Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:10:02 -0400
From: Michael Tucker
Subject: Now I’m conflicted. Do I vote for Diana Hale and Karen Howard?
Brian Bock’s post (# 5005) linked to an upbeat article in the Chapel Hill News. I liked what I saw. The article confirms what I hoped for Chatham County when I voted for Walter Petty, Pam Stewart, and Brian Bock in 2010. I consider Brian Bock a friend.
Friends may disagree. And I disagree with the current Board of Commissioners. And I disagree with Mark Zimmerman’s article when they say the “professional staff” of county government employees changed their attitudes. I got caught right in the crosshairs of our county manager’s “attitude”. Along with “code enforcement” and solid waste management.
They may display “changed attitudes” to the elected officials they “report” to on the BOC but it is only lip service to small businesses like mine. I ran face first into:
“I don’t make the codes, I just enforce them.” Meaning, I don’t make the codes but I will interpret them in a way I don’t have to work harder, take ANY chance of being sued, take ANY responsibility unless I am ordered by the county manager. I will interpret the codes so you have to pay thousands of dollars while you would not in other counties.” Take that for ‘getting out of the way!’
And our solid waste director making up regulations he has no authority to impose just so he can avoid doing business with someone new. How can a guy spend years doing nothing at DENR while trying to be invisible become Director of Chatham County Waste? (no pun intended.) He has “P.E.” after his name. That means he said he is able to produce a college transcript saying he graduated college years ago. Did HR verify? Did DENR verify?
Our county manager says, “I pay these ‘supervisors’ to make these decisions.” So, even though those decisions may be based on mush, too bad for small businesses who don’t buy protection or have the resources to take them to court.
The county commissioners say they pay the county manager to run daily operations so the commissioners have to support the county manager.
This leaves me conflicted. If Diane Hales and Karen Howard announced they would seek the retirement of Charlie Horne, I would vote for them and encourage you all to vote for them, too. I would hope Brian and I can still be friends but I am convinced Chatham County would be ten times better off if we hired a county manager that would give more than lip service to the commissioners and the finger to small business.
I would have had to give up MORE constitutional liberties and freedoms and bow lower to crushing regulations to save taxpayer dollars, provide better service, encourage competition. But that is NOT how county government is measured. How IS county government measured?
The brakes are already on the private sector in Chatham County. Just because it may be a little better than Chapel Hill and Orange County is little to brag about. Maybe our commissioners heard Charlie Horne say out loud, “Okay guys, let’s ease up on how hard our boots crush the throats of business in our county.” WINK WINK. That does not mean they actually did. I believe our economy MAY be doing better DESPITE the crushing weight of Charlie Horne’s “professional” staff.
My problems with our current county manager did not start in 2010, but they did not get ANY better since. I think the right NEW county manager could make a world of difference and besides, Mr. Horne was eligible for retirement years ago. He gets off scot free.
Do any of you democrats know if Diana Hale and Karen Howard will seek Charlie Horne’s retirement? THAT will get my vote!