Orange County Emergency Services and Orange Rural Fire Department have partnered to purchase equipment to be used for trench rescues, filling a gap in local rescue capabilities.

“Nobody in the county currently has the ability to respond to a trench rescue and go into a trench to get people out,” said Orange Rural Fire Chief Jeff Cabe. “Fortunately, we live in an area with a lot of clay so they don’t happen a lot, but when the call comes, you have to respond.”

A trench is defined as being deeper than it is wide. Whenever a contractor digs a trench more than four feet into the ground, to bury cable or for other reasons, they are required to construct a trench box to protect personnel working in the trench.

Even so, collapses occur. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates about 25 people die per year in trench-related accidents.

Rescues are difficult and require specific equipment and expertise, Cabe said. In addition, because quickly moving tons of dirt and debris is labor intensive, a large team of responders is needed so workers can rotate to avoid undue stress.

The idea took root after a tragedy. Orange Rural Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Holden died in 2018 following a trench rescue effort in the Efland District.

“Along that time I started having conversations with (Orange County Emergency Services Director) Kirby Saunders, saying we’ve got gaps in coverage and we probably ought to try to figure out how to address them on a countywide basis,” Cabe said.

Saunders, who was then Orange County’s Emergency Services Coordinator, jumped on board. His department requested $25,000 in funding from the county, which the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved.

North Carolina counties are required to revalue properties regularly to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the property tax burden. The Orange County Tax Office recently completed its 2021 revaluation and mailed notice of new values to all property owners in March.

Property owners who feel their value is too high have the option to appeal with the Tax Office at no cost to the taxpayer. An appeal can be filed easily through the tax department’s on-line form (https://appeals.spatialest.com/nc-orange#/).

The website is a simple-to-use tool that will walk you step by step through the appeals process. Any documentation you wish to provide, such as property appraisals, can be uploaded through the page.

Comparable properties may be submitted as well. The Orange Public Comper website (https://nc-orange-citizen.comper.info/template.aspx) allows you to search for comparable properties that have recently sold in your area. Recent sales data is one piece of information the county uses to determine property values.

If you need help with the appeal, please call (919) 245-2100, option 2 or email reval@orangecountync.gov.

A formal appeal will result in your case being heard by the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review. The formal appeal time period is from May 3 until June 30. To file a formal appeal, property owners must fill out the form on the Orange County website. Once you submit the form you will be contacted by the Tax Office to set up a time for your appeal to be heard. The schedule for hearings can be seen here. 

There is no charge to taxpayers to file an appeal. Because of the pandemic, the Tax Office is closed to the public. However, in-person appointments are available on a limited basis. Call 919-245-2100, option 2 or email reval@orangecountync.gov.

Completed forms and documentation may be mailed to:
Other options are:

• Use the Drop Box Located at the Orange County Tax Office, Gateway Center (228 South Churton Street in Hillsborough)
• Scan and email to reval@orangecountync.gov
• Fax to 919-245-3091 (indicate number of pages sent)
• Schedule a virtual meeting (call 919-245-2100, option 2 or email)

Children ages 12-15 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine. In anticipation of this development, the Orange County Health Department ordered a supply of Pfizer and is ready to begin vaccinating this age group.

Orange County Health holds walk-in clinics--no appointment or pre-registration necessary--every week at the Whitted Building: Monday 2-7 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday 2-7 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The county will also host pop-up clinics at other locations throughout the county. For a full schedule of pop-up and walk-in vaccine clinics in Orange County, visit www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot.

The vaccine is free, and no ID or insurance is required.

To find out when shots are available with the Orange County Health Department or other providers close to you, visit www.myspot.nc.gov and search for zip code 27278. You can register for an appointment through the website, or you can just arrive during clinic hours and receive a shot. The website will show you other vaccinators within your area and times they are available.

For more information, or if you have questions, call (919) 913-8088 seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spanish and other languages are available. It's never been more easy to do your part and Get Your Shot.

Questions may be directed to covid19vaccine@orangecountync.gov.

In January 2020, the Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill, and Orange County adopted the Greene Tract Resolution for a Path Forward. This resolution initiated the drafting of an environmental assessment in order to obtain site-specific information on environmental and cultural conditions present on the Greene Tract.

Following a Request for Proposal and bid process, SynTerra was selected to complete the Environmental Assessment. Beginning in May 2020, SynTerra reviewed background information, conducted fieldwork, and completed an environmental analysis of the Greene Tract. The final assessment was presented to the local governments in July 2020.

Due to COVID-19 and limitations in conducting community outreach, the local governments and SynTerra agreed to produce a video to present the Greene Tract Environmental Assessment to the public. This video is now available for viewing at the following link: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2127/Greene-Tract.

Comments and questions regarding the Environmental Assessment and video can be submitted at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7QB7L9M. All questions are due by May 23. Following this date, local government staff, in partnership with SynTerra, will provide additional informational materials, including a FAQ and/or second video, in order to answer questions received from the public.