Who's evaluating the Human Relations Dept. and other boondogles?

[ncbeachbumb]

Our county government has run a muck.  Spending money on this and that, with no one to answer to.

They buy land for parks in areas we don't them, at much higher cost, but neglect the areas we do need parks and where we could buy them at much lower prices.

They hire more government employees, increasing their spending, on "feel good" programs like a Human Relations Department.  Read the minutes of this department for more double talk and agendas, but little benefit to the average Chathamite.

They hire the EDC Director from (Orange County) a county that has not seen any jobs increases or new business during her tenure.  Heck, she even comes down here and speaks out against Commercial Development (can you say jobs and business growth) in Pittsboro.  She is on record for this.  Then the EDC recklessly spends $150,000, of which $120,000 went to pay for a report for Chatham that most of the County already knew.  That money would have been better spent elsewhere, say helping to create a business incubator at the old Siler City Hospital building for one.

Say all you want about what Bunkey did to this county.  It pales in comparison to the muck this current administration has gotten us in.  Expect to see more jobs losses (if that's even possible) and less business and commercial investment in Chatham County.  Thank goodness Pittsboro is still being managed without the same platform and has a bright future.  Mr. SAS (Jim Goodnight) has announced his intentions to create a world class research park there.  You'll never see something like this come from our current county administration or the EDC.  Not only do they not know how, they don't want it.

Remember the promises of better paying jobs and clean industry.  Where's the beef?

[mamacash]

That is a great question? Where is the beef? STOP wasting our money and do something constructive!!

[natvrabit]

NC do you have additional info on Mr. Goodnight's research park plan?

[NCRecruiter]

To be fair, I have also heard that Mr. Goodnight does intend to build his own version of RTP close to PBO.  I was also told (2 weeks ago) that an announcement was shortly coming, but I haven't heard anything since then.  I remain hopeful though.

[natvrabit]

Was inquiring to ncbeach since statement made there regarding SAS/research center. Not that I have made it a point to stay totally abreast of the Goodnight acquisitions...all I had read early on was the purchase of large quantities of land for the intent of McMansions and golf courses. Just never heard any mention of a research center plan and was curious as to where, what and when.

[NC YIPPIE]

It's a lot easier to create things when you're a multi-billionaire. Interesting that there were no new jobs or businesses in Orange County for the last ten years. 

Visitors to Chatham County spent $23.43 million in 2006, an increase of 12.2 percent from 2005, the second-largest increase of any county in North Carolina for tourism revenues and the second consecutive year of double digit growth.

Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Chatham County was $3.08 million, with more than 170 jobs directly attributable to tourism.

The $5 million jump in tourism dollars (from $18m to $23m) coming into Chatham County from 2004-2006 is the largest ever in the history of the county. BTW, wouldn't you say tourism is a clean industry?

Gee, since we need economic devlopment here, I wonder who it was that approached the developers who are now creating Buckhorn Village? Well, let's see what the developers themselves say:

"Fugo says the chairman of the Orange County commissioners, Barry Jacobs and former county economic development director Diane Reid approached the three developers about doing something together in the county's 880-square-foot, roughly 14-yearold economic development district on Interstate 85/40 on the county's west side."

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/01/27/3232599.htm

[ncbeachbumb]

When you start with $0, any increase is a huge percentage increase.  For the truth behind this, look at the actual numbers and you will see that Chatham's "Tourism" numbers are very small compared with surrounding Counties.  And one reason for the increase has NOTHING to do with artist and green open space as James aka Yippie would like you to believe.  It has everything to do with the fact that both 15-501 AND 64 were opened in recent years creating more through traffic.  That through traffic constitutes the larges portion of that so called increase in tourism.  So it was money from people buying gas, eating, and staying in one of two county motels (just kidding, we have three) as they passed through Chatham County on their way to their REAL tourist destination that caused this increase.  The second largest component was folks going to Jordan Lake.

If you had read the COMPLETE report, instead of the sound bites the BOC and EDC like to throw around your have known this.  As if our BOC or EDC would have had anything to do with this is totally absurd.

[natvrabit]

I for one try very hard to commit myself to spending my money in the county. Not all of it does, but I have changed my habits somewhat especially in regard to when I do gifts needs.  I hunt first in the shops and galleries in Pittsboro and at the the galleries in Siler to find UNIQUE things vs. whipping into a mall for a quick fix ho-hum solution.  I have found it to be much more enjoyable and have met some great proprietors with customer service plus, that I very much like vs. a robot at a chain!

[ncbeachbumb]

Ok native, give up where you buy your underwear and socks.  I, like you, hate HAVING to go to Southpoint!

[natvrabit]

Beach I'll never tell!  I did not SAY i can buy everything in Chatham, but it does not mean I want strip sh*& all over Chatham and become Cary part II. I know my needs and when and cluster the trip.  I find very little need for multiple trips to SouthPoint and beyond.

[Silk_Hope]

What is your feeling about big box stores like Wal Mart? Do you shop there?

From Western Chatham Southpoint is a pretty good distance. If Siler doesn't have it we usually end up in Burlington. I don't shop at Wal Mart unless I absolutely have to.

[natvrabit]

I rarely go to Walmart wherever they are. I understand where you are coming from in Western Chatham, I grew up there and Greensboro/Burlington was the shopping "destinations". I just found that I did not need as much as our society told me I needed.  Each to their own...knock your self out on the mall meccas, but don't condemn me because I don't see that weekly FIX.

[Silk_Hope]

I can understand where you are coming from, and I am not condemning you.  With gas prices we like to make one shopping trip. We shop at ALDI so Burlington is the closest.

[seavey]

www.joyofsocks.com

www.freshpair.com

I'm allergic to malls. 

[natvrabit]

Amazing what you can buy and never leave home ain't it Seavey

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