Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 00:24:58 -0500
From: Gene Galin
Subject: Last Week’s Hottest Chatham Online Bulletin Board Topics

1. Liberal Progressive Pittsboro NC Town Council Denies Children’s Christian Academy  (Read 8800 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24900.0.html

2. Who is this woman ripping down signs for Haw River Christian School in Pittsboro  (Read 7764 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24985.0.html

3. Team Pittsboro: Another Randolph Voller scam to get credit for others’ efforts  (Read 6543 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,23786.0.html

4. Pittsboro General Store Cafe status?  (Read 3444 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25016.0.html

5. Preston’s plans for 7,000 acres in Chatham  (Read 3300 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25029.0.html

6. N&O – Artsy Pittsboro cafe closes  (Read 2393 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25035.0.html

7. 70 Pittsboro businesses butt heads with 4 anti-business town officials  (Read 2210 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24993.0.html

8. Mayor responds to Christian School concerns  (Read 1195 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25033.0.html

9. Stop Using Voller as a Scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in Pittsboro  (Read 1107 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25082.0.html

10. Don’t be afraid of change! Do it for the children  (Read 829 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25018.0.html

11. Chatham County Schools budget survey  (Read 828 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25104.0.html

12. Mayors Randy Voller & Charles Johnson want to raise your taxes  (Read 785 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25081.0.html

13. New Park on Big Woods Road  (Read 741 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25048.0.html

14. Whinning  (Read 685 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24981.0.html

15. Should tax cheats be able to govern in Chatham County?  (Read 650 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25058.0.html

16. NC Main Street Program supports the new downtown Pittsboro school project  (Read 417 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25092.0.html

17. Once again Ms. Black speaks out  (Read 273 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25076.0.html

18. Joe Hackney Announces Retirement  (Read 252 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25097.0.html

Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:18:46 -0500 (EST)
From: rita587
Subject: Things will work out they always do!

I have been seeing so much dissension going on this chatlist that I had to share a quotation that we all should heed.  I hope that whatever the outcome of the situation of opening the school is we should just accept and then we all have to move on.  I am sure things will work out in the end what is best for the children. 

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.

Edward Wallis Hoch (1849 – 1925)

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:25:29 -0500
From: Gene
Subject: Last Week’s Hottest Chatham Online Bulletin Board Topics

1. Liberal Progressive Pittsboro NC Town Council Denies Childrens Christian Academy (Read 7665 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24900.0.html

2. Educator joins Beer Parlor to Block Children’s’ School In Pittsboro (Read 7133 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,23749.0.html

3. Who is this woman ripping down signs for Haw River Christian School in Pittsboro (Read 5031 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24985.0.html

4. Preston’s plans for 7,000 acres in Chatham (Read 2284 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25029.0.html

5. Pittsboro General Store Cafe status?  (Read 2067 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25016.0.html

6. 70 Pittsboro businesses butt heads with 4 anti-business town officials  (Read 1640 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24993.0.html

7. CJ – Time to put Chatham County government on a diet  (Read 1557 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,19219.0.html

8. New Thread to discuss picture ID for voters  (Read 1440 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24746.0.html

9. N&O – Artsy Pittsboro cafe closes  (Read 1366 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25035.0.html

10. Great Update on the Small Business Incubator!  (Read 992 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24800.0.html

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:38:14 -0500
From: Kathy Zinn
Subject: Haw River Christian Academy

I am writing in support of the Haw River Christian Academy’s  being allowed to lease and occupy the empty building on Salisbury Street in Pittsboro. It is true, I am prejudiced in this case:  my granddaughter attends the 3rd grade at the present school, and has benefited greatly from her first year there.   It is also true that I have not,  in the past,  been an advocate for private or religious schools.  I have experienced both, as have many of my siblings, and I have preferred to send my own children, including Ellie’s father, to public schools.

However,  I have witnessed how this caring and committed group of parents and teachers have met my dear  grandchild where she is, taught her Latin, which she loves, and introduced her to both scientific concepts,  and  the Greek gods and goddesses,  all in a religious and spiritual context,  with very small classes.  .

I think the school is a “good fit ” for downtown Pittsboro, and apparently at least 70 businesses agree!  I am puzzled and disturbed at the the  inconsistencies that I have heard from Mayor Voller (for whom I voted) and some commissioners, in their objections to HRCA coming into town.  I ask that they be clearer about their objections, all of which seem to have been discounted by the pertinent approving agencies, such as the fire department.  What are people afraid of?  People who may believe differently  from others?  3rd graders speaking Latin?  I have always considered myself a “Liberal Progressive”.  A large part of that political stance is a belief in equal opportunity, as well as tolerance of others who only want to pursue their own path.  I cannot believe the town will not also benefit, economically , from the presence of the school. 

Please, Mr. Mayor and others who object to Haw River Christian Academy’s  occupying  an in-town building left vacant after repeated business failures:  Be clearer with us. 

Be honest.  Be fair.

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:10:08 -0500
From: chathammatters
Subject: Troubling times in Pittsboro

The (newly elected) Pittsboro Town Commissioners – have rejected (for now) the application by the Haw River Christian Academy to open a school in downtown Pittsboro.

Here is the video of the proceedings, it is eye-opening, you really need to see this for yourself:  http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g

The second is related, a woman is going around ripping down posters supporting the proposed school – keep in mind that the posters were put up by the over 70 store owners who are actively supporting the new school.  Here it is:  http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g

If you don’t have time to watch the video of the town meeting, here is a synopsis:

Mayor Randy Voller (Chair of the Chatham Democrat Party) states that the school did not get final or complete plans to the fire department or to the the planning board, then states that the plan is not in compliance with the downtown sprucing up project (which is voluntary and not final itself).
- Fire Department stands up and says they had final plans and they approved them.

- Planning stands up says they had the same final plans and approved them, and that they even accommodated relevant items from the voluntary project such as it is currently.

Commissioners Pam Baldwin and Beth Turner (both on Voller’s team) – say they object to the site location because of the “traffic issues” (which are addressed in the plan that they clearly did not read).

- The traffic engineer explains their misconceptions and then shoots down their further objections.

Commissioner Bett Wilson Foley (who also ran with Voller as a team) – In a jaw-dropping statement says that she doesn’t want the school there because she wants some sort of retail on the site (really?) – then further is concerned about school traffic vs retail traffic.

- The lack of understanding of basic economics is bad enough – this is a place that has been empty for years, with the exception of a brief usage of the PTA Thrift Shop, if this were viable retail space it would have already been used for retail, this building is an odd size (too large for small retail, too small for large retail).
- The contempt for the the landowner – who finally finds an viable fit for his property – but no, she wants him to have no income from this building, but yet wants him to keep paying property taxes, how arrogant.
- What could possibly prompt this? Does she have a friend or a family member who wants this land for cheap?  Is she planning her own “retail store for this location?  Where does the arrogance of her statement come from, this contempt for property rights? Is she planning to do a government takeover of this property for some “Greenspace” perhaps?  She never says which retail she has in mind, perhaps someone will ask her at the next town meeting who is going into that space since she is so confident that it will happen?

- Finally the traffic engineers explains that school traffic is far less than retail traffic (and is during off-peak hours).

The only good news here is Commissioner JA Farrell – who clearly was supportive of the 70 businesses who publicly support the school, supportive of the landowner who finally has a great fit with this school and this building, supportive of the school itself which provides much needed relief from our public school system while costing those of us who pay taxes nothing.

I would hope they would take all of this into account and change their “Collective” mind, but really, what are the chances of that?

Elections have consequences…

By the way the first two acts these new commissioners made shortly after taking office, were to extend the building moratorium for another two years and to take for themselves un-precidented power in the approval process… go figure..

Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:41:15 -0500
From: Tom West 
 Subject: A few more important items about Jeffrey Starkweather 

Dee Reid left a few items off of her press release about her husband Jeffrey Starkweather. I am sure that it was just an oversight. I am sure it was a mistake. After all, Starkweather claims he is all for transparency.

According to avvo.com, as an attorney Jeffrey Starkweather was disciplined by the North Carolina licensing authority and reprimanded in 2005.

The State Bar voluntarily dismissed a formal disciplinary complaint against Jeffrey Starkweather of Chatham County in October 2005 after Starkweather agreed to accept the original discipline imposed upon him earlier in the year by the Grievance Committee. The committee reprimanded Starkweather for neglecting a client matter and failing to respond to a letter of notice and subpoena issued to him by the State Bar.

Starkweather co-led the Chatham Coalition, a Political Action Committee (PAC) that quickly gained the reputation as a hate group who conducted vicious personnel attacks against political opponents.

In his 2008 run for a Chatham County Commissioner position, the Independent Weekly newspaper said “we cannot support his candidacy. As the primary force behind the Chatham Coalition, Starkweather has become a lightning rod for divisiveness, engendering a political backlash to the coalition’s agenda. Additionally, his tendency to embrace complex processes over efficient outcomes and to browbeat those who don’t share his views detract from his potential to govern. With Chatham’s recent churn, what’s needed on the dais now are cool heads and the ability to compromise.”

Starkweather lost to Mike Cross by over 1,000 votes.

Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:45:47 -0500
From: Solid Waste and Recycling
Subject: Reminder – Recycle your trees for free until January 20th

FREE TREE-CYCLING
Yard debris, including trees, cannot be accepted at Chatham County Collection Centers. Residents needing to dispose of Christmas trees can recycle REAL trees for free at the Main Solid Waste & Recycling Facility at 720 County Landfill Road, on the following dates, from 7am to 3:30pm (please weigh in at the scalehouse):

January 12, 13
January 17, 18, 19, 20

After January 20th, regular yard debris rates will apply ($20/ton, $2 minimum). REMOVE ALL DECORATIONS, POTS, STANDS.

Please note this main facility is CLOSED on Monday, January 16th for Martin Luther King Day.

RECYCLE OLD STRINGS OF LIGHTS

Thanks to a “bright idea” by a county resident, old non-working strings of lights can be recycled at the Main Solid Waste & Recycling Facility at 720 County Landfill Road during the Tree-cycling dates listed above. Our electronics recycler will take these lights as long as they are separated from the rest of our electronics. Drop them in the designated container set up at our main office when you recycle your tree.

RECYCLE PAPER GIFT WRAP, CARDS, BOXES

As long as you remove strings, bows, ribbons, excess tape, foil or glitter, you can recycle your unusable paper gift wrap, empty flattened wrap rolls, empty flattened gift boxes, and gift cards in any MIXED PAPER bin at our collection centers (decal required) or behind the office at the main facility at 720 County Landfill Road (no decal required).

If you have corrugated cardboard boxes (remember, corrugated has that middle wavy layer), please remove all inside packaging, then flatten and recycle these boxes in the separate container for CARDBOARD.

VISIT US ONLINE:

www.chathamnc.org/recycle
www.twitter.com/WiseOnWaste
www.facebook.com/WiseOnWaste

Disclaimer: The purpose of our membership on this listserv is to provide Chatham County residents with timely information related to programs, events, services and news.  We value your comments and questions, but Chatham County may not be able to address all of them through this listserv. Please contact our office directly at 919-542-5516 or via email at recycle@chathamnc.org for information on specific issues related to the Solid Waste & Recycling Division.

In keeping with the NC Public Records Law, posts or emails sent by a county representative, or emails sent by the public to a county representative, including attachments, may be released to others upon request for inspection and copying.

Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:40:59 -0500
From: Solid Waste and Recycling
Subject: Solid Waste Decals for Chatham Collection Centers Arriving by Mail End of January

Landowners in the unincorporated areas of Chatham County who paid their 2011 county property taxes and annual solid waste fees by the Jan. 5, 2012 deadline should look for their new 2012 Solid Waste and Recycling decals in the mail near the end of January.

The mailing envelope features the new logo for the Chatham County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division and also features the words “SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING 2012 DECALS” printed in green on the back.

Chatham County issues two decals annually for each qualified household. A decal is required to use the county’s 12 collection centers for disposal of trash and recyclables as well as the Swap Shops.

Landlords are responsible for distributing decals to their tenants. Landowners and tenants may purchase replacement or additional sets of decals for $10 each through the Solid Waste and Recycling Division’s main facility at 720 County Landfill Road just west of Pittsboro off of US 64 West. Identification and proof of residency will be required, such as a utility bill or driver’s license, and purchasers must certify that they are obtaining the decals for authorized purposes.

The 2011 decals expire on Feb. 29, 2012. As of March 1, 2012, the new 2012 decals are required to use the collection centers. If landowners have not received their 2012 decals by mid-February, they should contact the Solid Waste & Recycling office at 919-542-5516 to verify their address.

The Solid Waste and Recycling Division does not receive any general tax dollars and instead relies on annual fees and other sources of revenue to fund its programs and services, including operating the 12 collection centers.

The county tax bill features two related solid waste fees:

 *   The $34 Disposal Fee is charged to landowners with dwellings in the unincorporated areas of the county, who rely on the Collection Centers as their primary legal means to dispose of household waste. Those living within town limits are not charged.
 *   The $91 Solid Waste Fee is charged to all landowners with dwellings in unincorporated areas of the county, but also is charged to town residents who want access to services at the Collection Centers.

These fees cover part of the disposal and operating costs of the centers as well as other programs operated by the Solid Waste & Recycling Division, such as the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal program.

In effect since 2006, the decal program provides residents and the county an efficient way to identify collection center users as residents who have paid their solid waste fees. Residents have the option of displaying the decal in the vehicle’s windshield or carrying it with them to show the attendant on duty at the centers.

If residents do not have a decal when they arrive at a center, the attendant on duty can call the Solid Waste and Recycling Division during regular office hours to verify that the user’s solid waste fees have been paid and provide a one-time pass. After hours and on weekends, visitors without a decal will not be able to use the collection centers.

Businesses and out-of-county residents are not allowed to use the collection centers because the centers are designed for and funded by Chatham County homeowners. Landlords are not permitted to bring waste generated by work performed on their rental properties because this is considered business waste, which should be handled by privately-owned transfer stations in Siler City, Sanford, and Durham that accept waste for a fee. Nearby counties also have special construction and demolition landfills and recycling facilities..

Chatham County offers an array of free recycling options that do not require a decal at its main facility at 720 County Landfill Road for county residents and businesses. For a complete listing of programs and services, as well as alternative disposal options, visit www.chathamnc.org/recycle<http://www.chathamnc.org/recycle>, or contact the division by phone at 919-542-5516 or by email at recycle@chathamnc.org<mailto:recycle@chathamnc.org>.

Disclaimer: The purpose of our membership on this listserv is to
provide Chatham County residents with timely information related to
programs, events, services and news.  We value your comments and
questions, but Chatham County may not be able to address all of them
through this listserv. Please contact our office directly at
919-542-5516 or via email at recycle@chathamnc.org for information on
specific issues related to the Solid Waste & Recycling Division.

In keeping with the NC Public Records Law, posts or emails sent by a
county representative, or emails sent by the public to a county
representative, including attachments, may be released to others upon
request for inspection and copying.

Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:52:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Jamie Nunnelly
Subject: EDC – Judge For Yourself

I think we have a lot to be proud of in regards to the economic development corporation. While we are experiencing one of the worst recessions in recent history, the EDC developed a strategic plan that helped them identify industries to target, reorganized the board to make it less political, engaged all of the three municipalities in joint meetings so for the first time we can all work together on moving the county forward in a more productive way. The board also started a very active marketing committee, and has just finished developing a brand statement and new image, which will start to roll out in early 2012. The EDC diversified its funding for the first time ever under Dianne’s supervision, so that it is no longer reliant on just public funds. And, for the first time ever, it developed metrics so that you, the public, can see if they are meeting their goals or not. The entrepreneur committee started the Bootstrap Chatham events, which allow  entrepreneurs to interact with each other, share resources and network. The Chatham Loan fund was initiated to help provide micro loans to small businesses who apply. The loan fund is overseen by the Economic Development Corporation and is administered through a partnership with the Center for Community Self-Help  in Durham

It’s easy to criticize and say we’ve lost jobs. But that scenario is happening all around the country, especially in more rural areas such as ours. Luckily we are way ahead of the pack for the time when the economy begins to recover. There are already really positive signs that can be attributed to the EDC of new jobs coming into the county.

Here’s the link to a recent announcement of a company coming to Pittsboro: http://www.chathamedc.org/news-outreach/news/pittsboro-north-carolina-selected-alpha-install-business-headquarters Here’s a link to an announcement of a company moving to Siler City:

http://www.chathamedc.org/news-outreach/news/acme-mccrary-opens-siler-city-facility. Many economic development organizations from around the state are looking at Chatham EDC as a model to reorganize their own organizations.

Jamie Nunnelly

Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:18:20 -0500
From: Caroline Siverson <
Subject: =?WINDOWS-1252?Q?Citizens=92_College_=96_Your_Guide_to_Local_Gov?=

Citizenship doesn’t come with a User’s Manual. But in Chatham County  Citizens’ College is a non-partisan, interactive guide to how county and town governments work.

Participants meet at various sties around the county (EMS facilities,  water treatment plants, etc.) to learn from departmental leaders how government affects our daily lives. In this interactive learning environment, citizens discover how to become more active and effective players in building government that serves the needs of all the people.

Sign up now by visiting www.chathamcitizens.org (click on Citizens’  College and print out the enrollment form) or call 919-932-3132.  Enrollment is $20 (scholarships available as needed) for the February  2 – March 15 sessions that meet on Thursdays from 6:30-9:00 p.m.