By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
Nine percent of the boundary that delineates what belongs to Orange County and what belongs to Alamance County has raised numerous questions and left some residents unsure as to which county they call home.
In their short yet productive meeting on Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Commissioners heard a proposal and held a public hearing to help alleviate those doubts.
By slightly moving boundaries one way or another, two houses on Ninth Street in Mebane will join their neighbors in Alamance County, while in the Eliza Lane Area, both sides of the same road will be able to be serviced by one county’s emergency services.
On Monday, the Alamance County Board of Commissioners also reviewed the proposed changes and held a public hearing, and voted to adopt the resolution, 4 to 1.
The resolution instructs county staff to submit a local bill for adoption by the N.C. General Assembly that allows this 9 percent of the boundary line to be readjusted.
Both Alamance and Orange counties have been working to settle boundary-line problems since the resurveying of the line in 2008.
Earlier this year, Orange County commissioners approved a legislative package for this year’s General Assembly that requested approval of the readjustment of 91 percent of the Orange County/Alamance County border.
The request was approved and those changes to the 91 percent will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
The changes proposed in the remaining 9 percent will affect six different neighborhoods or areas on the border of the two counties. Those living in the northern section of Collington Farms will actually save money with the adjustment, as some are currently paying taxes to both counties.
All residents who have businesses or houses that will be impacted by the changes were notified of the adjustment. All those who attended both public hearings spoke out in support of the changes.
After hearing from county Planning Director Craig Benedict and two members of the public and asking questions, the Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the resolution, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2013.
Commissioner Alice Gordon was not present to vote because she was out of town.