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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners' Briefing (Jan. 4, 2022)
Description
Briefing of the Board of Commissioners for January 4, 2022. The purpose of the Briefing is for the board to discuss future agenda items and County business with staff in an open, transparent manner. No official actions take place during the Briefing. It is also when the COVID-19 Community Update occurs.
A
B
A
We'll
figure
that
out
between
now
and
five
but
yeah,
I'm
sure
we
can
we'll
have
someone
do
that.
Okay,
and
so,
commissioner,
jasmine
beach
ferrara,
is
not
able
to
be
in
the
meeting
today.
She's,
not
feeling
well
so
she's
going
to
be
able
to
participate
in
the
briefing
meeting
virtually
and
then
at
the
five
o'clock
meeting.
A
C
Yes,
sir,
fortunately,
the
legislature
did,
within
the
last
couple
months,
amend
the
remote
meeting
statute
to
allow
that
if
you
have
a
regularly
scheduled
meeting
and
more
than
six
hours
before
that
meeting,
a
commissioner
or
board
member
for
whatever
reason
cannot
participate,
you
can
amend
your
notice
to
allow
for
a
remote
meeting,
so
we
did
that
just
before
11
a.m.
This
morning,
so,
commissioner,
beach
ferrara
can
participate
remotely.
A
D
D
D
D
Additionally,
the
percent
positivity
has
increased
to
13.7
percent
as
of
yesterday.
This
is
also
a
significant
increase
from
just
one
month
ago,
when
I
presented
to
you
all
last
when
the
percent
positivity
was
about
6.6,
our
death
rate
saw
a
decline
in
the
last
week,
but
remains
very
high,
with
four
additional
deaths
added.
D
Also
troubling
is
our
steadily
increasing
hospitalizations
dr
bill
hathaway
is
joining
me
today
and
will
provide
more
insight
on
the
impact
of
our
current
surge
on
local
hospitals.
But
in
short,
the
percent
of
inpatient
beds
occupied
by
cova
19,
is
increasing
and
is
now
close
to
10
percent,
which
would
be
that
warning
zone.
D
D
You
can
also
see
that
precipitous
rise
in
cases
in
the
last
couple
weeks,
with
the
week
prior
being
the
most
significant
so
far
that
that
far
end
epi
curve
was
already
looking
fairly
steep
in
its
incline
in
the
last
couple
weeks
that
has
just
exponentially
increased.
As
you
can
see
there,
this
surge
appears
to
be
dwarfing
any
of
those
of
the
january
2021
and
the
delta
surges.
In
comparison,
it's
also
happening
very
quickly
and
spreading
very
rapidly.
F
D
Seeing
it
tremendously
more,
I
will
say
that
the
north
carolina
department
of
health
and
human
services,
respiratory
report
that
shows
the
sequencing
it's
about
a
week
behind
or
so
and
its
most
current
week,
I
believe,
was
like
december,
maybe
11th
or
mid-december.
It
was
still
only
showing
less
than
15
percent.
I
believe
omicron.
I
suspect
that
when
we
see
the
respiratory
report
update
this
week
and
and
into
the
next
week
that
we'll
see
it
much
more
considerably
the
burden
of
covic
cases
at
this
point.
D
I
am
recommending
that
the
face
covering
requirement
be
extended
to
no
less
than
february
9
and
strongly
recommend
that
it
be
extended
until
february
23rd,
as
I've
said
before,
there
may
be
a
day
in
the
near
future,
when
we
can
tolerate
higher
case
rates
and
move
to
general
public
recommendations,
particularly
when
our
at-home
therapeutics
are
more
readily
available
and
greater
supply,
so
that
we
can
keep
more
people
out
of
the
hospital.
But
that
day
is
not
today.
D
D
We
did
hear
this
morning
that
those
hours
may
be
changing
to
from
12
to
3
p.m,
but
I'm
waiting
for
official
confirmation
on
that
as
the
north
carolina
department
of
health
and
human
services
website
still
shows
that
is
10
to
2..
But
there
are
numerous
places
in
testing
providers
within
our
community.
D
Strong
schools
toolkit
to
ensure
our
learning
environments
are
safe
and
as
healthy
as
they
can
be,
so
that
our
children
can
remain
in
in-person.
Learning,
which
we
know
is
not
only
beneficial
for
their
intellectual
growth,
but
also
their
social
and
emotional
health.
So
special
thanks
to
the
school
nursing
teams
and
our
school
nurse
leadership,
particularly
april
bauer,
and
our
school
systems,
leadership
for
their
commitment
to
healthy
and
safe
learning
environments.
D
Additionally,
our
community
is
fortunate
to
have
community
health
worker
programs
that
provide
support
education
and
linkages
to
cover
19
resources,
including
testing
and
vaccine
in
our
communities.
The
community
health
worker
groups
are
very
similar
to
the
community
ambassador
programs
that
commissioner
wills
shared
with
me
earlier
in
the
week
in
our
community.
We
have
groups
like
ifa,
which
is
the
institute
for
preventive
health
care
and
advocacy,
led
by
kathy
avery,
unedi
and
healthier
together,
who
all
utilize
the
talents
and
skills
of
community
health
workers
and
all
these
groups
have.
D
Ifa
has
routinely
visited
communities
throughout
buncombe
county,
going
door
to
door
to
one
listen
to
the
concerns
to
provide
accurate
and
trusted
information
by
those
community
health
workers
who
are
a
part
of
the
community
in
which
they
work
and
three
connect
individuals
to
services
like
testing
and
vaccination,
specifically,
if
has
provided
approximately
400
at-home
rapid
tests
to
members
of
the
community,
and
just
while,
I'm
mentioning
the
work
of
the
community
health
workers.
Another
example,
this
time
on
the
vaccine
side,
healthier
together,
was
instrumental
in
the
biltmore
church
vaccine
outreach
collaborate.
D
Collaboration
with
the
mexican
consulate
that
occurred
in
october,
healthier
together,
worked
with
latinx
communities
to
get
the
word
out
about
the
importance
of
vaccine
provided
those
communities
with
accurate
information
about
the
vaccine
and
worked
with
buncombe
county
hhs
to
provide
a
welcoming
and
accessible
space
for
a
four-day
event
in
which
for
community
members
to
receive
their
vaccine.
So
many
thanks
to
the
numerous
community
health
workers
within
our
county
and
many
of
whom
have
worked
up
throughout
our
region
to
provide
those
services.
D
And
just
to
briefly
tell
you
about
some
new
testing
initiatives
that
are
on
the
horizon
for
buncombe
county
buncombe.
County
hhs
is
building
off
that
model
of
the
community
health
workers
and
purchasing
a
supply
of
rapid
at-home
test
kits
for
community
distribution
staff
is
currently
working
to
have
tests
hopefully
arrive
next
week.
This
will
heavily
be
dependent
on
vendor
supply,
which
has
changed
quite
quite
a
lot
in
the
last
week
or
so.
D
We
plan
to
work
with
our
existing
partners
in
communities
to
have
rapid
tests
available
in
their
locations
for
distribution
and
pickup
by
community
members.
Locations
may
include
community
centers
throughout
the
county,
fire
departments,
homeless,
shelters,
libraries,
churches,
even
at
some
of
our
vaccine
events
and
again
with
our
community
health
workers.
So
details
about
that
initiative
will
be
finalized
upon
the
receipt
of
those
test
kits
and
dependent
on
the
quantity
in
which
we
actually
get
to
receive.
D
So
I
just
did
want
to
mention
that
for
folks
who
are
already
utilizing
at
home
rapid
testing,
I
want
to
remind
everyone
that
those
tests
are
heavily
relying
on
you
getting
a
good
sample.
So
please
follow
those
directions
closely
and
also
that
rapid
antigen
at
home
tests
are
most
accurate.
When
viral
load
is
higher
and
when
symptoms
are
present,
they
can
be
less
accurate
for
those
who
do
not
have
any
symptoms
or
have
lower
viral
loads.
D
So
this
is
why
most
typically
we're
using
them
for
those
who
are
experiencing
symptoms
or
are
known
to
have
a
confirmed
exposure
to
a
positive
case
and
then.
Lastly,
I
did
want
to
mention
that
there
are
opportunities
for
additional
testing
surge
resources
with
fema
and
north
carolina
department
of
health
and
human
services,
both
of
which
I
have
submitted.
Proposals
for
and
those
are
pending,
and
those
would
be
not
just
for
buncombe
county,
but
would
help
service
other
surrounding
areas
as
well.
D
And
now
we're
going
to
move
on
to
vaccine
and
I'm
going
to
go
pretty
quickly
through
this
when
I
last
presented,
buncombe
county
was
getting
ready
to
wrap
up
our
pediatric
vaccine
events
and
we
completed
our
saturday
at
school
events
prior
to
the
public
school
release
for
winter
break,
between
buncombe,
county
hhs
and
mayheck
and
fema
partners.
We
administered
over
1200
doses
of
vaccine
with
this
campaign.
E
D
There
we
go
so
future
vaccine
planning,
so
what's
on
the
horizon,
knowing
that
we
do
still
have
some
work
to
do
in
helping
folks
get
to
their
booster
status,
our
future
efforts
will
be
focused
on
giving
the
new
year
boost
focused
campaigns
on
boosters
and
revising
revamping
regional
messaging
to
inform,
encourage
and
remind
people
about
their
boosters.
Additionally,
we
are
already
doing
early
planning
for
the
adolescent
boosters.
D
D
So
we
continually
have
been
going
out
to
the
long-term
care
facilities
who
needed
support
for
vaccine.
I
can
get
those
numbers
for
you.
I
don't
have
them
with
me
today
about
what
number
that
we've
done,
that
we're
boosters
for
that
and
then
what
we
found
is
many
of
the
large.
The
large
long-term
care
facilities
have
taken
care
of
that
through
either
commercial
partners
or
through
their
own
staffing.
D
D
There
are
just
some
key
things
right
now,
with
omicron
spreading,
essentially
like
wildfire
that
I
want
folks
to
remember,
and
these
are
get
vaccinated,
get
boosted
when
eligible
get
tested,
if
exposed
or
experiencing
symptoms,
get
your
face
covering
and
wear
it
when
you
are
in
indoor
public
spaces,
get
some
distance
between
you
and
others
and
get
those
hands
clean,
sanitize
and
wash
them.
Often.
D
F
D
F
D
I'll
tell
you
about
what
we're
doing
so
far
and
then
allow
county
manager
pender
to
weigh
in
so
we
do
have
funds
through
an
agreement
agenda,
an
elc
which
is
just
that
expanded
testing
protocols
and
funding
that
is
aa543
that
will
allow
us
to
purchase,
and
so
we
we
have
funds
that
can
purchase
up
to
5000
right
now.
We
did
want
to
limit
that
to
a
limited
supply
at
first
until
we
see
how
quickly
they
get
distributed
and
how
quickly
they
get
picked
up.
There's
a
there's
potential
for
us
to
use
more
of
those
funds.
A
I
can
ask
a
question:
I
just
want
to
make
sure
I
heard
that
correctly.
So
at
this
time
you
believe
the
county
has
resources
to
purchase
additional
tests,
and
that
would
need
to
come
out
of
the
coveted
response
funding
that
the
commission
has
approved
from
the
recovery
act.
Funding
is
that
am
I
hearing
you
correctly.
B
To
parker's
question
so
in
the
event
that
that
money
expires,
we
do
have
that
million
dollars
that
you
guys
allocated
from
arpa.
We
have
used
some
of
that
already,
though,
but
there's
still
money
there
that
we
could
use
to
buy
additional,
but
the
reason
why
I
asked
the
ac
to
only
do
5000
at
this
point
is
the
state
and
the
federal
opportunities
that
are
going
to
be
sending
us
testing.
So
my
goal
was:
this:
is
a
bridge,
it's
how
I
was
framing
it.
B
D
Thank
you
for
that
reminder.
That's
correct
that
there
there
are
two
other
avenues
that
we
will
be
learning
more
information
about,
one,
the
federal
avenue
to
get
at-home
tests
to
americans
at
their
home.
More
details
are
going
to
be
coming
about
like
what
are
the
real
logistics
about
that.
How
do
people
get
them
and
then,
through
the
department
of
health
and
human
services
here
in
north
carolina?
We
do
already
have
some
avenues
for
folks
to
get
at
home
testing
collection
kits.
D
That
then
are
sent
off
and
have
a
fairly
quick
turnaround,
but
also
there
is
a
movement
to
get
at-home
rapid
tests
like
the
antigen
test
that
we're
ordering
at
a
state
level
too,
that
local
health
departments
could
order
a
supply
of
as
well.
So
this
is
this:
is
that
bridge
until
we
learn
more
about
what
those
two
programs
may
or
may
not
be
able
to
do.
F
D
That's
a
great
question,
and
so
over
the
last
two
years
we
have
built
not
just
in
north
carolina
but
nationwide
laboratory
capacity
for
this,
and
so
what
I
think
you're
seeing
now
is
not
necessarily
a
lack
of
capacity.
It
is
that
the
demand
is
so
high
because
of
how
quickly
omicron
is
spreading
right
now
that
just
the
sheer
numbers
at
this
point
are
just
so
large
and
because
of
you
know,
we're
almost
at
700
cases
per
100
000
per
week.
D
We've
never
seen
a
number
like
that
in
the
time
that
I've
been
recording
data
for
for.
For
us,
that
alone
means
that
there
are
probably
many
more
cases
that
are
not
being
reported
right,
and
so
we
just
have
so
much
spread
right
now,
and
so
what
you're
seeing
is?
I
don't
think
what
you're
seeing
is
necessarily
a
lack
of
capacity,
because
that
has
grown
leaps
and
bounds
and
at
the
governor's
briefing
two
two
briefings
ago,
they
mentioned
like
how
large
they
had
had
grown,
that
north
carolina
lab
capacity.
D
Make
sure
that
you
isolate
if
you're
having
symptoms
and
continue
to
just
do
the
basic
types
of
things
that
will
help
us
reduce
the
spread
and
that
will
protect
you
wear
your
mask.
Keep
some
distance
wash
your
hands
limit.
Your
interactions
like
this.
This
is
a
real.
This
is
going
to
be
a
really
hard
few
weeks.
A
D
All
of
that's
still
possible
the
only
the
difference
between
sort
of
the
traditional
pcr
and
what
we
know
like
when
folks
talk
about
rapid
they're,
typically
talking
about
rapid
antigen
tests,
and
so
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that
you
know
folks
understand.
There
are
different
types
of
rapid
tests.
Some
of
them
are
even
pcr.
G
D
Traditionally,
folks
are
talking
about
the
difference
between
a
pcr
and
a
rapid,
antigen
and
pcr
is
what
we
consider
that
gold
standard
right.
What
we
know
about
rapid
antigen
tests
is
that
they
are
more
most
accurate,
most
sensitive
when
folks
have
a
higher
higher
viral
load
or
that
they
are
symptomatic,
and
in
that
very
infectious
period
they
tend
to
be
less
accurate
and
less
sensitive
when
folks
have
lower
viral
loads
or
asymptomatic.
And
so
we
just
want
to
caution
folks
to
remember
that.
D
Yeah
and
so
in
general,
I
have
statewide
data
which
we
can
assume
like
we're
no
different
than
the
rest
of
the
state.
So
you
know
we
have
much
better
aggregate
data
around
statewide
numbers.
What
I
can
tell
you
is
the
last
respiratory
report.
It
has
been
fairly
consistent
that
about
anywhere
from
15
to
20
percent
of
all
the
infections
that
we're
seeing
are
post-vaccination
infections,
so
that's
been
pretty
consistent
for
a
while.
D
Now
what
you're,
probably
hearing
more
about
is
that
we
have
a
lot
more
people
vaccinated
right
so
when
that
denominator,
when
that,
when
that
big
number
changes
to
even
a
bigger
number,
that
15
to
20
percent
now
is
a
bigger
number
of
actual
individuals
that
you're
seeing
right,
but
the
percentage.
When
we
look
at
all
the
cases,
it
hasn't
changed
that
much.
I
I
I
Let's
call
it
nickel
lining
around
this
cloud
is
that
it
appears
to
be
less
virulent,
it
causes
less
severe
disease,
and
so,
if
it
had
been
as
virulent
as
delta
or
any
of
the
other
strains,
we
would
be
overwhelmed
with
hospitalizations
right
now.
The
good
news
is,
we
haven't
seen
that
yet,
but
we're
still
on
the
upward
trend
of
the
hospitalizations
in
our
community
and
across
the
state
and
across
the
country,
the
total
number
today
in
our
system.
So
all
seven
of
our
hospitals
was
113
patients.
I
As
stacy
pointed
out,
we've
seen
that
the
numbers
of
patients
who
are
hospitalized
who
have
been
vaccinated
is
a
very,
very,
very
small
percentage
overall,
relatively
small
percentage
overall
of
the
total
numbers
of
hospitalizations,
the
numbers
that
we
have
and
I'm
just
going
to
be
totally
honest
with
you.
It's
difficult
to
track
who's
been
vaccinated
or
not
because
we're
reliant
on
self-reporting
from
the
patients,
and
so
it's
not
always
clear,
but
it
was
between
5
and
10
percent
of
our
hospitalizations
right
now
are
vaccinated.
I
I
suspect
that
number's
a
little
bit
higher
and
those
who
have
been
boosted
comprise
a
very
an
even
smaller
number
of
those.
So
the
point
there
is,
as
stacy
emphasized
and
I'd
like
to
repeat,
is
the
vaccines
are
safe
and
effective.
The
vaccines
work
at
decreasing
severity
of
illness,
hospitalization
and
likelihood
of
death,
and
so,
even
if
you
get
infected,
we
will
all
hear
stories
about
people.
Who've
been
infected,
who've
been
vaccinated
and
boosted.
My
son
is
one
of
those.
The
good
news
is,
he
had
very
minimal.
I
We
are
hopeful
that
some
of
the
newer
therapies
that
are
to
become
available
that
have
been
approved,
including
the
oral
therapies
from
pfizer
and
merck,
which
inhibit
viral
replication,
so
the
virus
can't
reproduce
in
your
body
will
have
an
impact
on
our
community
going
forward.
The
problem
is
they're,
just
not
available
they're,
just
in
such
short
supply
right
now,
that's
going
to
be
a
while.
I
There
is
data
out
of
south
africa,
which
suggested
a
four-week
course
to
to
the
peak,
and
so
that
would
put
us
somewhere
into
mid
to
late
january
when
we'd
start
to
come
down.
It
was,
interestingly
in
comparison
to
the
prior
peaks
from
the
surges.
This
is,
as
stacy
showed
in
her
epi
curve,
a
very
steep
and
rapid
rise,
and
we
expect
a
steep
and
rapid
decline
or
we're
hopeful
for
a
steep
and
rapid
decline.
I
F
I
F
I
End
up
having
it,
it
doesn't
separate
those
out,
but
the
vast
majority
are
are
hospitalized
for
covid
it's.
What
we
do
is
we
look
at
the
positive
test
in
relationship
to
the
date
of
their
admission,
so
we've
had
some
patients
who've
been
in
the
hospital
who
test
positive
they'll,
be
there
for
six
weeks.
For
other
reasons,
that's
not
no
longer
considered
a
coveted
hospitalization,
but
if
a
patient
comes
in
with
acute
gallbladder
problems,
coincidentally,
test
positive
and
has
coveted
they're
included
in
that
number,
also,
okay,.
F
F
I
No,
so
we
only
test
if
they,
if
there's
an
indication
to
test
if
we
believe
that
they
have
coveted.
So
this
is
not.
We
have.
You
know
700
plus
patients
in
the
hospital
right
now
we
don't
test
each
of
those
for
covet
and
then
a
certain
number
of
those,
coincidentally,
have
coveted
but
they're
in
for
knee
surgery.
As
an
example,
that's
not
the
case.
These
are
really
covet
cases,
okay
for
all
practical
purposes,
with
perhaps
just
a
very,
very,
very
small
number
of
exceptions.
There's.
F
I
F
Okay,
my
final
thought
thought
our
question.
You
know
I've
read
other
other
communities
across
the
country,
whether
it's
hospitals
or
ems
ems
units
or
whatever
they've.
They
have
a
lot
of
staff
out
because
they're
sick
yeah,
because
of
the
chronic
viruses.
Do
you
have
staffing
concerns?
I
guess
over
the
next
month.
I
Yeah,
are
you?
Yes,
we
do
we,
you
know,
there's
staffing
concerns,
given
the
nationwide
nursing
shortage
as
an
example,
the
other
places
where
we
have
significant
staffing
issues,
independent
of
the
covid
challenges
right
now,
but
exacerbated
by
those
are
in
our
food
nutrition
services
and
evs
workers.
We
all
know
that
unemployment
is
now
dipping
to
very
low
levels.
I
Those
workers
are
in
high
demand
by
all
of
the
tourist
industry
here
in
asheville
and
other
people,
so
it's
a
very
competitive
workforce,
and,
and
so
we
have,
we
have
challenges
in
many
places:
we're
using
contract,
labor,
offering
overtime,
surge,
pay,
etc.
All
the
strategies
that
we
can
have
available
to
bump
that
up
and
right
now
we're
doing
okay,
we're
not
where
we
want
to
be,
but
you
know
it's
a
fine
line
between
the
demand
and
supply
that
we
have
right
now.
J
E
Dr
hathaway,
I
think
we
hear
from
a
lot
of
folks,
particularly
with
omicron,
that
it's
not
that
bad.
It's
just
like
a
cold.
I
might
as
well
just
go
ahead
and
get
it
and
get
it
over
with.
Can
you
share
with
us
any
data
research
about
long-haul
covid
and
why
we
shouldn't
necessarily
feel
like
it's
okay
to
get
it?
It's
just
a
cold.
What
what
are
you
seeing
in
in
medical
research
in
regards
to
long-term
impacts
of
having
coveted.
I
Yeah,
so
a
couple
thoughts
before
I
hit
the
long-haul
cove
at
the
you
know,
the
the
patients
in
our
icu
and
on
the
ventilators
would
disagree
with
this
lack
of
severity.
You
know
there
is
a
segment
of
the
population
who's
going
to
get
severely
ill,
we're
fortunate
that
it's
not
as
bad
as
others,
but
you
it's
it's
hard
to
predict.
We
know
there's
certain
risk
factors
for
severe
illness,
but
neither
you
or
I
don't
want
anyone
to
believe
that
they
should
roll
the
dice.
It's
not
a
it's.
I
Not
a
a
game
of
chance
that
you
want
to
play.
Long-Haul
covet
is
really
very,
very
interesting
and
intriguing
it.
No
one
really
understands.
Or
can
I
fully
identify
the
the
pathology
of
it?
We
believe
it's
in
part
related
to
the
body's
own
response
to
the
illness
and
maybe
even
producing
antibodies
against
the
antibodies
that
we
developed
for
in
response
to
the
infection,
lots
of
questions
about
that
the
typical
symptoms
involve
fatigue,
this
coveted
brain
fog.
I
I
was
joking
around
that
we
all
seem
to
be
in
a
coveted
brain
fog,
but
this
is
a
real
illness
where
people
just
don't
have
the
clarity
of
thought
that
they
they
usually
have.
They
have
typical
symptoms
of
what
we
call
an
autonomic
instability.
Those
are
fancy
words.
What
does
that
mean?
It
means
that
their
heart
rate
goes
up
too
fast.
When
they
stand
up
they're
short
of
breath,
they
don't
have
the
normal
regulatory
response
to
normal
stimuli
that
you
have.
So
you
just
feel
terrible
for
a
long
time
where
there's
some
data
out
there.
I
That
suggests
that,
interestingly,
that
vaccination
afterwards
may
actually
be
helpful.
That's
in
part
anecdotal.
It
appears
to
have
features
which
is
in
many
ways
consistent
with
what
we
used
to
call
chronic
fatigue
syndrome
and
then
there's
an
illness
called
pots
or
postural
orthostatic
tachycardia
syndrome,
which
is
that
you
know
stand
up
to
get
dizzy
short
of
breath.
Rapid
heart
rate,
so
lots
that
we're
learning,
but
that's,
I
think,
that's
going
to
be
an
exceptionally
intriguing
from
a
scientific
point
of
view,
field
of
investigation
over
the
next
few
years,
as
we
learn
more
about
it.
K
I
Yes,
just
like
we
anticipated
that
thanksgiving
and
christmas,
with
gatherings
of
family
members
in
indoor
spaces
will
increase
spread.
We
know
that
any
time
where
we're
close
together
will
increase
and
as
stacy's
data
pointed
out
we're
still
at
you
know
very
minority.
We
haven't
even
hit
50
percent
for
the
eligible
pediatric
population
to
be
vaccinated
yet,
and
so
that's
a
group
that
is
going
to
see
increased
numbers
of
cases
and
then,
if
they
get
the
cases
they
can
spread
them
to
the
most
vulnerable
and
then
they
can
become
hospitalized.
I
I
Where
there's
an
increase,
it's
still
not
a
big
number,
but
it
should
be
zero
right.
We
don't
want
any
kids
to
be
ill
or
sick.
With
this
you
know
potentially
very
serious
illness,
and
so
it's
important
to
again,
as
we've
said
before
and
we'll
say
again,
get
the
vaccinations
and
and
get
the
series
and
when
you're
eligible
for
the
booster
get
the
booster
and
kids
too.
It's
safe.
K
A
L
L
L
L
L
So
the
hopes
of
the
progress
have
continued,
but
significant
change
to
income
covet
presented
a
unique
opportunity
and,
like
most
industries,
were
faced
with
a
public
health
crisis
and
so
the
sheriff's
leadership
working
with
court
partners
in
law
enforcement
to
employ
some
of
those
best
practices
and
strategies
that
we
were
trying
to
do.
In
years.
Previous,
we
made
big
impacts.
L
We
are
quickly
seeing
a
return
to
our
pre-pandemic
levels,
and
so
the
next
slide
talks
about
the.
What
did
we
do
during
the
time
of
the
major
part
of
the
pandemic?
The
stay
home
stay
safe
order.
We
had
immediate
responses,
including
issuing
citations
in
lieu
of
arrests
for
non-violent
offenses
and
not
arresting
for
low-level
offenses
court
partners
were
imploring
strategies
such
as
having
a
public
defender
at
first
appearances.
L
They
were
releasing
those
low-level
misdemeanors
from
custody
before
the
first
appearance.
They
were
also
issuing
citations
for
failure
to
appear.
So
if
someone
didn't
come
to
court
instead
of
doubling
the
bond,
they
were
actually
stating
that
citations,
so
law
enforcement
would
just
reissue
the
court
date
probation
was
being
in
early.
L
L
Some
things
that
are
still
being
in
place,
especially
from
law
enforcement,
is
issuing
citations
for
non-violent
offenses
and
the
arrests
for
low-level
offenses
have
continued
to
remain
low.
Lee
will
talk
about
kind
of
that
booking
data
on
who's
coming
into
the
jail
and
how
long
they're
staying
the
last
thing
we
saw
was
that
it's
kind
of
staying
as
our
district
court
held
three
special
sessions
to
kind
of
resolve,
some
of
those
low-level
felonies
and
probation
violations
and
bond
reviews
quickly.
L
So
again,
I
mentioned
previously
that
the
changes
during
the
pandemic
was
thanks
to
the
leadership
of
sharon
miller
and
his
efforts
to
engage
partners
to
maintain
safety
and
healthy
for
those
in
his
care,
and
we
like
to
note
that
some
of
these
lack
known
causation
for
lower
arrest.
We
cannot
determine
whether
or
not
it
was
the
challenges
that
apd
resulted
in
the
lower
arrests
that
were
continue
to
see,
but
we
must
prepare
for
the
possibility
of
an
increase
as
staffing
levels
of
officers
increase.
L
J
Tiffany
talked
a
little
bit
about
how
we
were
seeing
and
increasing
jail
population
and
how
it's
been
a
focus
prior
to
the
pandemic,
and
that's
what
this
slide
is
meant
to
illustrate
just
to
orient
you
a
little
bit
about
what
these
different
lines
mean.
That
dotted
line
represents
our
operational
capacity
for
the
604
bed
facility.
That
604
beds
includes
the
annex
which
is
currently
closed,
but
the
operational
capacity
according
to
the
national
institute
of
corrections.
J
So
you
do
not
want
to
be
above
that
dotted
line
very
long
due
to
the
risks
that
that
compromise
classification
system
would
bring.
The
bottom
blue
line
represents
what
we
call
our
local
jail
population.
That's
going
to
be
people
who
are
in
pre-trial
custody,
so
people
who
have
not
bonded
out
and
have
pending
charges
here
in
buncombe
county.
It's
also
going
to
be
people
who
have
been
sentenced
for
crimes
and
they
were
sentenced
to
serve
jail
time.
J
The
contract
is
the
other
line.
It's
the
green
line
that
represents
a
handful
of
contracts
that
the
sheriff's
office
has
with
the
state
of
north
carolina,
as
well
as
the
federal
government
and
several
other
local
jurisdictions
to
house
individuals
on
their
behalf.
So
what
you
can
see
this
is
back
to
2015
and
to
2019.
J
J
J
J
We
realized
significantly
fewer
entries
into
the
jail
than
in
previous
years.
As
tiffany
noted,
one
of
the
things
that
we're
unsure
about
is
to
what
extent
the
impacts
of
some
of
the
challenges
of
asheville
police
department
with
regards
to
staffing
accounts
for
that
versus
some
of
the
policy
and
practice
changes
that
account
for
that.
J
J
C
dorm
will
need
to
transition
back
to
a
female
unit
when
the
population
regularly
exceeds
50
for
the
for
females
during
the
pandemic.
As
you
see
in
the
chart
below
just
to
provide
some
context
of
where
we've
been
in
relation
to
that
number,
the
local
female
average
daily
population
reached
54
in
august
of
2021.
J
When
c
dorm
transitions
back
to
a
female
housing
unit,
the
male
capacity
will
then
be
reduced,
and
so,
if
the
annex
stays
offline,
the
mail
operating
capacity
will
then
be
381,
which
happens
to
be
the
average
daily
population
for
all
males
in
custody
in
december
of
2021.
Just
this
last
month,
the
local
male
average
daily
population
was
384
in
september
of
2019
five
months
before
the
pandemic.
J
So
we're
really
butting
up
to
some
of
these
trigger
points.
And
so
then
the
question
is
what
are
some
of
those
strategies
to
address
these?
The
population
changes,
so
these
first
two
listed
in
this
table
address
the
contract
population,
so
the
statewide
misdemeanor
confinement
program,
which
is
a
very
small
population
and
then
the
federal
contract
population,
which
is
a
bigger
population,
and
it's
the
population
that
has
been
the
most
significantly
reduced
during
the
pandemic
on
the
contract
side.
Both
of
these
come
with
a
loss
of
revenue
as
those
populations
decrease.
J
These
revenues
do
go
into
the
our
general
fund
dollars,
and
so
there
are
expenditures
tied
to
those.
So
those
are
that
is
a
consideration.
Another
response
is
to
reopen
annex,
so
this
brings
back
beds
online.
Approximately
76
operational
capacity
there
are
building
improvements
that
will
are
are
immediate
and
need
to
be
made
in
order
to
get
that
facility
to
a
place
where
operations
can
occur.
There's
also
ongoing
building
improvements
that
will
need
to
be
made
over
the
next
10
years
and
then
there's
also
reoccurring
cost
of
staffing
that
would
be
required.
J
The
considerations
here
are
around
staffing,
as
it
relates
to
current
market
and
being
able
to
fill
those
positions
and
retain
those
positions.
Also,
the
annex
is
is
not
the
ideal
housing
unit
in
terms
it
is
not
aligned
with
best
practice
in
terms
of
correctional
supervision,
so
again
not
an
ideal
housing
unit
to
bring
back
online.
J
Finally,
we
have
housing
in
another
county.
This
is
actually
something
that
did
occur
for
the
female
population
back
in
2017.,
the
the
jail
called
around
to
some
of
the
jails
in
western
north
carolina,
that's
at
least
cost
of
approximately
60
per
day
plus
transport,
but
the
consideration
there
is
most
of
those
jails
are
currently
at
capacity
and
would
not
have
beds
available
to
utilize.
L
Again,
the
bookings
is
more
so
driven
by
law
enforcement,
bringing
folks
in
how
long
they
stay
end
up
being
a
case,
processing
judicial
official
decision
making
when
looking
at
how
long
people
are
staying
in
conjunction
with
other
partners
such
as
the
da's
office,
public
defenders
or
defense,
attorneys
probation
usually
are
the
ones
that
manage
the
court
process
and
how
long
folks
end
up
staying
in
jail.
So
these
would
be
strategies
to
help
kind
of
manage
how
long
they
stay
part.
L
So
none
of
these
are
significantly
reductions
by
a
week.
But
when
you
look
at
how
many
cases
you
are
reducing
by
those
days,
you
end
up
getting
17
beds
saved
per
day,
and
this
is
of
course
on
average,
and
so
these
would
yield
us
probably
the
most
beds,
to
look
at
managing
our
gel
population
without
tapping
into
those
considerations.
You
saw
on
the
previous
tab
or
slides
tiffany.
L
A
F
L
Sure
those
class
one
a1
misdemeanors
are
usually
say
driving,
while
intoxicated
or
domestic
violence
related
charges,
if
you
just
reduce
the
length
of
stay.
So
if
a
decision
is
made
on
a
case,
let's
say
on
average
three
days
sooner
so,
instead
of
making
the
decision
on
friday,
whatever
that
decision,
you'll
make
it
on
a
tuesday,
you
would
see
a
reduction
overall
17
beds
per
day
for
those
case
types.
A
My
question
is,
and
this
I
don't
necessarily
expect
you
to
have
this
information,
like
you
know,
just
off
the
top
of
your
head,
but
obviously
there's
revenues
that
are
paid
to
the
county
as
a
result
of
providing
the
service
for
these
other
levels
of
organizations,
but
there's
also
costs
to
operate
the
facility
too,
that
are
different
with
a
different
population
right
with
a
higher
population.
So
I'll
just
say
one
of
the
things
that
would
be
helpful
to
to
me,
as
we
kind
of
think
about
these
different
options
in
the
future.
A
Not
that
that's
not
necessarily
the
option.
I
would
encourage
us
to
go
to
first,
but
just
to
kind
of
understand.
You
know
each
of
them
would
be
to
understand
like
what
are
the
real
like
when
we
look
at
the
income
the
county
generates
from
entering
into
these
contracts,
but
also
the
cost
for
operating
them
and
implementing
them
like
what
that
looks
like
kind
of
in
totality,
because
I
think
sometimes
we
hear
about
the
income,
we
don't
necessarily
know
what
the
costs
are
just
getting
a
complete
picture
on.
G
A
M
Okay,
great,
thank
you,
commissioner
wells
actually
said
it
very
well.
I
was
just
going
to
say
that
I
hope
there's
an
opportunity
to
really
prioritize
working
with
our
partners
in
the
judiciary
on
on
solutions
here,
and
you
know
I
think,
as
was
stated
in
the
presentation,
the
reduction
that
we
saw
occurred
during
the
pandemics
certainly
shows
what
what
we're
capable
of
in
terms
of
strategies
that
can
reduce
the
the
jail
population.
M
A
Do
staff
have
any
thoughts
on
the
terry
and
jasmine
questions,
or
I
guess
just
because
right,
y'all
are
sort
of
suggesting
that
those
conversations
are.
Those
partnerships
are
key,
so
y'all
work
on
this
stuff
all
the
time,
but
is
there?
What
else
can
we,
I
guess,
sounds
like
a
question
like
what
else
can
we
do
to
foster
a
focus
on
continued
focus
on
this
sheriff,
thanks
for
being
here,
you're
welcome.
L
We
did
meet
the
attorney
general
josh,
shawn,
convened
the
western
north
carolina
and
did
a
pre-trial
conference.
I
think
one
thing
we
took
away
from
that
meeting
is
just
ongoing
communication
collaboration,
even
establishing
maybe
a
case
processing
or
cooperation
meetings,
where
we
can
kind
of
talk
through
some
of
the
ideas
and
strategies
and
be
proactive
in
employing
them
and
then
following
up
and
making
sure
that
they're
effective
is
one
thing
that
was
suggested
actually
by
some
of
our
court
partners.
N
N
B
I
would
second
what
the
sheriff
said
as
far
as
working
together
with
our
judiciary
partners,
and
this
shows
that
we
have
some
opportunities
that
we
can
work
on.
So
thank
you
for
asking
the
question.
Thank
you,
commissioner,
beach
ferrara.
We
would
take
that
guidance
and
be
able
to
try
to
make
sure
we
can
convene
those
meetings
and
try
to
come
up
with
some
of
those
solutions.
B
Again.
Kovit
has
shown
us
that
just
an
opportunity
to
see
what
we've
been
working
on
for
years,
especially
with
the
mechanical
grant,
there
are
strategies
out
there
that
we
know
we
can
work.
We
just
need
that
partnership
to
be
stronger
and
brownie
to
your
question
about
the
cost
to
house
those
contracts.
Your
commissioner
wells
question
we're
gonna
run
the
jail
anyway,
so
those
are.
We
will
look
for
what
incremental
costs
then.
B
Maybe,
but
if
we
take
those
away,
we're
still
gonna
have
to
run
the
jail,
there's
still
gonna
be
lights,
water
utilities
and
all
that
repaint.
So
I
don't
see
a
new
cost
to
house
those
people,
but
we
would
definitely
take
a
look
to
see
if
there's
incremental
costs
that
we
can
kind
of
parse
that
out
and
bring
that
back
to
you.
G
L
A
You
know
the
only
other
I
would
just
say
in
this.
Is
it's
it's
you
know
at
our
budget
retreat.
We
set
affordable
housing
as
one
of
our
our
highest
priorities,
and
I
mean,
of
course,
in
some
ways
these
issues
are
distinct,
but
I
just
you
know,
I
think,
the
more
we
kind
of
talk
about
this
at
the
affordable
housing
subcommittee
level
and
just
the
more
how
we
see
some
of
these
issues
really
are
very
connected
to
you
know.
I
was
at
a
meeting
at
the
chamber
a
couple
of
weeks
ago.
A
A
The
same
or
trying
to
you
know
have
have
jails
as
their
only
solution
for
in
many
cases,
there's
other
there's
other
things
going
on
that
we've
just
not
stepped
up
to
enough
as
a
community
to
address
so
I
know
I
know
everyone
agrees
that,
but
I
just
want
to
say
it
because
I
feel
like
it's.
A
lot
of
those
issues
are
having
impacts
on
this
side
too.
A
Commissioners,
are
there
any
other
questions
on
this
item
before
we
move
on
all
right?
Thank
you
all
appreciate
you.
The
last
item
on
the
agenda
is
the
north
carolina
workforce
development
board
consolidation
study
and
we
have
nathan
ramsey
former
county
commission
chair.
Thank
you
for
being
with
us.
It's
always
good
to
see
you
nathan.
O
Thank
you
so
much
chairman
niemann,
commissioner,
madam
manager,
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
to
be
here
today
and
I'll
see
if
the
presentation
is
on
the
screen.
Okay,
so
I
know
many
of
you
are
familiar
with
the
workforce
board.
At
least
you
may
receive
a
lot
of
emails
from
me
and
I
apologize
if
I
log
up
your
inbox,
but
the
workforce
development
board
is
one
of
over
500
workforce
boards
in
the
nation
created
through
federal
legislation.
O
So
in
in
north
carolina
there
are
currently
23
workforce
development
boards.
There
are
soon
to
be
22,
so
there's
a
board
in
this
east
central
part
of
the
state
triangle,
south
it's
sort
of
in
a
crimson
asheville
high
red.
There
triangles
south,
it
will
be
consolidated
into
two
other
boards,
because
the
administrative
entity
chose
to
to
do
that,
so
there
will
be
22
workforce
boards
in
in
north
carolina
and
the
mountain
area.
Workforce
board
includes
the
four
counties
in
the
land
of
sky
region.
O
O
The
nc
works
commission
is
our
state
workforce
development
board
and
it's
sort
of
the
equivalent
of
our
local
workforce
development
board.
It
helps
develop
policies,
it's
a
majority
employer-led
and
the
members
are
appointed
by
the
governor
and
we
have
two
members
on
the
commission
who
are
actually
from
bunken
county
that
are
representatives
of
vertel
hospitality
and
highland
brewing
and
they
do
a
wonderful
job.
At
the
end
of
their
november
10th
meeting
the
workforce,
nc
works.
O
There
are
13
counties
the
rationale
at
the
time
and
I
think
what
was
presented
would
it
would
help
better
align
workforce
and
economic
development
in
the
state,
and
so
there
is
a
study
committee
that
is
meeting
now
they'll
present.
A
report
in
early
february
is
through
their
governance
and
systems
systems,
alignment
committee
and
they
are
making.
O
Work
throughout
the
state,
with
surveys,
interviews
and
other
things
to
explore
of
what
recommendation
they
will
they
will
make,
and
so
here
you
see
a
map,
and
this
was
just
sort
of
a
screenshot,
but
it
shows
the
eight
prosperity
zones
coincided
with
the
state's
workforce
development
board
regions.
So,
as
I
mentioned,
the
western
prosperity
zone
includes
13
counties.
O
O
So
what
does
the
law
say
about
workforce
development
board
consolidation?
So
we
operate
through
the
workforce,
innovation
opportunity
act.
It
was
passed
on
overwhelming
by
bipartisan
majority
in
2014
and
it
was
the
latest
federal
workforce
legislation.
If
you
recall
prior
to
that,
it
was
the
workforce
investment
act
wiaa
there
was
the
job
training
partnership
act
prior
to
that
ceta
and
so
forth.
You
should
have
a
copy
of
our
consortium
agreement
in
your
packet.
O
So
at
the
end
of
the
day,
this
is
really
up
to
the
local
counties
in
our
region
on
what
they
want
to
do
and
how
they
want
to
move
forward.
So
our
consortium
agreement,
the
latest
consortium
agreement,
was
entered
into
to
the
counties,
but
in
2015
this
was
at
the
time
of
the
transition
from
wi
to
wioa,
and
the
chief
local
elected
official
is
the
chair
of
the
county
commission
in
each
of
the
four
counties,
and
so
we
there
was
a
rotation
of
the
chief
elected
official
and
I
think
it
started
with
bancom.
O
O
As
you
see,
bankum
actually
appoints
the
four
regional
positions,
so
you
appoint
15
of
the
29
members
on
the
workforce
board,
and
so
I'm
here
today
to
just
ask
you
what
would
be
the
discretion
and
direction
that
you
want
to
to
provide?
Would
you
want
to
remain
a
four-county
region
for
the
workforce
board?
Would
you
want
to
expand
to
a
13-county
region
like
the
western
prosperity
zone
or
some
other
number?
And
so
again
I
want
to
emphasize.
This
decision
is
really
up
to
you.
O
O
The
department
of
commerce
has
been
incredibly
generous
to
mountain
area,
workforce
development
board.
We've
probably
got
more
discretionary
funding
from
the
department
of
commerce
for
workforce
development
programs
than
any
board
in
the
state,
and
it's
helped.
Our
programs,
like
with
our
upskill,
which
is
now
arc,
inspire
our
early
childhood
workforce
expansion
project.
We
work
with
bunken
partnership
for
children
and
many
other
projects
would
not
have
been
possible
without
earlier
funding
through
the
department
of
commerce.
O
So
it
appears
that
they
will
make
a
recommendation
to
align
the
workforce
boards
with
the
prosperity
zones,
but
we'll
that
remains
to
be
seen
and
pending
that
report
in
february,
so
ultimately
buckingham
county,
henderson,
transylvania,
madison
need
to
get
together
and
decide
what
you
all
want
to
do.
If
one
county
in
the
region
chooses
to
want
to
change
the
local
workforce
region,
it
effectively
enables
the
governor
then
to
call
for
redesignation
and
again
the
governor
cannot
do
this
unilaterally,
but
he
does
have
significant
powers.
O
So
there
was
just
a
couple
of
questions
I
wanted
to
throw
throughout,
and
you
know,
discuss
and,
and
what
you
might
feel
like
is
is
maybe
the
best
course
of
action.
If
you
notice
on
the
this
slide,
there
are
two
maps
one
on
the
far
left
is
a
map
of
north
carolina's,
interconnected
labor
markets,
so
that
identifies
what
the
department
of
commerce,
labor
and
economic
analysis
division
determines,
what
actual
labor
markets
where
people
live
and
work
in
the
same
region.
O
And
so,
if
you
look
in
our
region,
it's
basically
the
four
orlando
sky
counties
plus
haywood
heywood
is
also
in
the
asheville
metro.
Based
on
that
that
designation-
and
I
I
think
the
number
is
something
like
75-
of
the
people
that
live
in
those
five
counties
work
in
those
five
counties,
but
we
also
know
that
our
workforce
regions
are
much
larger
than
that
we're
getting
ready
to
do
a
workforce
study.
That
was
a
follow-up
from
a
2018
study.
O
O
O
Through
efforts,
like
our
triangle,
state
of
the
workforce
survey,
the
workforce
board
keeps
area
economic
development
organizations
and
employer
leaders
informed
on
changing
trends
in
talent,
recruitment
retention
and
shaping
work.
Forest
development
initiatives
like
the
inclusive
hiring
partners,
effort
that
help
expand
economic
mobility,
prosperity
and
more
evenly
and
equitably
across
our
region.
O
Our
staff,
the
workforce
staff,
also
provide
technical
assistance
to
support
local
economic
development
efforts,
including
transformational,
relocation
and
inspection
projects
like
pratt
and
whitney
and
others
simply
put
our
partners
at
the
work
mountain
area.
Workforce
development
board
helped
make
the
day-to-day
work
of
business
recruitment
expansion
in
western
north
carolina
possible.
So
I
know
we
have
much
room
for
improvement.
Certainly
the
workforce
board
could
be
far
better
than
it
is
today.
That's
the
main
area
of
improvement.
If
the
land
of
sky
director
would
fire
the
workforce
director,
then
you
know
get
somebody
better.
O
That
actually
knows
what
they're
doing,
but
we're
just
you
know
at
the
end
of
the
day,
economic
development,
workforce
development,
I
think
now
more
than
ever
are
aligned
and
workforce
development
is
really
about.
The
power
of
partnerships
is
like
the
previous
presentation
from
the
sheriff's
department
regarding
the
detention
capacity.
O
It
takes
a
lot
of
organizations
working
together
to
help
build
our
workforce,
and
it's
not
only
our
k-12
community
college
university
partners,
but
it's
so
many
non-profits
when
you
go
across
the
spectrum
from
early
childhood.
Education
through
substance
use,
disorder,
recovery
and
so
many
other
things
really.
It
takes
all
hands
on
deck
approach.
We
know
right
now.
Buncombe
county
has
a
2.8
percent
unemployment
rate
you're.
O
The
second,
our
region
has
the
second
lowest
unemployment
rate
of
any
place
in
north
carolina,
but
we
also
know
we
have
about
10
000,
less
people
working
today
than
we
did
pre-pandemic,
and
we
have
about
24
000
job
openings
in
our
region,
so
to
help
meet
those
needs
to
promote
economic
opportunity.
For
so,
everyone
can
participate
in
the
prosperity
that
we
all
want
to
see
for
them
and
their
family.
O
Well
and
I'm
trying
to
present
this
in
a
neutral
way,
because
really
the
land
of
sky
board
hasn't
spoken
on
this,
the
mountain
area
board
hasn't
spoken.
It's
been
a
fluid
situation.
We
haven't
had
a
board
meeting
to
discuss
this
since
that
november.
10
nc
works
commission
meeting,
so
we
are
going
to.
I
am
going
to
share
this
with
our
workforce
board
at
the
end
of
this
month
and
and
and
also
with
atlanta
sky
board.
O
So
you
in
the
triangle
you
have
wake,
durham
and
orange
are
all
in
three
separate
workforce
development
board
regions.
Probably
doesn't
you
know
you
were
drawing
the
map
today?
You
probably
wouldn't
do
that.
You
know
the
challenge
is
if
durham
county
or
actually
the
city
of
durham,
wanted
to
join
capital
area
where
joining
workforce
board.
O
They
could
do
that
today,
but
for
whatever
reason,
they've
chosen
not
to
do
that,
and
in
some
of
the
single
county
regions
like
guilford
and
mecklenburg,
you
know
you
have
guilford's
case
over
a
half
a
million
in
mecklenburg
over
a
million
just
in
one
county.
So
our
region,
you
know
we're
just
south
of
a
half
a
million.
So
you
know
you
you
could
say
you
know
we
shouldn't
have
a
single
county
board.
O
I
don't
really
think
you
will
save.
If
the
goal
is
to
save
money,
I
don't
necessarily
think
you
will
do
that.
So,
for
example,
mountain
area.
Right
now
we
only
have
two
full-time
workforce
development
board
staff.
All
of
our
other
funding
is
through
contracts,
so
for
adult
dislocated
worker
services
in
buncombe
and
madison
county
are
contractors
a
b
tech
and
in
henderson
transylvania,
it's
blue
ridge
and
for
our
youth
programs,
it's
madison
county
schools.
O
They
cover
madison
goodwill
covers
bancom
and
transylvania
and
henderson
county
schools
serves
henderson
county.
I
think,
if
you
have
a
larger
region,
you're
gonna,
it's
gonna
require
more
administrative
oversight.
So
you
know
it
wouldn't
necessarily
save
money.
Would
it
help
us
to
better
align
with
economic
development?
O
You
know
it?
May
it
may
not.
Some
boards
might
not
be
as
engaged
with
their
economic
developers.
You
know
all
of
our
regions,
economic
developers,
at
the
state
and
local
level.
I
mean
they
have
my
cell
phone
number.
I
have
their
cell
phone
number
if
they
have
a
project
they're
working
on
or
they
need
something.
You
know
we
work
together.
We
meet
regularly,
but
I
really
don't
want
to
come
out
today
and
tell
you
what
you
should
do,
because
I
think
you
know
my
job.
O
You
know
one
time
you
know
I
was
in
a
more
policy
oriented
role,
but
my
job
now
is
not
to
make
policy.
It's
the
execute
policy,
and
I
think
this
is
really
a
policy
decision
that
you
would
need
to
make.
The
challenge
is:
let's
say
that
one
of
the
counties
in
the
mountain
area
region
said
we
won't
redesignation.
We
want
to
be
among
a
larger
region.
You're
still
going
to
have
to
go
to
your
adjoining
counties
so
would
haywood
want
to
join?
O
Would
some
of
the
southwestern
counties
want
to
join?
So
it's
still
a
discussion
that
the
counties
would
have
to
determine
whether
you
know
what
what
that
geographic
footprint
should
be.
So
I
will
say
you
know,
on
a
regional
basis,
we
work
very
closely
with
our
neighboring
workforce
board.
So
on
projects
like
a
pratt
whitney,
you
know
it's
all
hands
on
deck
with
with
high
country,
with
foothills,
with
southwestern
and
and
with
you
know.
O
Well,
I
mean
that
would
be
ultimately
up
the
consortium
agreement
house.
What
you
want
the
size
of
the
board
to
be
under
wioa.
There
are
certain
ratios
that
you
have
to
meet
so
like
we
have
a
29
member
board
at
mountain
area.
You
know,
I
don't
know
how
big
a
board
you
want
to
have,
but
at
some
point
time
it
gets
a
little
unwieldy.
O
O
Yes,
yes,
there's
a
potential
that
the
recommendation
could
come
out
and
we
think
that
the
nc
works.
Commission
studies
should
say
we
already
have
these
cog
regions
in
place.
They've
been
in
place
for
over
50
years
that
manage
tens
of
millions,
hundreds
of
millions
of
federal
dollars.
They
know
how
to
do
that
and
be
compliant.
O
So
you
know
there's
a
potential
of
you
know
that
that's
one
item,
that's
under
consideration.
There
may
be
other
options
under
consideration
as
well.
The
cog
directors
really
don't
have
a
a
formal
position.
We
have
some
cogs
like
central
lineup
that
have
single
county
boards,
and-
and
so
you
know
if
the
city
of
charlotte
mecklenburg
county
doesn't
want
to
consolidate,
then
that
cog
is
not
going
to
take
a
you
know.
O
Contrary
position,
but
you
know
the
the
challenge
with
the
prosperity
zone
region
is
there's
no
entity
in
those
prosperity
zones
that
minister
a
program
so
they're
they're
just
a
way
that
the
state
allocates
an
individual
and
says
we're
going
to
cut
up
the
state
to
provide
services.
So
we'll
have
eight
staff.
You
know
statewide.
That
will
be
the
local
person
who
oversees
some
state
program,
but
there's
no
there's
no
administrative
capacity,
a
finance
director.
O
F
Well,
thank
you.
I
don't
have
strong
opinions
about
this,
but
I
was
looking
at
it
at
your
presentation
last
night
and
with
the
prosperity
zones
kind
of
seemed
too
big
for
our
region
was
my
gut
reaction.
You
know,
maybe
in
charlotte
or
the
triad,
those
areas
are
already
enormous,
suburban
areas
where
employers
and
people
commute
those
distances
already.
But
I
I
kind
of
something
you
said
earlier.
A
Are
there
any
other
questions
at
this
time?
So
so
I
don't
think
we're
going
to
actually
make
a
decision
today
I
mean,
but
I
think
this
is
really
helpful
to
understand
all
the
issues
and,
as
we
kind
of
think
this
through
and
provide
you
know
we're
going
to
provide
feedback
on
this.
So
any
other
questions
or
overall,
any
other
questions.
Do
you.
O
A
O
And
again,
chairman
niemann,
I
would
encourage
you
to
reach
out
to
your
your
fellow
mission,
chairs
and
other
counties
and
to
get
their
initial
thoughts
and,
and
you
know,
certainly
whatever
decision
you
all
make
we'll
we'll
be
we'll
work
to
implement
that
absolutely.
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
mr
chairman.
Thank
you,
commissioners.
Thank
you
by
the
manager.