The Orange County Board of Commissioners discussed several large projects — ranging from a new jail to expansions to a local middle school — at a Thursday night work session.
At the meeting, the board discussed the county’s proposed 2013-2018 Capital Investment Plan, which would allocate a total of $209 million for major projects during the next five years.
While they talked about the plan’s major projects, commissioners also discussed the addition of a science wing to Culbreth Middle School — a project that would total $4.9 million.
The project is not yet included in the 2013-2018 investment plan. In order to pay for the wing, other projects would need to be deferred or removed.
The addition of the science wing would also increase annual debt payments.
“The school board also needs to see what it would do to our debt capacity and whether or not we can do it,” said Commissioner Bernadette Pelissier.
Chairman Barry Jacobs said he is concerned with the increasing level of debt the county will take on with these projects.
“The gist of it is that we want to stay under the 15 percent mark,” Jacobs said. “Using the best judgement, we will decide how much we want to push it.”
At the meeting, Recreation Factory Partners CEO John Stock also presented details about expanding the Orange County’s Sportsplex in Hillsborough to better meet the needs of the community. He said he expects Sportsplex membership to increase significantly as a result of the expansion.
Stock presented the four-phase renovation plan, which includes a fitness mezzanine, multi-use turf, versatile court and lobby renovations.
“I can say I only hear positive things about it from members of the public — the mezzanine improvements, how expansions were made on the existing building and how much people appreciate the spirit that is part of being there,” Jacobs said.
The commissioners also talked about how to use the historic Whitted Building in Hillsborough, how to pay for the proposed county jail and whether to preserve the Northern Human Services Center.
The projects will be finalized in June after the county budget is approved.
Notable:
While the board does not currently televise its work sessions, Jacobs said he thinks televising meetings would engage the community by improving transparency. He said he would like to see the ability to televise meetings as an option with renovations to the Whitted Building.
Quotable:
“The people there may have done wrong, but they deserve to be treated in a proper manner,” said Commissioner Earl McKee, emphasizing the need for improved jail conditions.
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