The Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force continues its work but has a new barrier to contend with that may preclude the Orange County Board of Commissioners from taking action. As reported in this story by Chapelboro, an EPA complaint filed by the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association in 2007 alleges the Orange County Planning and Inspections Department (OCPID) "intentionally discriminated on the basis of race by denying water and sewer service to the African American residents of the Rogers Road Community." The full letter from the EPA to the OCPID can be read here.
At the recent task force meeting held on July 17, 2013, Board of Commissioners representatives Renee Price and Penny Rich abstained from several votes on recommendations of what to include in the task force's final report, citing the EPA complaint.
The final meeting of thetask force will be held August 21, 2013, at 4:00 pm at the Solid Waste Administrative Building when the final report will be reviewed. At this time, Chapel Hill manager Roger Stancil will also make a report on the status of a meeting between the other municipalities' managers and representatives of Self Help Credit Union and the Jackson Center on how to engage the Rogers Road neighborhood in addressing issues including gentrification.
Issues:
