Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs was elected to a fifth term as board chairman Monday.

Commissioner Earl McKee was elected to the position of vice chairman.

Jacobs, who joined the commissioners in 1998, served as chairman in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He also has served as vice chairman.

McKee was elected to the commissioners in 2010.

The board also swore in its newest members Monday – Mark Dorosin, Renee Price and Penny Rich. They replace Valerie Foushee, who was elected to the state Senate in November, and Pam Hemminger and Steve Yuhasz, both of which lost their primary bids.

Former commissioners Chairwoman Bernadette Pelissier also was sworn in for her second term.

Orange County is inching closer to consensus on a regional transit plan that could create a  light rail system, expand bus service, and connect the county to the rest of the Triangle.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the regional transit plan "in principle" Tuesday night, contingent upon the approval of an implementation agreement with Triangle Transit Authority.
 

Orange County commissioners have rejected a site for a new Southwest branch library in Carrboro and have re-committed to finding a better site.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to reject a contract to buy a 2.69 acre lot for a new library at 210 Hillsborough Road, next to Carrboro Elementary School, while also voting unanimously to resurrect the search for a new site with the help of the town of Carrboro and county residents.

Commissioners unanimously approved a purchase option on the site last October after asking county staff to shop around for land that might work for a new library.

The site at Hillsborough Road was chosen, but since last fall, the county discovered the land had obstacles with restrictions on how the land could be divided and easements on sewer and accessibility.