Dear Neighbor:
How time flies! It's already October and Election Day is around the corner. Here's the scoop on rural Orange County, including progress in Fire Districts and Emergency Services coupled with fiscal challenges that appear likely to shape the discussion in the months to come.
Upcoming local elections, including a new tax for transit will lead our first newsletter of the season.
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Upcoming Events
- The McKee Corn Maze and Haunted Trail is open weekends through November 4th. For more, click here.
- Oktoberfest at the Farm (Saturday, Oct 27th, 2-5 PM) Autumn festivities for Orange County Big Brothers, Big Sisters and their "Littles", and a chance for prospective volunteers and parents to learn more about mentoring. Come meet volunteers, staff, and even kids who are on the waitlist for mentors. Maple View Ag Center. To RSVP or learn more, contact Stacey.
- Grange Breakfast (Saturday, November 3rd 6-10 AM) Fundraiser for Schley Grange. It's the political event of the season - casual hobnobbing with local candidates. Schley Grange 3416 Schley Road
- The Orange County Library is hosting community forums and an online survey during the month of October to solicit input on their three year strategic plan. For more, click here.
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Elections 2012
Important local elections will be decided in November. For rural Orange County, two legislative seats and two county commissioner seats are in play. Plus there's a new sales tax on the ballot.
This is our first election in the revised legislative districts so you may want to see if redistricting has changed your ballot. To see all ballots by voting precinct, click here.
Here's the local elections (I indicates "Incumbent"):
Seat
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Democrat
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Republican
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State Senate District 23
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Ellie Kinnaird (I)
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Dave Carter
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House District 50
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Valerie Foushee
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Rod Chaney
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County Commissioner at Large
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Bernadette Pelissier(I)
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Mary Carter
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County Commissioner, District 2
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Renee Price
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Chris Weaver
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District 1 (Chapel Hill/Carrboro) candidates Mark Dorosin and Chapel Hill Councilwoman Penny Rich are listed on the ballot, but are uncontested in the general election.
For information on State House candidates, click here; for State Senate, click here.
Voters will decide a � cent sales tax increase for transit (from 7 to 7 � %). If the tax is approved, $10 will be added to annual vehicle registration fees (from $33 to $43 per tag). The tax will mostly fund a $1.4 billion light rail line from UNC hospital to Duke Medical Center and Alston Avenue. Registration fees increases are not on the ballot. Please take the time to understand the plan before you vote. Keep an eye out for an OCV alert with information on the tax and the plan.
Election day is November 6th. Early, one-stop voting begins on October 18th. For locations and hours, click here.
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Rural Fire Departments Improve Insurance Ratings
Three rural fire departments have improved their insurance (ISO) ratings. This means substantially lower insurance rates for some Orange County homeowners. These new ratings which have been years in the making are:
- New Hope Fire - from ISO 9 to ISO 6
- Efland -from ISO 7 to ISO 6
- Caldwell - from ISO 9 to ISO 7
White Cross already has an ISO rating of 7; Orange Rural has a rating of 6.
Orange Grove has applied for an rating change which will be reviewed in May.
If you live in these districts, expect reduced insurance rates and possibly a premium refund. Fire departments are issuing letters to inform homeowners of the change. For more, contact your local fire department.
The ISO improvements apply only to households that are within 5 miles of their fire station. Homes that are 5 to 6 miles of their fire station will retain an ISO rating of 9E. Homes that are over 6 miles from the nearest station have an ISO of 10 (not covered) and can be denied insurance or pay an exceptionally high premium.
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NC DOI Approves Orange Grove Fire Station 2
The NC Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved Orange Grove's Fire Station 2, which provides coverage to homeowners in the eastern portion of the district who were over 6 miles from Station 1. According to the DOI, the new rating goes into effect on Feb 1, 2013. Orange Grove is working on plans for Station 3 which will cover the west end of the district and possibly other fire districts.
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