On Monday, February 18, George Lucier, Board of Commissioner Chair, gave what I thought was an excellent summary of the challenges Chatham faces and the actions that the Board is undertaking to meet these challenges. I invite you to reveiw the details ...
In October 2007, the County Manager's Office posted the highlights of Chatham County government. This document is a summary of activities dating back to December 2006. I've also including this on my Link section.http://www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx?reco...
The Chatham Coalition leadership has made it clear in recent emails and postings that they do not intend to support me. That is certainly their perogative as it is their organization and if they want to go a different way in 2008, I welcome them to t...
I enjoy being your commissioner. It is rewarding to me to make a difference in the county I love. But I have to tell you, it is a lot of work. It is almost a full-time job. Being your Commissioner is more than just meeting two days a month. In addition...
Patrick Barnes, Commissioner (District 1)274 McCoy Road Apex, NC 27523Home: (919) 362-5950Business: (919) 362-7270patrickbarnes@bellsouth.netPatrick Barnes and his wife, Becky, reside in the Bell's community, located in New Hope Township, near Jordan L...
I would appreciate your financial help with getting my campaign rolling. Please forward your contribution today!Campaign to Re-elect Mike CrossPO Box 173Moncure, NC 27559I report ALL contributions.
Dear Friend and Supporter, I am writing to share with you my plan to seek a second term on the Chatham County Board of County Commissioners. I appreciate the help and support you gave me in 2004, and I would like to begin my 2008 campaign by...
(this is the text of a full page ad I took out in the Chatham Record in support of the Land Transfer Tax). It will soon be time for us to vote “For” or “Against” the 0.4% Land Transfer Tax and I want you to understand what we will be voting for...
Well, I must say, even victories that fall short of hopes and expectations are sweet! I want to thank everyone for your help and support in this very important legislation for Chatham County and many other counties across the state. Your emails meant a...
Much discussion continues in the House and Senate Finance Committees concerning where and how to generate the additional revenues required by State, County and Municipal governments to address our requirements of growth. Medicaid Relief, schools and inrastructure needs continue to lead the list.
There is talk of LTT being raised via the .2% Deed Stamp Tax with variations on distribution for State, County and Municipalities. If it does go this route, local voter referendums will probably not apply as all counties would have to be a player from the start. The only ...
Representative Weiss filed House Bill 1982 (a companion Bill for Senator Atwater's SB1516) yesterday for all counties to receive referendum authority for 1%LTT. It includes a cut by formula for municipalities with over 5,000 residents.
While we look pretty good in the House, we need help with the Senate Finance Committee. Contact info is listed on the county website. Please contact these Senators and ask your friends to do likewise. This effort needs to start immediately, as decisions are being made now.
Thank you for your help!
(note 5/15/07: I removed the sentence that was...
The Chatham County website now contains the latest editions of my 1% LTT information. To see it, click here. Our efforts are going quite well and I hope you will contact our Legislators. Their contact info is also included on the county website reference above. Your active participation is indeed needed and very much appreciated.
Have a great day!
I don’t think any of us need to be told that we are growing, but… the Triangle J-Council of Governments estimates the current population in eastern Chatham alone to be 34,000 and considering geographic location and expected growth, this population will increase to 117,000 by the year 2035!
The National Association of Planners has identified 10 Mega-Regions within the U.S. We are part of the Piedmont-Atlantic Mega-Region which is predicted to be #1 of 10 in growth. 70% of residential growth and 80% of economic growth is expected to occur in these Mega-Regions. They predict our population to...
(Note: This blog entry has been corrected. Some of the percentages I had used were incorrect, based on incorrect information from the NC Association of County Commissioners. Sorry for any confusion.)
Senator Clodfelter, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has filed Senate Bill 1201. This Bill would increase the current deed stamp tax from 0.2 percent to 0.5...
I attended a breakfast meeting at the Governors Club this morning, sponsored by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber, the Chatham United Chamber, the Chapel Hill Association of Realtors and the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham.
Participation was cut off at 200, a full house! Keith Megginson, Chatham Planning Director, presented an overview of past, present and future Commercial and Residential Development in NE Chatham. Paul Black, Planner with TJ-COG, presented the Regional Factors of the NE Chatham area.
I was asked to respond to Land Transfer Tax questions and one...
I have requested our BOC to look at the zoning on Pea Ridge Rd. between US1 and Old US1. This area is current zoned for Heavy Industrial, and I am asking to have to rezoned to RA-40 (residential/agricultural) for the following reasons:
NO! The BOC voted 5-0 on February 5,'07 that we will retire the School Impact Tax if/when we gain authority and actually enact the 1% Land Transfer Tax.
We all agree that we do not need or desire both!
Apparently the eleven BOC meetings, over a twenty-one month period by our previous board, developing a water plan that will carry us through 2027 isn’t good enough.
Patrick and I were part of that process and frankly don’t exactly know what to think about the latest results.
“Discussion of value engineering review for water systems” was item 9 on the work session agenda. The new proposal was to hire an additional engineering firm to do a peer review of the Harnett Water Plan / Contract which was developed by Hobbs-Upchurch Engineers along with our staff and BOC…and unanimously approved on 18 September ’06. There was no...
This meeting was held at the Albert Coates Government Center, Raleigh
