. Charles Keith and other nearby
landowners, over 500 acres of natural areas and important farmlands have
now been protected in the Pickard’s Mountain area,” stated County
Commissioners Chair Moses Carey.
“These conservation easements will allow these families to retain
private ownership and control of their property and to help preserve
their quality of life, yet assure protection of their sensitive land
resources from future development pressures and other degradation. This
is another success for our Lands Legacy Program, which leverages local
funds with Federal and State dollars to extend the cost-effective
benefits that serve the conservation interests of our entire County,”
added Carey. The County’s funding for this bargain-sale easement comes from the
Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund, funding appropriated by the Board of
Commissioners annually to help acquire high-priority natural and
cultural resource lands for future generations. With this project, Orange County has protected 1,615 acres since the
inception of its Lands Legacy Program five years ago in April 2000.
Lands Legacy seeks to conserve the County’s most critical
natural and cultural resource lands, including prime farmland, prime
forests, natural areas/wildlife habitat, watershed riparian buffers,
parks and historic/cultural sites. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2005 Contact: Nancy CostonOrange County Social Services Director (919) 245-2800 Orange County Expands Childcare Support There is a growing need for affordable childcare
for families who live in Orange County. The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted on
Wednesday, September 7, 2005 to provide $50,000 to the Social Services
Department to provide subsidies for additional families on the day care
waiting list. In June of this year, there were 391 Orange County
children on the waiting list for childcare subsidies.
During the budget deliberations in that same month, the Board of
Commissioners identified $50,000 from the Critical Needs Reserve Account
to provide additional support to the waiting families. During fiscal year 2004 - 2005, a day care task
force was formed by Orange County Social Services.
The task force represented day care providers, the Orange County
Partnership for Young Children, the Social Services Board, Child Care
Services Association, the Board of County Commissioners, the County
Manager’s Office, and Social Services staff.
The task force assisted with the effective distribution and use
of funds provided by the Board of Commissioners from the Social Safety
Net. This year, Social Services plans to seek matching
sponsors in the community, increasing the number of children to be
served. Employers and the
faith community will be targeted as potential sponsors.
The Social Services Board will monitor the effectiveness of the
sponsorships and will oversee the use of the County funds. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2005 Contact: Jack BallOrange County Emergency Services Director (919) 968-2050 Orange County Responds to Katrina Orange County is actively participating in the
recovery effort both locally and in the disaster area by supporting
federal, state, and non-profit relief efforts. Orange County EMS is providing support to the
National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), having dispatched ambulances
and paramedics to Raleigh-Durham International Airport this past weekend
to provide medical care and transportation for potentially injured
victims. Orange County EMS remains on standby in the event flights
with patients arrive in the future. Orange County Emergency Management 9-1-1 Division
has sent two telecommunicators, Steve Newton and Mike Reitz, to St.
Tammany Parish in Louisiana as part of the Telecommunicator Emergency
Response Team. They arrived Monday afternoon, September 5 and are
stationed at the parish’s Emergency Operations Center taking calls
from the public on requests for resources and notifications of
emergencies. North Carolina is one of six southeastern states
identified as primary relocation areas for the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. Orange County staff, in conjunction with
nonprofits, have identified long term sheltering capabilities to
facilitate receiving evacuees from the afflicted areas. Emergency
Management, in conjunction with Public Health, Social Services,
Department on Aging, and Animal Control are leading a committee with the
Red Cross, Interfaith Council, Orange Congregations in Mission, and
Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health, to identify infrastructure and
resources to support those evacuees before they arrive.
Having resources in place will make an easier transition into our
area for the duration of their stay. We expect any evacuees sheltering
in Orange County to remain for a number of months. Orange County EMS has started a sign up list for
internal personnel in the event EMS staff are needed in the affected
area. We are participating in daily conference calls with the state. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2005 Contact: Joe PulcinellaOrange County Animal Shelter Director (919) 245-2075 Katrina's Furry Victims Need Foster Homes While Hurricane Katrina has had tragic consequences for the human population, she also has caused untold suffering for the many pets caught in the storm’s fury. The lucky ones were able to stay with their owners but many were left behind to fend for themselves. Agencies such as the American Humane Association and the Humane Society of the United States have sent teams to the storm stricken states and they are receiving help from local agencies. As survivors arrive in North Carolina with their pets and the number of rescued homeless animals rises, there may be a need for local support to house and care for Katrina’s furry victims. One of the ways the Orange County Animal Services Department is preparing to help with this possibility is to identify long-term foster homes to care for these pets. Some may arrive with their owners and others may be strays, but either way many of these animals will need several months of care in homes while their owners get back on their feet or the lengthy process of finding their owners plays out. If you can provide foster care for one or more of these pets,--whether it be a cat, a dog or a “pocket pet” such as a hamster--please contact Sarah Fallin at 919-967-7383 or sfallin@co.orange.nc.us. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2005 Contact: Sharron HintonDirector Community Services (919) 245-2302 Human Services Forum on Homelessness The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the
Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission (HSAC) will host the 17th
Annual Human Services Advisory Commission Forum on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Traditionally,
the HSAC has held the Forum at the Friday Center. However, in a year where fiscal constraints abound, the HSAC
will host this year’s Forum at the
United Church of Chapel Hill, located at 1321 Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blvd. in Chapel Hill. The theme for 2005 Forum is “Welcome Home: A Bold Proposal
to End Homelessness”.
Orange County, with the collaborative support of the
municipalities and Triangle United Way is embarking on an exciting
initiative to end homelessness in the next 10 years.
This year’s Forum will be the “kick-off” by highlighting
the challenges faced in our community and identifying options for
addressing the unique needs of the homeless in Orange County. We are fortunate to have nationally recognized
speakers available to offer insight into this complex issue. Richard Moore, NC State Treasurer will open the event; Philip
Mangano, Executive Director of the US Interagency Council on
Homelessness will provide the keynote address; and Chris Fitzsimon,
Director of NC Policy Watch will serve as the luncheon speaker. In an effort to demonstrate widespread community
support for alleviating homelessness in Orange County, all
proceeds from the registration
fee of $12.50 will be donated to the two local agencies that
primarily serve this population. Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM)
and Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) will share equally in
the proceeds and specifically use these funds to serve chronically
homeless individuals and families. To register contact Corinthia Barber in the County Manager’s Office at (919) 245-2300. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2005 Contact: Donna BakerClerk to the Board of Commissioners (919) 245-2300 Orange County Hosts Outreach Listening Sessions Only two “listening sessions”, hosted by the
Orange County Board of Commissioners, are left. The next session will be on Thursday, September
15, 2005 at 7:00 pm, at the Efland Community Center, 117 Richmond Road,
Efland. The sessions provide an informal and relaxed
opportunity for residents to share their concerns and thoughts related to
county government. Residents who do not feel comfortable making a
presentation to the Board in a public meeting may feel free to share their
issues in a more casual setting near local neighborhoods.
Whether the topics are operations, programs, or services, here is a
chance to share your thoughts with the Chair and one other Commissioner. Any county resident may attend any meeting. Results of the sessions will be shared with members
of the Board and Orange County Staff. Remaining
2005 Orange County Listening Sessions
All meetings begin at 7:00 pm and last until 8:00
pm. September 15 – Efland Community Center October 5 – Government Services Center ###
|