Mr. Ralph McKinney has requested time on the agenda to make comments to the Commissioners relative to racism and hate by businesses in Durham County.

2. Citizen Comment—Jack A. Steer

Mr. Jack Steer, representing the Friends of Durham, will address the Commissioners on the Durham Public Schools budget and City-County merger.

3. Adoption of Farmland Preservation Ordinance

The Farmland Preservation Ordinance was last considered by the Board at the November 2, 1998 Worksession. Since that meeting, County Manager David F. Thompson and County Attorney Chuck Kitchen met with Wayne Cash, Chairman of the Farmland Preservation Board. The County Manager recommends that the acquisition of determinable conservation easements and repurchase of conservation easements be deleted from the proposed ordinance.

On March 19, 1999, the Farmland Preservation Board met and voted that the acquisition of determinable of conservation easements and repurchase of conservation easements remain in the proposed ordinance.

Also, on March 19, 1999, Farmland Preservation Board approved the guidelines for the Farmland Ranking System.

County Manager’s Recommendation: Discuss the ordinance with the Farmland Ranking System. However, the acquisition of determinable conservation easements and repurchase of conservation easements should be deleted from the proposed ordinance.

4. Noise Ordinance

The current Durham County NOISE Ordinance does not comply with the applicable case law in NC. Attached, please find a copy of State v. Garren, a 1994 North Carolina Court of Appeals case which is the leading case on noise enforcement in NC. The proposed ordinance complies with the State v. Garren decision. Cite more significant changes.

The proposed ordinance is more concise than the current ordinance. Special emphasis will have to be placed on training law enforcement personnel on how to investigate and prepare cases prior to enforcing violation in court.

Mr. Lowell Siler, Deputy County Attorney, will review the State v. Garren decision and our Proposed Ordinance.

County Manager’s Recommendation: Mr. Siler will incorporate the Board’s guidance/input from the Worksession and submit a final version to the Board for their approval.

5. Automation Project for Register of Deeds Office

For the past eighteen months, a team from the Register of Deeds Office, along with the Information Technology Department and the Purchasing Department, have been investigating the best means through which to implement a highly successful automated document management and imaging system for the County. This investigation has included an in-depth analysis of technical needs, process overflow, and collection of data. Several site visits were conducted to examine the implementation of automated systems in other jurisdictions.

The Register of Deeds Office is requesting that the following action be taken by the Durham County Board of Commissioners at the April 12^th meeting.