In a February budget meeting, Deputy County Manager Jordan McMillen announced that raising county pay and benefits is a funding priority. According to McMillen, surrounding counties pay more and that’s very troublesome. Newsflash, most of you earn much more than the average citizen that pays your way and your benefits are the envy of all. Instead of complaining, maybe you should find out why some other governments pay more. I’m guessing some of your counterparts are better paid because their …
Category: Opinion
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery – Vance County Board of Commissioners
April’s 2016 regular monthly meeting of the Vance County commissioners was a short meeting that accomplished a positive for the community. Public Comments The meetings now open with public comments. This gives the public, you and I, five minutes to tell the commissioners how satisfied we are with the county’s services. Or to share our agreement with any decisions the commissioners have committed to make. Public comments can be the opposite of satisfied or in agreement. What is important is …
Richard Brand: Republican Party
From the time that “I like Ike” I have been told that the Republican Party was the party of small government. They wanted less government. They were going to “get the oppressive boot of government regulations off of the neck of small businesses.” They were all for deregulation. Smaller government, less taxes, more local control. In fact, they were said to believe that government worked best when it was in the hands of the local people. Yet when they got …
Reader submission: Severely sexually abused dog – abuser lives in Henderson unpunished
A dog named Beatrice from Henderson, NC was rescued from a rape situation earlier this week by a NYC based rescue group, Rescue Dogs Rock NYC. She died last night. The police have pulled multiple dogs from this house and yet the person is still allowed to exist. Please bring this horror to light so Beatrice didn’t have to suffer for nothing. Force the police to punish the abuser. Demand justice for beatrice. Dogs are constantly being raped all over …
Richard Brand: Market Focus
We were outside the racquetball courts and a newly arrived retiree from up north commented to me that Henderson would never advance economically until it fixed its schools. Such a verdict is not new. In fact it is one of the most consistent mantras of our community. Talk to just about any citizen about Henderson and they will quickly rattle off a string of negatives about our community, always including the matter of poor schools. Not long ago the Dispatch …
Richard Brand: More War on Christmas?
It began early this year. It is still two months before Christmas. We have just finished Halloween and have not even begun to talk about Thanksgiving, and already we have people outraged about what is being called a “war on Christmas.” The latest battle site was Starbuck’s decision to put out simple red cups with their corporate logo on them. Just red cups with no seasonal decorations. No snow flakes, no holly wreaths, no snowmen, no menorah, nothing but their …
Rusty McMahon: Enough Already!
At its recent annual awards banquet, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) chose Archie B. Taylor as its Vance county elected official of the year. COG officials praised Taylor’s leadership vision, his hands on approach, and his economic development success since becoming a commissioner. Tommy Hester bragged about Taylor’s having been a catalyst for the expansion of two local companies. Truth is, giving our hard earned tax dollars to companies that were going to expand here anyway is nothing …
Elissa Yount: Election Choices
A new process for electing city council persons is going into effect on Oct. 6. Previously we elected the entire Council every two years. Now, the terms have be lengthened to four years. So, it is most important that you are informed with your vote. In the mayoral race, my choice is Eddie Ellington. He is intelligent, energetic, and researches. He has the ability to draw all parts of our city together. Eddie will make a fine ambassador for our …
Rusty McMahon: The Plain Truth
In a September 12 Letter to the Editor, County Commission Chairman Archie Taylor claimed, “Vance County government has a long tradition of superior professional management, and we want to make sure that tradition continues undiminished.” He goes on to claim, “We are fortunate to have a very professional, dedicated county staff…” Is he proud of huge failures like Zoning, Paint Reclamation International, and Semprius (three of many)? Is he proud that the US Census Bureau ranks Vance County the third …
Rusty McMahon: Caught With His Facts Down
On August 5 2015, Vance County Commissioner Tommy Hester reported alarmingly in the Dispatch that State Senator Harry Brown’s proposed sales tax redistribution “scheme” will cost Vance County $200,000 next year. On August 4, the day before Hester made his proclamation, the State Senate, in a final 34-12 vote, approved Senator Brown’s sales tax proposal. According to the Fiscal Research Division of the NC General Assembly, under Senator Brown’s legislation, Vance County’s sales tax revenue is projected to increase 3% …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (Board of Commissioners August 3rd 2015)
The six active county commissioners held their regular monthly meeting this past Monday. The meeting was relatively short and much of the normal commissioner rancor. The meeting opened with public comments a nice change especially when the public is present to make meaningful and informed comments. Public Comments Sandra Butler Tubbs, spoke for her five minutes on an issue she says is on the near horizon, an increasing population of seniors. According to Mr. Tubbs in the next five years …
Rusty McMahon: Duplicitous!
Recently, the Dispatch ran a guest column by Tommy Hester, Vance County Commissioner and local developer. Hester masterfully claimed that redistribution of tax revenue is bad and that redistribution of tax revenue is good. Hester claims that a proposed legislative plan would “penalize counties that are the state’s main centers of commerce” by redistributing sales tax dollars to counties that are not as well off. Economic powerhouses like Vance County will have to subsidize less successful counties. Newsflash! We are …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BOC July 6th, 2015)
Chairman Taylor gaveled the regular monthly Board of Commissioners meeting to order at fifty-thirty instead of standard six o’clock hour. Vice-Chair Wilder moved to enter into closed session to discuss Economic Development Projects, a Contract Negotiation, and a Personnel Matter. The Chair did not say there would be a formal announcement when the regular session resumed. Speculation can abound the idle minds of those waiting for the doors to re-open. Most waiting in the foyer had a vested interest in …
Rusty McMahon: Request for Information on Economic Development
Sent to Interim County Manager Robert Murphy: In order for citizens to formulate and make informed comments at Monday night’s public hearings regarding the Economic Development Incentive Grant and the Economic Development Loan, they must have complete information about each. They cannot and should not be expected or invited to comment on secret matters that have only been discussed/addressed in closed sessions and about which they know nothing. By 10:00am Monday July 6, please forward me by electronic mail …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BoC Planning Environment and Water Planning)
Our Board of Commissioners has divided their collective responsibilities into committees, each committee headed by an active commissioner. Logically the reason for the committees system is simple. Each commissioner is dependent on the integrity and honesty of fellow commissioners when learning of the voters desires, needs, and wants before making a decision that will affect the whole community. Last week two important committees met to find consensus among the committee members on their respective issue of zoning or the water …
Richard Brand: Court Ruling on Same Sex Marriages
NOT REQUIRED OF CHURCHES by Rick Brand Now may be a good time to remind ourselves about the two parts to every marriage ceremony. In this country (it is not true in other countries) the “traditional” church wedding was a mixture of state and religion. The minister acted on behalf of the state and united the couple in a legal contract. The minister also acted on behalf of the religious group and gave a blessing and invited a promise from the couple …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BoC June 19th, 2015)
Our Board of Commissioners held a Special Called Meeting this morning. A week ago the only purpose for the meeting was to hold a closed door discussion on a personnel matter. Yesterday approval of the Justice Assistance Grant was formally added to the agenda. This morning a last minute item was added to the agenda. In about ten minutes the commissioners approved the Justice Assistance Grant and Rebuilding Hope’s request to waive construction and permit fees. This justice grant is …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (City Council June 15, 2015)
The City Council’s special called meeting on June 15, 2015, was the opportunity for the city’s residence to add their input on the coming year’s budget. Unlike the county commissioners the city council actually holds a separate meeting for the public to comment on the city’s proposed budget before a consensus vote is taken. Unlike the county the council members do not have dinner on the taxpayers’ dime before they hold their meetings. Like the county residence the city’s residence …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (City Council June 8th, 2015)
The City Council met Monday night for more than two and half hours. Most of the time was spent in two long public hearings of the four scheduled. Of the four public hearings three were specific to ground based industrial scale solar collectors colloquially called solar farms. (Solar farm is incorrect term. To be a farm traditionally has meant to grow or raise a reproducible crop or livestock. What reproduction can be credited to metal or glass?) The one non-solar …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BoC June 1st, 2015)
Last Monday night’s commissioners meeting was short yet packed with surprises. The meeting started with approval of the budget for fiscal year 2015 – 2016 and ended with approval of a settlement agreement with Charles Reavis of Christa Reavis fame which was announced at conclusion of the closed session. In between was typical sniping among commissioners and two major revelations from the public on the water project. Public Hearings – Approval of the Budget The commissioners set aside fifteen minutes …