For months now, two private groups have been feuding over which one should be in control of the Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough. So after hearing from the groups, what do the Orange County commissioners decide? To push both groups out of the picture and give control of the market’s management to the county. The county will — ta da! — hire a market manager to handle the job and of course a “governing body” will be involved. According to this News of Orange story:
The proposed market manager position would be funded by vendor fees, which would be determined by a county-appointed market governing body.
“I can’t consider option one or two,†commissioner chairman Barry Jacobs said. “Both groups have poisoned the well, and I think we need a new well.â€
The head of one of the losing groups, Jeffry Goodrum of Farmers of Orange, put it best:
“We know that the county has and still is putting much time and work into the market and we appreciate the effort,†Goodrum said. “We suspect, however, that they are beginning to realize just how much work they have just taken on and just how difficult they have made thing for themselves with this decision. We wish them success with their market.â€
In Orange County, you can always count on one thing: Government knows best.