Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:27:49 -0400
From: Michael Tucker
Subject: How many examples to you need?
I did not and will not criticize Chatham County. My issues are specifically with county government supervisors. We can discuss what it means to be “business friendly”. The county should not be obligated to do business with anyone. I get your point.
County business is supposed to be open and fair. Let’s say the county’s vehicles in your hypothetical example are maintained by a Pennsylvania mechanic with a permit to dump the used fluids into a hole in the ground in Harnett County and charges $300 per hour labor rates. A Chatham County mechanic may think it a good idea to offer a deal to recycle some of those used fluids and charge $90 per hour labor rates. The local mechanic is put off, ignored, disrespected until finally told he will not be used to fix vehicles because he will not divulge who his other customers are.
The existing contract IS NOT EXCLUSIVE. There could be more than one contractor providing disposal services TO THE BENEFIT OF CHATHAM COUNTY TAXPAYERS. There is no reason to expect a convenience contract is an exclusive contract. The current contract is NOT legally exclusive. It IS effectively exclusive.
“Streamlined permitting process”? Have you tried to start anything that needed one or more permits? It may be easier than some place but it is NOT easier than it was 20 years ago. Ask anyone old enough to know. The Building Inspector has LOTS of BIG books FILLED with thousands of rules and regulations. Streamlined? THOUSANDS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS IN VERY BIG BOOKS.
A new manager should be expected to understand agriculture to just meet requirements.
Pouring MORE money into “education: and “public safety” does NOT mean we are better educated or safer.
Getting a budget approved is like dancing in a crowded ballroom. In the scope of important things, this is a minimum condition for a county manager to simply meet requirements. EVERYONE who manages anything must make and manage a budget.
Other counties lamenting the loss of business to Chatham County is NOT a measurement of leadership or greatness. When you consider a town may be a “nuclear free zone” or “immigration sanctuary” and they impose even more unreasonable restrictions on businesses. We win by default; not by leadership. Should we rejoice our county is NOT as restrictive as Orange County / Chapel Hill? Building the Walmart on the county line should tell you everything about this subject. When Walmart calls and says, “Can we put a store on YOUR side of the county line because Chapel Hill won’t let us?” THAT is not finding new business. THAT is Walmart doing THEIR market research to reach customers where customers LIVE. Should we celebrate the BOC and Charlie Horne did NOT say NO?
I appreciate our Board of Commissioners DESPITE our county manager. I contend, we could do better with a new county manager with a fire in his/her belly ready to try new things and make things happen. We don’t
need a manager who JUSTS meets requirements. We need a county manager who is willing to try new ideas and risk mistakes while achieving greatness. Chatham County deserves greatness; not simply meeting requirements.
Charlie Horne ignores new business ideas unless somebody tells him to pay attention. This IS fact. We need a county manager who SEEKS new business AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BOC who WILL share the searching with the BOC; not just join their celebration when something happens. I know Charlie Horne was offered at least one new business idea and Charlie was UNinterested. I do not believe he ignored only one. I am just the one who did not shut up and go away. How many examples do YOU need?