News-Record.com

Guilford County Commissioners are holding a work session tomorrow to hear presentations on open space, an efficiency program and a few other things
at 3 p.m. in the Old County Courthouse, 301 West Market St.

How to handle open space has been a question lately for the board. Earlier this year, they turned down plans to purchase an easement on a working farm. One reason for the down vote, some commissioners said, was that the public couldn't access the land.

Then, in their March 6 meeting, the board approved the purchase of open space in two tracts of land. The public could eventually get to those places, though. One tract is located next to two public schools, and another adjoins existing open land the county bought in 2007.

During those discussions, some commissioners have asked whether public money should be used to protect open space and debated on how it should be spent.

The efficiency study is based on a request from the board to County Manager David McNeill. Commissioners asked the staff to make a list of consultants to review county employees and find places where the county could consolidate jobs within departments or combine them with other jurisdictions.