Chatham County, NC Blogs

At my home in North Chatham County, NC, I hosted one of the 10,000 Obama house parties held across the country in mid-December. Thanks to the powerful tools at http://my.barackobama.com, local Democratic Party email lists and a neighborhood online bulletin board, in just a few days the word was spread. I received 24 RSVPs, and 11 regrets. That’s a great response for a rural county AFTER the election. I was encouraged that more than 20 people showed up. There was a lot of energy in the room — people seem eager to bring change not only on the national level,…

The Fat Man and his Elves are gearing up, Rudolph and his crew are rested and it’s almost time for their visit! Nothing will get you in the Christmas Holiday Spirit like a good ‘ole small town Christmas Parade with all your family, friends and neighbors.

Siler City Christmas Parade, Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 PM.
Goldston Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 AM.
Pittsboro Christmas Parade, Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 PM.
Bennett Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 PM.

Hope to see you all there!

When the BOC was deciding how best to use the USDA-RD loan
to install water for the SE Water District, we were limited to a
maximum loan amount and restricted by number of paid sign-ups.

This made it impossible for us to install lines East of Prince Chapel
Road on NC-42 to the Harnett County line and Truth Road at this time. The estimate for those two sections (approximately 4 miles) was over $600K and would have included boring under a railroad, boring under Buckhorn Creek and building a pump station to get the pressure required on the customer end of the line. We had to use that money to maximize our efficiency and reach the highest number of paid customers in the overall district.

We have 37 customers in this area, including B&B Poultry, which would use the water equivalent of 24 homes…and needs water badly. Our Staff Engineer has discussed with Harnett County staff the possibility of extending their water line to the Chatham County line and selling Chatham metered water for these customers. This would require only 2.2 miles of water line on the Chatham side with no borings and no pump station …estimated cost $225K.

There is some interest as Harnett is a Regional Water Supplier, but they are currently at or very near maximum capacity. Their plant should be up-graded by early 2010 and we will revisit this possible solution at that time.

We must remember that these customers would already have water if the 2005 Harnett Water Contract had not been cancelled by the 2006 BOC. That contract included up to 10MGD and our allocation was purchased by Holly Springs as soon we cancelled; i.e., no longer available to us.

I have not given up! We will continue our discussions with Harnett and hopefully will be able to supply water to the citizens of this area in 2010.

A 54% vote is a big win in a 3-way race and any win is a great win! You did it!!

Thank You for your votes and your financial support of my Reelection Campaign.

As you can imagine, there are days in my service that are long, hard and difficult and then there are days that don’t seem long enough and are very rewarding. Either way, I will continue giving 110% in my service as Commissioner from District 2 and I will do my very best to serve all citizens of Chatham.

Again, I thank you for your support and look forward to continuing my service to the county.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

JUMP FOR CHANGE!
So, guys, we have a new President. President Obama. Sounds pretty nice, eh?
Our weekend in Chatham County, NC was pretty awesome. I flew out Friday night on a red-eye (had to miss Halloween this year) and arrived Saturday morning. Spent the weekend at Will’s place and went everyday to Pittsboro, NC to campaign. [...]

Chatham County GOP Opening Ceremonies

Old Glory flying free!

Our Chatham County GOP Logo & Sign
Well, it’s been a long, eventful day thusfar. We opened up our HQ’s around 10 a.m this morning and it was pretty successful. I’ve posted a few pictures of the day and will have tons more information in the upcoming weeks during [...]

Your modest contribution to my ReElection Campaign would be very much appreciated!
Campaign to ReElect Mike Cross
PO Box 173
Moncure, NC 27559

Thanks,
Mike

In prime time, five “regular” Americans spoke at the Democratic Convention. By far the best of the five, in my humble opinion, was Pamela Cash-Roper, a retired nurse from Chatham County, Pittsboro, NC. (And I’m not just saying that because I’m a resident of Chatham County.)The N&O did a nice story. Below, courtesy of the Chatham Journal, she talks about the response in Chatham County to her high national profile: More Republicans for Obama.

Press release from Chatham County:

PITTSBORO—Unless more southeastern Chatham residents living on certain roads sign up and pay the reduced rate tap fee for county water service by Sept. 10, 2008, they run the risk of not having county water service in their area. “This means that even if they don’t want to be Southeast Water District customers now, they may well be shutting the door on that option for the future,” said Roy Lowder, director of Water Utilities.

The water system is required to have at least 10 customers per mile of road, but this is prorated for shorter roads. For example, a half-mile of road requires five customers. When this minimum is not met, “it means that we cannot afford to put waterlines on those roads or along some sections of roads,” Lowder said. (NOTE: See list of affected roads at the end of the article).

To those residents who have already paid up, “we need you to contact your neighbors and urge them to apply for county water. You may end up without county water if they don’t sign on in time,” Lowder said.

“I recognize that this is a hard decision for some people to make. Your well system may be working just fine today, but that situation can change very quickly for many reasons,” Lowder said. “The big risk is that down the road, you may need public water and it won’t be there. Your options for the future are very limited.”

It also may mean that some homes or businesses in critical need of county water may be left out. “It’s also important to note that not having public water throughout the area could impact the ability of existing businesses to expand or to recruit new businesses to the area,” Lowder added.

The 90% discount on the tap fee is a major incentive that residents should consider. “It won’t get any cheaper than $500 to tap on to the system,” Lowder said. “However, the $500 fee must be paid by Sept. 10th and we also must receive a completed water service application by then as well.”

The tap fee automatically jumps from $500 to $4,500 once the waterlines have been installed beyond your address. “A $500 fee to connect to county water is a good deal to ensure future access to a safe, adequate water supply,” Lowder said.

Lowder said that he is concerned that many residents don’t know about the availability of county water coming to southeastern Chatham or may have misconceptions about what it means to have county water.

He said that residents have reported rumors that signing up for county water means that their wells will be condemned and they won’t be able to use their well water. “This is not true. In fact, people can continue to use their well water for farming, landscaping, washing cars or any other outdoor purposes, but not for indoor household use.”

Lowder added that the county also has an ample water supply, another common misconception. “Even at the worst of last year’s drought, Jordan Lake was in better shape than just about any public water reservoir in the state. It is a well-designed reservoir with a large watershed area. Our customers also did a great job of conserving water when they were asked to do so.”

The county has negotiated additional water capacity for the future through the City of Durham and is looking at other options as well.

Lowder said that it is important for potential customers to know that the county’s water meets very stringent federal quality standards, whereas well water quality can vary widely. Water for the Southwest District will come from both the county’s treatment plant on Jordan Lake and the City of Sanford.

“Both sources meet quality standards on a consistent basis,” Lowder said. ““We have made several successful adjustments to our water treatment process in the past year so that water from our treatment plant consistently meets federal standards,” Lowder said.

The Southeast Water District roads that are in need of additional paid customers are:

· Asbury Church

· Center Grove Church Rd

· Chatham Church

· E. Gargus

· Gade Bryant

· Gum Springs Church

· Gynnis Creek Rd

· Henley Mill Subdivision

· Lower Thrift

· L W Burns

· Lydia Perry

· Mays Chapel

· Meadowview Drive

· Moncure School

· Moncure Flatwood

· Moncure Loop

· Nassau Trail

· NC Hwy 42 (from Christian Chapel Rd to Harnett County)

· New Elam Church

· Old Chestnut Crossing

· Old Sanford

· Partain

· Red Hill Lane

· River Forks

· River Point Rd

· Rosser

· Rufus Jordan

· Shaddox

· Taylors Chapel

· Truth

· Weaver Crossing (Trail)

To request a Southeast District Water Service Application or to ask questions, call 919-542-8270. Those with internet access also can apply online at: http://www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=530.

John Edwards, Rielle Hunter Love Child Scandal ABC News reports that John Edwards has admitted he had an affair with Rielle Hunter, and that he lied as a presidential candidate. But he maintains he’s not the father of Hunter’s child and that he has not authorized child support or hush money, though some of his supporters “may have without my knowledge.” And he hasn’t taken a paternity test. So the National Enquirer got the story RIGHT, at least partially. The issue is not simply that Edwards cheated on his spouse. Many politicians — and human beings — do that. One…

Quiz for Journalism Students: A case study in how tabloid publications and blogs can now set the agenda for mainstream media. You’re the managing editor of a mainstream newspaper. A national supermarket tabloid is reporting that your state’s former U.S. Senator, a recent presidential candidate who still has a high profile and, presumably, national ambitions, has a mistress, has fathered a child out of wedlock, and is funneling payments of $15,000 a month — child support or hush money — through wealthy friends, while his high-profile wife struggles with incurable cancer. The tabloid story, based entirely on anonymous sources, reports…

In my continuing efforts to chronicle the development of online communities that enhance real communities, I notice that in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, locally-based online communities increasingly solicit citizen suggestions and mobilize them for for local action. Madison Marquette, redevelopers of University Mall in Chapel Hill, has created a Facebook page soliciting consumer suggestions for new stores and restaurants they’d like to see in the redevelopment. So far, 31 people have contributed 36 requests, including a movie theater, a children’s clothing store, and a food court, The News and Observer reports.University Mall as of this date has 52 fans on…

I wrote on Ed Cone’s blog: “The attitudes Jesse Helms expressed were very popular and commonplace in North Carolina. He was a man of his times, only more outspoken than many who secretly felt the same way. Most of us have relatives who believed as Helms did. On a personal level, Helms and the people who supported him could be salt of the earth people. He was great at constituent service, for example, and had a disarming, gracious, gentlemanly, self-effacing charm about him. “But we cannot cover up or whitewash the dark side not only of Helms but of our…

General Election Campaign Contributions Needed

My thanks to all that helped my campaign during the Primary. Now we must move forward to compete in the general election against the Republican and possible Independent candidates.

While the historic Presidential campaign has everyone’s interest, please remember that our local government affects our live today and every day. I need your help to support an effective campaign to win re-election. Now it’s time to start “Fund Raising” for the November General Election. Please forward your campaign contribution to:

Campaign to ReElect Mike Cross
P.O. Box 173
Moncure, NC 27559

I thank you for your support and your vote in November!

Now that the Democratic primary is over I want to extend my sincere thanks to all who supported, worked for, and voted for me. I also would like to thank my opponents who have offered their congratulations.

I am honored and gratified by your support and will continue working hard to live up to the trust you’ve put in me. Watch this space for updates on helping with the November election!

Thank you,
Mike