Web Run

Briar Chapel is back
[Feb. 14, 2005] Almost three years after county commissioners rejected Briar Chapel, the massive development comes before a new board -- one that many residents think will allow the 2,389 homes in northeastern Chatham. Briar Chapel would be the largest mixed-use development in the growing county, with as many homes as Siler City. On Tuesday, commissioners will begin discussing the proposal. The planning board recommends, 7-2, that they approve it. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Bears get two wins over North Moore
[Feb. 13, 2005] About the only thing the North Moore High School fans had to cheer about on Friday night was the Senior Night recognition of all the senior athletes who played on the North Moore basketball teams. Chatham Central came into Robbins and spoiled the rest of the evening by defeating North Moore in both the girls’ and the boys’ games by large margins. The Bears downed the Mustang girls in the preliminary contest, 63-39, and the Chatham Central boys won the nightcap by a score of 82-39 in the Yadkin Valley Conference doubleheader. By WEB RUN - The Pilot

Water pro 'going to be busy'
[Feb. 12, 2005] Will Baker was looking for a challenge. The water pro chose the right county. Chatham's new utilities director faces a water department riddled with problems, from an understaffed plant to a resumé of violations it's struggled to overcome. Tall, with a salt and pepper goatee and a passion for rock 'n' roll, Baker is the county's latest hope for an improved water system. The 41-year-old was Graham's superintendent of water and sewage distribution for over a decade. Then he decided to shake things up. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Chatham elections officials lobby commission for more funding
[Feb. 11, 2005] The Chatham County elections office needs money, elections officials told the county board of commissioners this week. The needs total $40,866.30, including $20,000 to secure and fireproof the filing system, $15,000 in funds to hire a permanent person for remainder of the fiscal year, $3,416.30 in funds for list maintenance and $2,450 for funds for board expenses for remainder of fiscal year. Commissioners agreed to fund the latter two items, with the first two to be considered during the budget process. By WEB RUN - Sanford Herald

UNC picks recipients of distinguished teaching awards
[Feb. 9, 2005] Chapel Hill - UNC has selected recipients for its 2005 distinguished teaching awards, the highest campuswide recognition for teaching excellence. The honorees, chosen in nine separate categories, were recognized during halftime of the Feb. 3 Carolina-N.C. State men's basketball game and will be honored by Chancellor James Moeser at a spring awards banquet. Recipients include Jay Elliott of Pittsboro, department of psychology. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Group seeks paper trail on school impact fee
[Feb. 9, 2005] Members of a citizens' grassroots political group say a school impact fee proposal was snuck into discussion at a Chatham County Commissioners meeting Monday, and they're investigating how the proposal came about. Chatham Coalition members filed an open records request Tuesday for all correspondence among commissioners, staff and outside parties regarding a proposal spearheaded by Commissioners Chairman Bunkey Morgan. In an e-mail to the commissioners and the county manager, they also asked for a citizens' budget advisory board that would provide input on proposals such as the school impact fee plan, which would raise fees from $1,500 to up to $4,000 in parts of the county. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Chatham holds off on changing fee ordinance
[Feb. 8, 2005] A motion by Chatham County Commission Chairman Bunkey Morgan to change the county's Educational Facilities Impact Fee Ordinance failed to achieve a second during Monday's board meeting. The board, however, did agree to discuss the issue at its next meeting on Feb. 21. By WEB RUN - Sanford Herald

Nursery files suit against track star
[Feb. 8, 2005] A Hillsborough nursery, Reba & Roses, has filed a civil suit against Olympic track star Marion Jones, saying she owes it $188,000 for landscaping services provided at her home in Chatham County. Jones' home is in the Willowbend development off Fearrington Point Road southeast of Chapel Hill. Its tax value in 2003 was $1,036,000 for the land and improvements, according to the Chatham County Tax Office. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Chatham delays impact fee decision
[Feb. 7, 2005] Although most of the Chatham County Commissioners seemed poised to approve a major hike in the county's school impact fees, the board decided Monday to postpone any decision until later this month. They tabled their decision to change the 6-year-old impact fee ordinance until their Feb. 21 meeting. During discussion of the proposal, a few commissioners wondered if a jump from the current $1,500 up to a $4,000 fee in some areas of the county would be sufficient. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Impact fees may jump
[Feb. 5, 2005] With a $100 million school bond looming, Chatham County commissioners Monday will likely consider increasing impact fees by 167 percent for new homes in the fast-growing northeastern part of the county. It's part of a plan to carve out four districts with four different rates of impact fees determined by growth and the anticipated needs of the school system. Surprisingly, some developers and slow-growth advocates agree that it's a bad idea, primarily because they say the rates aren't equitable. By WEB RUN - N&O

Chatham park is nearing completion
[Feb. 5, 2005] Bear Creek - Plans are coming together for the new park in southwest Chatham County, which is being built near Chatham Central High School. Construction began in 2003 for Phase I of the park, which includes a multi-use field (combination soccer/baseball), walking trail, playground area and sand volleyball court. Working continues on the multi-use field, although fencing is in place and lights will soon be installed. By WEB RUN - Sanford Herald

Exhibit stems from the heart
[Feb. 5, 2005] For the next week, Chatham Arts Gallery is displaying 60 wineglasses decorated by a cocktail of artists, business owners and two county commissioners. To complete the set, glass plates festooned with designs by Northwood High School art club students also will be auctioned Friday at Edwards Antiques on Hillsboro Street, with proceeds going to Chatham Arts and the American Heart Association. "Art for Hearts," as the wineglass exhibit is called will raise awareness of heart health and Chatham artists. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Chatham hires utilities director
[Feb. 4, 2005] He worked his way up from meter reader to the superintendent of water for the city of Graham, and starting Feb. 14, Will Baker will fill the long vacant position as Chatham County's public utilities director. In that role, Baker will be in charge of a major water expansion heading into the rural reaches of the county, and overseeing constant upgrades of the county's troubled water treatment plant, which serves about 9,000 customers and can process as much as 3 million gallons of water daily. By WEB RUN - N&O

Agency seeks to conserve woodland
[Feb. 4, 2005] No one knows where all the new roofs will pop up in Chatham's future, but one thing seems certain: Developers won't hack into 345 wooded acres in the northeastern portion of the county. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is negotiating with N.C. State University to purchase the parcel, which is a segment of the former 1,734-acre Hope Valley Forest. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun