In My Opinion

Why kids leave Chatham for education
[Sep. 11, 2005] This is a response to Gina Bechtel-Hicks. I think you answered your own question! Kids are leaving because as you stated, anytime a parent attempts to get any information or speak out about the problems, the parents are attacked and dismissed by the school board (and others), it is difficult and time-consuming to effect any changes in Chatham, and change is incremental and very slow... and the kids suffer in the meantime. By Amy W. Osborne

Is the Chatham EDC working in the public's interest?
[Aug. 20, 2005] Is the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) really doing economic develop in the public’s interest or in the special interests? In order to answer this question let us examine one of the EDC’s major projects the Kayser-Roth project in Goldston. As many know Kayser-Roth ceased business at 751 S. Church Street in Goldston prior to January 31, 2000. By John Hammond

Do community ethics matter against Wal-Mall’s $$$?
[Aug. 14, 2005] The other day I was having a friendly chit-chat with two female county government employees when the subject of Wal-Mart possibly coming to northern Chatham came up. “Don’t get me started,” one of the ladies exclaimed. An hour later I knew why. By Jeffrey Starkweather

Our lakes at risk: the impact of growth on North Carolina’s water quality
[Jul. 13, 2005] As North Carolina's population continues to grow, our forests, farmlands, and open spaces are disappearing.As these areas disappear and as people move closer to our rivers, lakes and streams,water quality suffers. Between 1982 and 2002,North Carolina lost 2,568,700 acres of cropland and forestland, while it gained 1,849,800 acres of developed land. By Christine Wunsche
Also: NCPIRG

About Wal-Mart: What we know, and what we don't know
[Jul. 12, 2005] Many citizens have been reading the newspapers and then asking questions about the possibility of a Super Wal-Mart Shopping Center making its appearance in northern Chatham along Route 15/501. Our effort now involves collecting facts and the views of the citizens of Chatham County. By Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities
Also: Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities

Malice in Wonderland ?
[May 23, 2005] In response to David's note on the 1% transfer tax, I don't believe this is an issue of Mike Cross raising money for power, but rather his seeking a creative way to address the impact of the County's failed policy on residential growth. And Barrett's comment about the such a fee reducing the growth in this country ... well for some, that would be a good thing. By Larry Hicks

1% Transfer Tax looks like the best solution
[May 11, 2005] Well, I think we've all heard enough to agree that we have a problem: Our county has run out of money to meet the needs of us citizens: Our schools have to go begging to get bonds passed to borrow money to build new buildings (just to meet demand) and we're still unable to maintain the existing buildings. Our sheriff tells a tale of woe about how pretty-soon he won't have enough deputies to police all the new roads, neighborhoods, and businesses that are being built. The problems just go on and on. By John Bonitz

Suggested improvements to public meeting and information procedures
[Apr. 8, 2005] The Commissioners and county staff should be applauded for the features that have been included on the county website to improve citizen knowledge and encourage their input, including: an application for potential volunteers to serve on advisory boards and commissions and a list of those boards and commissions; providing access to background and supportive information on agenda items attached to the county commissioners’ agenda, giving access to all county board minutes back to October 1994, posting the most recent planning board minutes and making land use regulations available, and posting a host of other key documents when they are relevant. By Jeffrey Starkweather

Top Ten reasons why the BOC needs to rethink changing from a uniform impact fee structure
[Feb. 12, 2005] The Chatham Coalition learned of Bunkey Morgan’s smoke-filled backroom secret impact fee plan just in the nick of time to stop a vote on this item that he purposely left off the Monday, February 7 county commissioner’s meeting agenda. His plan appears to be an attempt to get around a vote on a school bond referendum through the creation of geographic school impact zone that would cost new residents from $4,000 to zero depending on where they reside, regardless of the size of the residence or whether it is a mobile home. By Chatham Coalition

Who stands to gain from residential growth in Chatham County?
[Feb. 9, 2005] Who stands to gain from residential growth in Chatham County? Certainly not the citizens. Lately, Chatham County has experienced an influx of residential development. Rapid development results in many losers and a few winners. The only people who gain anything ($$$$$) from development are realtors and developers. By Stuart Smith

Why Chatham County should abandon all zoning laws
[Dec. 20, 2004] The battle between pro-development forces and those who wish to retain the rural character of Chatham County has raged back and forth over the past two years, with both sides claiming small victories. For the pro-growth folks, the 2002 election of Chatham County Commissioner Bunkey 'Silk Hope' Morgan was perhaps the biggest, as his slim election win over slow-growth advocate Gary 'Preacher Man' Phillips virtually guaranteed the approval of several new developments and zoning changes. In fact, since Mr. Morgan has been elected to the Board, not a single major rezoning request has been denied. Now that's progress. By James A. McGurk

Ode to Briar Chapel
[Sep. 27, 2004] Briar the Blue Sky
In the Chatham wind
Comes a stinging rain
Driving politics
And smart growth goes down the drain
From a Newlands lie
Red-orange mud flows
See the river of greed
Running wild where the beautiful grows By Concerned Chathamite

Attributes of a new school superintendent
[Sep. 9, 2004] What has not been addressed to date is the need for a superintendent with business experience over academic and teaching qualifications. Chatham County’s unprecedented growth causes us to prepare to build schools to the tune of something between 40 and perhaps as high as 75 million dollars of taxpayer bond money. In addition to that bond, state and federal funds of some $54 millions last year and probably a similar amount this year. By Gerald Totten

In Chatham, victory for a diverse coalition
[Jul. 31, 2004] The headline on a July 22 N&O article about the results of the Chatham County elections read "Diversity loses in Chatham." Nothing could be further from the truth. The Chatham Coalition supported a diverse slate of candidates based solely on their positions on the issues. Our slate included an African-American school board candidate, Norman Clark, who received an overwhelming 68 percent of the vote -- the largest percentage of the vote of any candidate -- and Holly Duncan, a woman, who received 62 percent, the second-largest percentage. By Jeffrey Starkweather