As part of its budget process, last week the Orange County Board of Commissioners discussed current and upcoming projects to get a sense of where the county is and how each projects fits in the 2016-2017 fiscal budget.

One of the biggest projects discussed is the Southern Branch Library. County manager Bonnie Hammersley said the county is working with Carrboro to prepare to begin building the library in 2017.

“(Carrboro’s town manager)  has informed us that they will be getting their parking study and space study completed by the fall of this year,” she said.

The studies are a step towards the two governing bodies coming to an interlocal agreement, which must be completed before the county can officially name the location of the site and begin construction.

The county is also investigating the possibility of creating heating, cooling and recharging stations at five different locations to help the community during extreme weather events.

Orange County emergency management coordinator Kirby Saunders said in order to move towards creating these stations the county would have to invest in generators, which it is planning on doing.

“Those centers are not intended to be overnight stays,” he said. “They don’t provide meals, it’s really just a facility that has power, that people can get in during extreme cold events or extreme heat events, all assuming the heat and air condition works, which is where the generator helps.”

Another major project the county is undertaking is the addition of sewer infrastructure to the Historic Rogers Road Community.

Depute county manager Travis Myren said there were no updates on the project and it is currently on schedule as the county attempts to acquire easements to use resident’s land for construction purposes.

“I don’t think there’s any opposition or reluctance,” he said. “I think in some cases people aren’t familiar with what an easement is or can’t find old documents.  So we’ve engaged with the Jackson Center and they’re helping us through those individual contacts.”

Discussion of additional funding projects will continue during budget work sessions June 9 and 14. The budget will be approved June 21.

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