Indoor mask mandate reinstated for Orange County

With several key COVID metrics experiencing a drastic increase since the end of June, Orange County reinstated its indoor countywide mask mandate effective 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The mandate applies to anyone 2 years and older, regardless of vaccination status.

“With cases of COVID19 and its Delta variant surging across Orange County and the nation, we are issuing a mandate requiring adults and children to wear face coverings while inside any building,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “This step is essential if we hope to slow the spread of the Delta variant. While we ask all residents to take this precaution, more importantly, if you know individuals who have been reluctant to get the vaccine, please take them to a vaccination site to get their shot and protect yourself and your family members, friends and neighbors.”

The mandate does not apply to the following individuals:

Anyone with a diagnosed medical or behavioral condition or disability, including difficulty breathing
Children under two (2) years of age
Children under five (5) years of age and their parent, guardian, or responsible person has been unable to place and maintain a Face Covering safely on the child’s face
Anyone who is actively eating or drinking
Anyone who is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible
Anyone who is giving a speech or performance for a broadcast or to an audience where they maintain a distance of at least twenty (20) feet from the audience
Anyone who is working alone in an individual office setting (however, such person(s) shall apply a Face Covering when in common areas such as breakrooms, hallways, restrooms, or other areas where additional persons may be encountered)
Anyone who has determined the Face Covering is impeding their visibility in the operation of equipment or a vehicle

Even with one of the highest rates of vaccination in the state with 76 percent of the population fully vaccinated, Orange County is still experiencing a surge in new cases, mostly among the unvaccinated.

For the week of June 20-26, Orange County reported nine cases out of 1,596 tests for a positivity rate of 0.6%. For the week of Aug. 1-7, Orange County reported 235 cases out of 4,040 tests for a positivity rate of 5.3%.

Click here for more information.

Face coverings graphic update for August 2021

NCDHHS approves Orange County's transition to Alliance

Orange County’s request to disengage with Cardinal Innovations and align with Alliance Health as its Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO) has been approved by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Orange County’s transition to Alliance will occur on Dec. 15, 2021, according to a timetable established by NCDHHS.

LME/MCOs are local political subdivisions of the state that manage mental health, traumatic brain injury, substance use and intellectual/developmental disability services for individuals who are insured by Medicaid or who have no health insurance. Alliance currently manages these services for residents in Durham, Wake, Cumberland and Johnston counties. Mecklenburg County will also be transitioning from Cardinal to Alliance.

On Nov. 5, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved moving forward with disengagement from Cardinal and joining Alliance Health. After a lengthy public process to allow for feedback and input from community stakeholders and clients, the BOCC voted to align with Alliance Health.

“We believe that combining with Alliance Health will provide an effective system for our residents by allowing Orange County to connect with the other counties and resources in the Research Triangle, namely Durham and Wake Counties,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “Alliance shares Orange County’s goal and priority of ensuring a network of mental and physical health care services and an infrastructure that maintains, protects and promotes the well-being of all members of our community.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to manage the public behavioral health, I/DD, and other healthcare services and supports for our neighbors in Orange County, and we look forward to developing the same strong and productive community partnerships that we enjoy in the other counties we serve,” said Alliance CEO Rob Robinson. “We will be working closely with Cardinal as well as NCDHHS to ensure a smooth transition of care for the residents of Orange County, as well as the providers who supply that care.”

More information about this transition is available at www.alliancehealthplan.org/about-alliance/orange-county-lme-mco-disengagement/, and additional questions can be directed to Alliance Health at (800) 510-9132.

Community members asked for input on countywide Racial Equity Plan

Work on a countywide racial equity plan is continuing, and community members are invited to virtual meetings on the plan this month.

The first meeting was held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 10. The final meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m.. Attendees will receive information about the work thus far and will be able to provide input and direction on the plan’s development and learn about opportunities to work on the racial equity plan.

For several months, staff from Orange County and the towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough have been working to develop a framework for racial equity plans specific to each jurisdiction. One Orange is a commitment by local leaders and staff to uncover and address implicit racial biases in our institutions and to create a community where race no longer predicts life outcomes in our community. Much of the preliminary work and vision utilize the methodology of the Government Alliance for Racial Equity, a national network of government agencies working to advance racial equity. All the jurisdictions are members of GARE.

A public hearing on the final draft plan is expected in the fall. Once a framework has been approved, staff from the county and municipalities will develop a training strategy.

One Orange team leaders can provide information sessions in a variety of languages and are seeking to connect with the community throughout August. Contact the team to arrange a session or to suggest or help with outreach: OneOrange@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2317.

Registration
Register in advance for one of the virtual sessions. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

7 p.m. Aug. 17: Registration

Related documents

Community engagement letter

N. C. Agriculture Cost-Share funds for non-point source pollution control available soon

The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District expects to receive its cost-share allocation from the state for non-point source pollution control from agriculture activities in the next couple of weeks.

These funds are available to improve water quality by assisting farmers in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), which help decrease the amount of sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, animal waste, chemicals and other pollutants entering the surface and ground waters of the State.

Landowners and operators may apply for technical and cost-share assistance to install BMPs such as animal waste storage facilities, mortality management systems, wells, and watering troughs in conjunction with livestock exclusion fencing from streams, heavy use areas, animal trails and stream crossings, closure of waste impoundments, cropland conversions, sod-based rotations, grassed waterways, field borders and diversions.

For a complete list of BMPs available and other cost-share programs to improve water quality and enhance an agriculture operation, go to Orange County Soil and Water Conservation’s website at www.orangecountync.gov/soilwater (See Financial Assistance).

An initial sign-up will be held through Aug. 21, 2021, for those landowners and operators wishing to request technical and cost-share assistance on practices.

Request for technical assistance will be provided throughout the year and cost-share assistance for as long as funding is available.

To apply for cost-share assistance and other agricultural funding programs, please contact Kenny Ray or Todd Roberts at (919) 245-2750.

DCHC MPO seeking public feedback on transportation improvements

If you're interested in highway, bicycle, multi-use paths, and transit projects for our region, you're invited to give your feedback on scenarios of our future transportation system.

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is seeking public feedback on the transportation improvements that should be included in the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). The 2050 MTP identifies future highway, transit, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation projects for this region over the next 30 years.

The DCHC MPO is updating the 2050 MTP this fall, and will use the public input received on the Alternatives Analysis to identify where roadway, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation investments will be needed in the coming decades.

Residents and other stakeholders are asked to review the Alternatives Analysis at the DCHC MPO website and provide comments by email no later than Wednesday, Sept. 15. And, take a few minutes to complete our SURVEY.

For more information about the 2050 MTP, contact DCHC MPO Principal Planner Andy Henry at (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 or by email.

Department on Aging Direct Care Worker Award nominations now open!

Since 2015, Orange County Department on Aging and the community group, Senior Health Advocacy and Resource Partners of Orange County (SHARP) have presented SHARP Direct Care Worker Awards each year to honor Direct Care Workers (nurse aides, personal care aides, companion caregivers, etc.) who affect their clients’ lives on a daily basis.

Awards are presented in the following categories: Client Impact, Longevity, Leadership, Going the Extra Mile, and Rising Star. One person will be chosen as the “Direct Care Worker of the Year.”

To be eligible, direct care workers must have served clients in Orange County within the past year. Each person may be nominated in two categories. Nominees must have provided direct care to clients and have at least six consecutive months of service in the past year.

Nominations will remain open through Sept. 24. For more information about the awards or to nominate a direct care worker, please visit us online or contact Kim Lamon-Loperfido at 919-245-4253.

Deadline to appeal property values extended to Sept. 1

On June 15, 2021, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to extend the 2021 Orange County Board of Equalization and Review Formal Appeal adjournment date from June 30, 2021, to Sept. 1, 2021.

The purpose of this extension is to allow additional time for property owners to formally appeal their 2021 property values to the Board of Equalization and Review.

Instructions and the Formal Notice of Appeal to the Board of Equalization and Review are available on the Orange County website: http://www.orangecountync.gov/806/Appeals.
Property owners may file a formal appeal online at https://appeals.spatialest.com/nc-orange.

To receive a paper copy of the form, email reval@orangecountync.gov or call 919-245-2100, option 2. All formal appeals must be submitted prior to the Board’s adjournment on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

www.orangecountync.gov