Attracting Big Business

Attracting Big Business

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

If I were an executive of a multi-million dollar corporation, what would I look for in Harnett County in order to locate here?

There could be many answers to that question.  It would depend on the person(s) making the decision.  If it were me, I would give great weight to the educational system, the police protection and the tax rate.

Not only would the educational system be important for the employees of my corporation, but a productive, quality educational system would be vital to the success of the corporation.  Having access to a well-trained and trainable workforce would also be vital.  Not only should our school system be strong enough to provide the labor for the jobs that my corporation would create, but our community college system,which is strong in our county and region, would also be a crucial component in educational process.  Campbell University would also help provide an educated workforce.

Reliable and responsive police protection would be essential to provide a safe environment for employees and their families.  Harnett County has five municipal police forces and a sheriff's department.  Although the sheer size of Harnett County can present a challenge to the rural but fast growing  areas of our county,  the sheriff's office does an extraordinary job with the resources provided to it.

If I were to have a multi-million dollar taxable investment in Harnett County, the tax rate would certainly have an impact on the decision of  my corporation locating here.  Taxes would have to be at a level that would make the investment economically feasible.

These three items that I have identified are all interconnected, which can leave the county in a dilemma.  Taxes must be low enough to attract the corporation but yet high enough to provide a quality educational system and police protection that the corporation requires.

Being a responsible corporate citizen, my corporation would realize that it is the people of the county, many of who would be corporate employees, that should decide at what levels the educational system and police protection should be funded in order for them to be happy, safe residents, who would make better employees.

The dilemma for the county is we need the tax base of big business in Harnett County to supplement the property taxes that the homeowners pay.  But will big business locate here if our schools are not adequately funded and maintained?  Will big business locate here if the police protection does not provide adequate coverage for the county?

Speaking for my fictitious corporation, I would give an astounding NO.

We have have critical decisions to make in Harnett County.  Being a democracy, we all have the right to be heard.  The time to speak is now......

The Fight of Our Lives--Harnett County Schools

The Fight of Our Lives--Harnett County Schools

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

I have been very fortunate that my children have always attended school in Eastern Harnett County.  We have have never experienced overcrowding or other problems in our school district.  There have been occasions when there were not enough books to go around and teachers had to copy assignments from a book.  But overall, my children have received a quality education in the Harnett County School System.

My Commissioner district also covers the Overhills Schools and the Western Harnett Schools.  I have received numerous calls over the years concerning overcrowding, lack of books and lockers, teacher retention, traffic, etc.  The calls have escalated this year. I have always listened to anyone who has called.

Harnett County is still primarily a rural county that has recently seen a massive influx of people due to the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC).  Uncontrolled growth from lots subdivided almost a decade ago has created many issues in our school system.  We simply do not have enough tax base to build all of the schools needed right now.  I often hear that with the tax money coming from all of the new houses that there should be plenty of money to build new schools.  It does not work that way.  The County actually spends more to educate students than it collects on the property taxes of the new homes.

Commercial and industrial growth provides the tax base necessary to build the schools.  Retail growth also provides sales tax revenue to add to the coffers to build schools.

Up until a few years ago, I, like many others, believed that the federal government was coming with a satchel of money to assist the county with the influx of children brought to us by BRAC.  It is fair to say that most of us in county government were misled.  No satchel of money ever made it to Harnett County.  The commercial and retail growth is coming but  it is not coming on a locomotive.

The effects of this influx of students on the Harnett County School System comes with a major dilemma in educating our youth.  The children in Southern, Western, Northern and Central Harnett County deserve the same opportunities and the same environment that my children in Eastern Harnett County have had.  They deserve to go to school in a safe environment conducive to learning.  And that my friends is an undisputed fact.

Recognizing that the we are going to have to tackle these issues ourselves, I recently made a motion to put the overage from last year's budget into a capital reserve fund for school construction, repair and renovation which turned out to be $2.2 million.  Also, I made the motion that the newly passed 1/4 cent sales tax increase go into this fund for schools as well.  

I realize that this is a small drop in the bucket for our many needs.  For that reason, I have asked the county manager to bring the commissioners information about holding a bond referendum for the purpose of constructing schools.

I was extremely disappointed but  probably more shocked today when I learned that at least one of my colleagues may renege on putting the $2.2 million overage into this fund for the school system.

Friends, I do believe we may be in the fight of our lives to provide the education that our children deserve.

Rogers Files Lawsuit Against County

Rogers Files Lawsuit Against County

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

According to the online publication The Harnett Dispatch, "Rogers, a former employee of Harnett County Public Utilities, has filed  a suit against the County and public Utilities claiming wrongful termination."

At the time Mr. Rogers worked at public utilities, there was no whistle blower policy in place.  Still Mr. Rogers attempted to bring perceived wrongdoings to the appropriate authorities.  Information that he copied from various sources including trips to USDA, NCDENR, and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund were turned over to county officials.  Much of this information prompted the Board to instruct then County Manager Scott Sauer to perform an internal investigation of public utilities on two occasions.  Mr. Sauer neglected to follow the Board's instructions.

Many Harnett residents told me that this "stuff" has been going on for decades but heads have always been turned.  I believe that there is truth to these statements.  But I believe in recent years, because heads were always turned, the incidences became more frequent, more brazen and more bold.  

Had a whistle blower policy been in place or Sauer had investigated Rogers findings, Mr. Rogers would still be employed in Harnett County and our mess would be cleaned up.  There would have been no need for him to tape conversations.  The lack of effort given to Mr. Rogers complaints prompted Mr. Rogers to attempt to gather more evidence which ultimately led to his termination.

Other employees were terminated as well.  I have talked with most of them and they tell the same stories that Mr. Rogers tells.  Several months ago, another former terminated employee filed a suit against Harnett County Public Utilities as well.  For some reason, our county attorneys have not kept the board abreast of this lawsuit and based on information that I gathered from a Harnett resident, another law firm in which I have never heard the name is representing the county in that case.

My main question is why are these people being protected.  How far do the roots go???

River Town--Life in Harnett County

River Town--Life in Harnett County

By Gary A. House

When local author and historian Bryan K. Avery approached me many months ago about a web-based series called River Town that would depict life in Harnett County in the 1850's, I became excited and offered him much encouragement.

I have always been amazed by Mr. Avery's creativity and his ability to make things happen.  His idea to use local actors in his series certainly gives his series much local appeal.  

I had played Cornelius Harnett in the trailer to one of Mr. Avery's books and I had also played Cornelius Harnett in a monument ceremony in the Old Town of Averasborough initiated by Mr. Avery..  Through these experiences, I knew Mr. Avery's  River Town's productions would be loads of fun.

The fifth episode of River Town was filmed yesterday.  It was the first time that I had the opportunity to participate due scheduling conflicts.  It was extremely cold yesterday.  But it did not dampen the spirit of any of the River Town cast or Mr. Avery.  As always, when having the privilege of working with Mr. Avery, I  and the rest of cast had a most memorable time loaded with laughter.

Mr. Avery has brought Harnett County history alive.  I would put him right up there with authors such as Malcolm Fowler and John Hairr in helping us remember our roots.

Mr. Avery has sparked interest in our history among many of us.  Because of Mr. Avery, I have been doing my own research into the Cape Fear River in Harnett County.  Mr. Avery is always there to help answer questions for me.  Many of you have kayaked the Cape Fear River with me over the years.  The next time you go, you will hear stories such as the Legend of Big Red McNeill and will view  the hill where Matthew Smylie was shot.  Mr. Avery has brought River Town to life in film.  I am going to bring it to life by kayak.

As Mr. Avery told me from the beginning, if anyone wants to act in River Town, he will find them a place.  Bryan is a man of his word.  He has used local people just like you and me to depict life in the third largest town on the Cape Fear in the 1850's.  Local horses, mules, and dogs have also been casted.  He uses period clothing which may be a challenge sometimes.  Not everyone has clothing hanging in their closets from the 1850's except Linda Overby.  Actors attempt to use language from the 1850's even though it hard for those from Harnett, Sampson and Cumberland Counties to refrain from using our present day slang..

I encourage you all to participate in an upcoming episode of River Town.  You will have the time of your life and learn some history too.

The first four episodes can be found of YouTube.  I also encourage you to visit the FaceBook page "Welcome to River Town" administered by local attorney and River Town actor Jason Wunsch.

The fifth episode should premier in a month or two at the County Seat Restaurant in Lillington owned and operated by Terence and Sharona Stokes.

Keep an eye out on the FaceBook page for the date and I hope to see you there....

Why Rotate the County Chairman?

Why Rotate the County Chairperson?

By: Vice Chairman Gary A. House

Harnett County's Board of Commissioners are composed of five individuals elected by geographic districts within Harnett County.

At the first meeting in December of each year, the Board reorganizes and elects its chairperson for the upcoming year.  The chairperson has no duties greater than any of the other commissioners other than the right to call a special meeting, the right to conduct a meeting, the right to help set the agenda, and the right to sign documents on behalf of the Board.  Other than those items, all commissioners are equal, should be treated equal, and should have equal access to information.

In four of my seven years on the Board, the Board elected the same chairperson at its annual reorganization meeting---Chairperson Tim McNeill.  I have met no one that claimed that this was healthy for the county.  As a matter of fact, I never felt that there was equality among the board members during that four year reign.  Lack of equality breeds dysfunction. 

Once a chairperson feels too much power and claims authority over the county manager, problems occur.  Relationships all get out of whack.

Commissioner Jim Burgin and I have discussed the effects of re-electing the same chairperson year after year on several occasions.  We both believed, or at least I thought we believed, that the chairperson should be rotated each year.

For these reasons, I have requested that County Manager Tommy Burns come up with language in our Rules and Procedures that would require the rotation of the county chairpersonship each December.  

Several other counties have implemented this policy and I have no doubt that it breeds equality and healthy relationships.

Educating Harnett County Youth

Educating Harnett County Youth

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

During my seven years on the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, we have dealt with tremendous impact from the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) mostly in the southern and western parts of our county.

In the early years, we were led to believe that the federal government was going to provide $70 to $80 million dollars to help Harnett County with our infrastructure needed to educate our students.

BRAC brought more and more people who enrolled more and more children into our school system.  There was no influx of money that came with the influx on people.  

The State of North Carolina mandates that the county educate all children within Harnett County's borders.

Yet the federal government has never stood up to help us.

On June 27, 2013 during a special session of Harnett County Board of Commissioners, I made a motion to adopt the proposed General Fund budget with the modification of adding a capital reserve fund with the excess of revenues over expenditures for the 2012-13 budget.  The reserve fund is to assist with the construction, repair and renovation of our schools in Harnett County.

With the audit of our financial statements presented to the Board a few weeks ago, the final numbers are in.

Through sound fiscal management, at June 30, 2013, our unassigned General Fund balance is $17,959,942.  The increase in fund balance from the prior year was $4,645,351. This increase represents the excess of revenues over expenditures for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.  At the same time I made the motion for the excess to go into a capital reserve fund for the schools, the budget passed with the County using $2,400,000 to balance the 2013-2014 General Fund; thus, leaving $2,245,351 left of the excess to go into the capital reserve fund for schools.

I have asked for this budget amendment be presented at an upcoming Board of Commissioners' meeting.  I trust that my fellow commissioners will follow suit since the motion to create this fund was approved by vote when the budget was adopted.  If we do not pass this budget amended, the taxpayers of Harnett County would never have any reason to have faith in us again.

Also, on October 21, 2013 I presented a resolution stating the intent of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners was to use all proceeds from the 1/4 cent sales tax increase, if approved by the voters on November 5, 2013, would be placed into this capital reserve fund.  The 1/4 cent sales tax passed by a surprising margin.  The sales tax increase goes into effect on on April 1, 2014.  Money from these sales taxes should start flowing into the newly created capital reserve fund in May or June of 2014.  Funds generated should be able to make the annual payment on a new elementary school.

The revelation of a new Super Wal-Mart sending construction plans for a location on Highway 87 to the Harnett County planning department should make the annual payment on another new school.

Recognizing that our school needs are still overwhelming, I have asked our County Manager Tommy Burns to gather information on a bond referendum for new school construction to be presented at a future meeting.

Our needs are massive in Harnett County as far as our school needs go.  It will take everyone to come together to make sure that our school system can fulfill the needs of our youth and to provide each of them a seat, books, locker, etc.

Our kids are our future.