Chatham Weblogs

Lots of passion and competing petitions
[Sep. 2, 2011] It is no surprise that a land use plan affecting the entire county for decades to come has stirred passions and strong feelings among our citizens. The process for a joint land use plan has been on-going for seven years. Draft plans and maps have been changed and updated many times over the years to incorporate citizen input. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

Chatham School Board request for additional funds provides little data
[Jul. 25, 2011] Much has been written and discussed in the past week about the Chatham County School budget. Some believe that the majority of the commissioners do not support the Chatham County Schools because we did not approve a request by the superintendent for an additional $706,000 to cover cuts imposed by the State legislature or to approve county relief of a $98,000 water bill from the town of Pittsboro. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

Take a deep breath and remain calm
[Jun. 6, 2011] For me, it was a reckoning day. I thought I had seen and heard everything during my service on the BOC, but now, I reckon I had not! I do have a real distaste for being blind-sided by my peers! No reason for it. As the Board majority planned to cut the budget review process, I would have thought it appropriate to advise the minority members in advance of such action. But that is apparently the nature of Chatham politics.
  By Mike Cross
Also: Mike Cross' Weblog

Funding core services and protecting our environment are key component in Chatham's budget proposal
[May 27, 2011] I want to thank those who attended the public hearings on the proposed budget in Pittsboro and Siler City. While the majority of those I’ve spoken with and heard from support the proposed budget others have expressed concern that we are cutting vital services and environmental safeguards. Funding core services and protecting our environment are key components in this proposal. Before I outline how this budget does that, let me recap the reasons for reducing spending now. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

Revision made to the pro law enforcement resolution
[May 18, 2011] As you might imagine, in the weeks since first publishing the law enforcement resolution, we have received quite abit of feedback. Some of the feedback has been negative and some positive. It has ranged from "Of course you should pass the resolution" to "Search your heart before passing such a hateful resolution". The vast majority of feedback has been in support. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

2011-12 Chatham County budget contains no property tax increases
[May 14, 2011] The county manager's office will present the recommended 2011-2012 budget at this Monday's meeting (May 16, 2011). Our budget team has done a tremendous job in preparing recommendations that increase our commitment to public education and public safety while cutting over-all spending by $1.5 million in discretionary items. Most counties will be recommending cuts in K-12 allocations, we are recommending an increased allocation to our public schools by approximately 2%. The Community College operating budget is recommended to increase by about 8% for a total increase in education spending of $1.4 million. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

Plans in place to redraw Chatham County commissioner election districts
[May 11, 2011] Since 2006 our commissioner districts have been changed twice. In 2006 the Board of Commissioners (BOC) led by Commissioner Morgan gathered a bi-partisan task force to redraw the districts. A solution was agreed on by the task force and subsequently adopted by the BOC. Newly elected commissioners who came into office later that year were not happy with the new districts and decided they should be changed. Commissioner Lucier worked directly with the county GIS department to develop new districts to propose to the BOC. These new districts were adopted in 2007. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

The first one hundred days
[Mar. 28, 2011] Around this time last year Pam Stewart, Walter Petty, and I made a commitment to bring much needed change to Chatham County. We had fantastic support from folks all across the county helping us get here so that we could make these changes, and I'd like to take a moment to let all of you know what we have done in just our first 100 days. By Brian Bock
Also: Commissioner Bock Blog

My thoughts on the Western Wake Partners wastewater discharge
[Feb. 24, 2011] I voted NO, but it passed 3-2. This has been a long and contentious process and I have heard from so many citizens who actually live in East and Southeast Chatham, I doubt I could count them. Only two of these citizens thought this discharge line was a good thing to add to southeast Chatham. By Mike Cross
Also: Mike Cross' Weblog

Responses to 2004 questions from the Chatham Coalition
[Mar. 7, 2008] The Chatham Coalition leadership has made it clear in recent emails and postings that they do not intend to support me. That is certainly their perogative as it is their organization and if they want to go a different way in 2008, I welcome them to the race and I hope we can keep it issue oriented and positive like we did when we worked together in 2004. By Mike Cross
Also: Mike Cross' Weblog

Board of Education meeting notes - 5/14/07
[May 17, 2007] Our May 14th meeting was largely taken up with the first reading of new and revised personnel policies. The length of time taken to discuss the policies may have caused some visitors to leave but those revisions and confirmations were way overdue and long awaited for clarification purposes. This series was probably the largest segment we will have to discuss so those of you who became bored and left, please come back! By Gerald Totten
Also: Chatham County School Daze Blog

Chatham growth, options and 1% land transfer tax
[May 9, 2007] I don’t think any of us need to be told that we are growing, but… the Triangle J-Council of Governments estimates the current population in eastern Chatham alone to be 34,000 and considering geographic location and expected growth, this population will increase to 117,000 by the year 2035! By Mike Cross
Also: Mike Cross' Weblog

North Chatham School PTSA meeting
[May 9, 2007] What a pleasure to attend a Parent-Teacher-Student Association meeting last night with every chair filled! I didn’t count the attendees but the multi-purpose room was packed, a fact I’d like to see at every PTSA meeting I attend. Only through such well-conducted meetings and participation by the members and guests can sincere, effective dialog be had. Thanks to everyone who made that meeting last night. By Gerald Totten
Also: Chatham County School Daze Blog

Googling voodoo
[Mar. 27, 2007] Chatham Marketplace held its fourth poetry slam this weekend, and it was a subdued affair. Still vibrant, still pulsing, but lacking the frenzy of former events.
Also: Chatham Marketplace Blog