The proposed (certain-to-be-created) Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership has won the endorsement of the Henderson City Council, and the Vance County Board of Commissioners is sure to follow suit one week from today. So why are we still skeptical?
Category: Opinion
To our readers: A reason for us to celebrate
While we’re on the subject of celebration, we at HomeinHenderson.com have our own cause for joy: our readers.
Opinion: Roanoke Rapids entertains exciting future
In case you missed it, the Henderson of Interstate 95 — Roanoke Rapids — has been rewarded for its economic development efforts with an entertainment complex that organizers hope will produce 2,600 jobs in its first phase.
Opinion: A budget delay might be best
Henderson Police Chief Glen Allen likes to say that budget season is the busiest eight months of the year — only a slight exaggeration about how long the budget process lasts in the city. Would it be the worst thing in the world if the process didn’t end tonight?
Opinion: Let’s be honest about ‘sanitation’ fees
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that Henderson is increasingly becoming a city fueled by its soaring sanitation fee?
To our readers: On anonymity and civility
Well, this is what happens when I try to take a whole day away from HomeinHenderson.com: All heck breaks loose, and, according to Google Maps, I’m 776 miles away from the storm. That’s a better position to run away and hide than to play diplomat, but with the help of you, the readers, I’ll give it a try.
On the road: Which way is up?
This is the first of an occasional series of articles from the HomeinHenderson.com staff during a summer road trip through the South. Every town has its idiosyncrasies when it comes to getting around, resulting from history, nature and other forces beyond anyone’s control.
Opinion: Board should insist on open partnership
The General Government Committee of the Vance County Board of Commissioners still isn’t sold on the Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership, and that’s a good thing.
Opinion: Council’s garbage talk gets us nowhere
We’re sorry we didn’t get to sit through even more discussion about Henderson’s sanitation program Monday, but the HomeinHenderson staff had its attention on New Orleans and more important things (yes, for some of us, No. 1-ranked Tulane University’s second trip to the College World Series is more important than where and how often our garbage is collected).
Opinion: Our final word (we hope) on insurance
Most of the comments about the coming shift in the Henderson government’s health insurance have been negative, based on the planned increase in the deductible from $500 to $1,000. We don’t want to spend much more time on this — insurance is not our area of expertise, and, like most Hendersonians, we aren’t directly affected by the change in benefits — but we think the City Council deserves credit, not criticism.
Opinion: Partnership must guarantee open meetings
You know something is important when it draws more discussion than tax rates and fund balances despite coinciding with the public hearings on the city and county budgets, so we know the Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership is a big deal. We know it’s something different. We know it has people wary. What we don’t know is what exactly this grand collaboration will do.
Opinion: Market demands higher police pay
Critics of government spending — which is to say almost everyone — frequently call on governments to operate more like businesses. They usually mean the government should budget within its means, cut costs, contract out services for the lowest prices and generally be more efficient.
Opinion: Legislature should do budget, leave us alone
The North Carolina General Assembly has some huge issues facing it in the final month of this fiscal year, from reconciling the conflicting budget priorities of Mike Easley, Jim Black and Marc Basnight to raising the cigarette tax, relieving counties of the Medicaid burden and deciding whether we’ll have a lottery. So what are legislators spending their precious time on? Deciding how far to insert the government into our lives.
Butterfield: Looking ahead for our veterans
The following column was submitted to media outlets for Memorial Day by Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-Wilson. America sets the final Monday of May aside to pay tribute to the many fallen heroes and heroines who served and sacrificed in the name of freedom. These sacrifices and those of our military families form the foundation upon which our freedom is built. Indeed, without the brave efforts of all the fighting men and women and their families, our country would be unable …
Opinion: Breckenridge wrong for Alive, wet or dry
The steel skeleton of the new library looms over piled construction materials alongside Breckenridge Street. We have listened and listened and listened to the debate about Alive After Five and beer sales and consumption on city property (an issue we’ll comment on at another time). But we fear that the City Council overlooked a more immediate problem than alcohol Monday night.
Opinion: Berger, Seifert do their best to involve you
Sen. Doug Berger did something special Wednesday night. It’s unfortunate almost no one was there to see it.
Opinion: Embassy complicates armory’s future
This community wants to save the old armory on Dabney Drive, but we fear there’s a powerful obstacle: Embassy Square.
An open letter from Elissa Yount
Elissa Yount sent the following letter to her fellow City Council members, as well as the media, on Tuesday: For months I have requested that the auditor come before the City Council to address and answer questions on the 2004 audit, as has been the practice of the city. This request has been resisted. There now is a proposal that I meet apart from the council with the auditor and a representative from the Local Government Commission, which is a …
Mayor Seifert speaks out on library funding
Mayor Clem Seifert this morning submitted the following comment to the post “Opinion: We hate tax increases, but …” I know I am making a huge mistake by posting this but I’ve made ‘em before and I’ll make ’em again! I am one of the “bimbos” that help make decisions that affect the finances of the city.
Opinion: We owe grads more than congratulations
We’d like to take a moment to congratulate the spring class of 2005 at Vance-Granville Community College, which granted more than 400 degrees, diplomas and certificates Saturday morning.