BOCC Business Meeting Agenda for May 5, 2020

Due to current public health concerns, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is conducting a virtual business meeting on May 5, 2020. Members of the Board of Commissioners will be participating in the meeting remotely. Members of the public will be able to view and listen to the meeting and have the opportunity to provide public comment. The public may submit written comments by sending an email to ocbocc@orangecountync.gov. Individuals who wish to speak must pre-register using the instructions included in the agenda.

As in prior meetings, the meeting will be streamed in real-time on the County’s website for public viewing/listening at http://www.orangecountync.gov/967/Meeting-Videos. There will also be real-time broadcast on Spectrum Cable and video-recording for future television broadcast and reference on the County’s website.

The full agenda for the Orange County Board of Commissioners’ virtual business meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 has been posted to the link below.

https://www.orangecountync.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05052020-994

For a link to each agenda item as a separate file, please use the link below.

http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink/0/fol/62415/Row1.aspx

The Manager’s recommended 2020-21 budget will be available at the link below on the night of the meeting.

http://www.orangecountync.gov/730/Operating-Budget

Orange County At Work graphic Sarah Barnhardt

Teens, Stay Physically Apart from Others to Reduce COVID-19 Risk

Teens, do you know you can transmit COVID-19 to others even without showing symptoms?

Although the virus generally causes mild symptoms in youths, people of all ages can spread it and bring it home to others who are at higher risk. The key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 is to practice social distancing ? staying physically apart from anyone who is not in your household.

Stay at home orders are in place in Orange County and North Carolina to slow the spread of the virus and to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. This will help ensure patients can get the care they need when they need it.

Tips from teens
Need some tips to fight boredom and to stay social while physically apart? Lydia Procopio, a rising sophomore at Eno River Academy High School in Hillsborough, suggests starting with initiating conversations to check on others.

“It really helps everyone to hear from someone during the quarantine and know that someone is still there for them even though they’re not physically there,” she said.

Click here for more information.

NCDHHS to Provide Additional Food Benefits for More than 800,000 Children Impacted by COVID-19

Governor Roy Cooper announced in mid-April that North Carolina was approved for the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to help families purchase food for children impacted by school closings due to COVID-19. NCDHHS is working to operationalize the program and families will begin to receive this benefit in coming weeks.

“So many families are in need, especially with so many out of work right now. This approval helps people get assistance faster to feed their families,” said Governor Cooper.

The program provides a benefit on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children are eligible for free and reduced lunch at school. Families will receive $250 in P-EBT benefits per child, provided in two installments, with the possibility of an additional benefit if North Carolina schools are closed beyond May 15. Families will be able to use the P-EBT?benefit?to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores.

Click here for more information.

Myths and facts for grocery shopping graphic

Orange County Arts Commission creates artist support fund

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our entire economy, but particularly the artists whose livelihood depends on audiences, and the organizations that give these artists a platform. Every cancellation impacts everyone from the artist to the venue staff and keeps critical revenue from our important cultural organizations.

The Orange County Arts Commission has created an Orange County Arts Support Fund to support artists, arts industry workers, and arts organizations who have been impacted by COVID-19. $18,850 has been awarded to 45 artists so far. A second cycle of grants will open Friday, May 1. To learn more about applying for funds, click here.

We are currently accepting donations for this fund. If you’d like to donate online, you can make a contribution through Go Fund Me here. Our director Katie Murray has set up this fundraiser because the commission currently lacks an online donation mechanism. The ArtsCenter in Carrboro is serving as the fiscal agent for this fund and will assist the commission in dispursing money to approved applicants.100% of donations will be distributed to the arts community through the commission’s application process (less GoFundMe fees: 2.9% + .30 per donation). Please note that this is not a fundraiser by or for The ArtsCenter.

If you’d like to make a donation with a check, please mail your contribution to The ArtsCenter. Be sure to memo “OCASF.”

The ArtsCenter

300-G E. Main St.

Carrboro, NC 27510

Thank you for helping us support the arts of Orange County

www.orangecountync.gov