December 22, 2011

WHY DID REPUBLICANS JONES AND HOLLOWAY SPLIT APART ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

After complaining about redistricting for too many years to remember and while constantly saying there should be a non-partisan redistricting commission established to redistrict after each census, Republicans changed their mind. Apparently, “a non-partisan redistricting commission” works better in campaign speeches than in real life.

For the first time in over 100 years, the Republicans won both the House and Senate in North Carolina in the 2010 election. Now the Republicans say that the non-partisan redistricting commission was not a good idea, so they did it themselves. Can you guess what they did to you and the voters in Rockingham County? Over 14,000 Reidsville residents are now in the 91st House District with Stokes County along with Stoneville, Mayodan and Madison.

With this new plan, neighbors will be split from neighbors. There will be a much greater chance of voter error as some precincts have been split apart. We don’t yet know how much this plan will add to the cost of elections as different ballots will be used within the same precinct.

The only commonality with Stokes County is the county line. Why did they not combine Stokes with Forsyth County where the majority of their commuting workers work? It is called gerrymandering and this is one of the worst cases in the state.

They have taken Rockingham County with a population of 93,000, which is about 13,000 more than a PERFECT House District and split it at a time when most of the political and community leaders have been working to unite the county.

In the Courts last ruling, they said their interpretation of the North Carolina State Constitution requires the Legislature to redistrict to make counties whole to the extent it is possible. Why did they not do this?

Apparently, splitting up Rockingham County will give Republicans a distinct advantage in the election for at least the next 10 years. However, in a recent meeting with their supporters, those in attendance were even puzzled by the plan, according to a recent news article. Jones had the audacity to say that this plan allows the citizens to choose their representative instead of the representative choosing their constituents. How can this be true when the citizens of Reidsville are more than 20 miles from the Stokes county line and have nothing in common with Stokes other than the county line and possibly some relatives?

I leave you with this quote by James Freeman Clarke, an American theologian, preacher and author, ” A Politician worries about the next election— a Statesman worries about the next generation”

Consider what Republicans have done to local education and grants to non-profits that are committed to helping our most vulnerable citizens.

If you want to see the re-districting map go to www.ncleg.net and click on the redistricting bar and then click on House Dollar-Dockham.

William Osborne

Chairman Rockingham County Democratic Party

12/22/11

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As both a tax payer and a citizen of Rockingham county I am truly disheartened that our county has no provisions whatsoever for our growing homeless population. I am aware that some of our local churches have been able to put together a program which will help feed and cloth the homeless. Any programs that our churches have put together in an effort to shelter the homeless are only active during the winter months. What about the summer months? Are the needs any less during warm weather? The churches and volunteers do not receive much help from our community as a whole. This problem is growing more serious by the day with all of the recent foreclosures and shut downs of local companies. Most people are under the impression that these people choose to be homeless or they are just alcoholics and should just go out and get jobs. This opinion truly saddens me. If we delve deeper into the problem, we would find that often these people are families who have become homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. If our county can provide and fund an animal shelter for our homeless animals then why can they not have the same compassion for our citizens? Am I to understand from our county commissioners who have often times stated that the homeless population were the least of our concerns, less than the very animals that we shelter?

Recently I visited the Charlotte Rescue Mission and learned that their program is run solely on donations and private funding. The work they do there includes a live in drug rehab program in addition to providing three meals a day for the homeless. The facility was actually sold to them by the Billy Graham ministries for $1.00 USD. I am needless to say very frustrated with our county government in that taxes are constantly increasing, yet none of the new revenue can be put back into the community to provide for the citizens who need it the most. Will other concerned citizens get involved and help with this ever growing problem as we can obviously not count on our county leaders to lead us?

Sincerely,

Janet Newman

Raven Rd

Reidsville NC 27320

12/10/2011

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Letter to the Editor

I had the opportunity to read a letter to the editor published last month in Eden’s Own Journal. The sender attacked several county officials for their vote on the landfill procedure. The writer in this article said Commissioners Bass, Flynt, and Travis voted against “the interest of the vast majority of the people and there was no explanation for their vote.”

The reason there was “no explanation” for their vote is that the commissioners are not supposed to make prejudicial public comments about the landfill issue while it is pending before the county.

I would be only one of many to point out there are several very good reasons why commissioners Bass, Flynt and Travis voted the way they did. What I find hard to explain is why commissioners Mabe and Kallam, rejected these arguments made by a diverse group of statewide experts in favor of an argument made by one local attorney.

1- At the time PBK applied for a Special Use Permit, there was no requirement for them to apply for a franchise agreement before a Special Use Hearing was held. To change the rules after the application process had begun and require the franchise permit be issued before a Special Use Hearing is held, would likely open the county to needless legal expense to defend the rule change in court.

2- There is nothing that could be accomplished now in a franchise hearing agreement that cannot be accomplished during a franchise hearing later, should a special use permit be issued.

3- The experts in land use planning from the University of North Carolina School of Government have said the county can hear a franchise agreement first…They also said they “do not recommend” that process.

4- The commissioners heard from the attorney for the Dan River Basin Association who advised them that the commissioners could very well open this county to further legal action if they heard the franchise agreement first. (More Legal Cost for the county) The attorney for DRBA is recognized as one of the top five attorneys in the North Carolina on land use law. He is an EXPERT on landfills and landfill law.

5- The commissioners made the decision to follow the advice of our county attorney. Why pay a county attorney if you aren’t going to listen to his advice?

6- No other county has required an applicant to produce a franchise agreement prior to a special use permit for a landfill. Perhaps commissioners Bass, Flynt and Travis know the same thing other counties know. This is why they rejected a reckless course of action. This is why Flynt, Travis and Bass will likely SAVE taxpayer dollars in needless legal fees.

The “Will of the People” spokesperson has a right to present his opinion and the commissioners have the right to accept or reject it. In this case, commissioners Bass, Flynt, and Travis used sound legal judgment, expert advice from the UNC School of Government, they accepted standard procedures used by other counties, they heard expert legal advice from DRBA and they arrived at the proper decision.

The real question here is why commissioners Mabe and Kallam did not listen to the same expert opinion.

All municipalities (except Madison where no action has been taken) support the direction recommended by the Dan River Basin attorney.

In no case should our county’s leaders ever confuse the voice of any minority with the will of the silent majority who expect our leaders to seek expert advice and then be willing to act on that advice.

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William Osborne

Chairman Rockingham County Democratic Party

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On October 1, regional musicians, jazz fans and vendors heated up the day at Freedom Park on the first bone-chilling day of 2011.

Curtis Fuller, the only trombone player to ever record with John Coltrane, thrilled the crowd. He’d recorded albums on four labels and played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Jazz fans knew that he also played with Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie bands. What a legendary artist playing and instructing in our midst!

The show ran from noon until 8:30 PM inspite of the cold. Headliners included the BOB SANGER TRIO with Veronica Jones as soloist. Kevin Lewis directed the 16-piece MARTINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND. Rockingham County sweetheart, ANDREA TEMPLON & FRIENDS added variety.

Rob Towers, regional outstanding trombonist, directed his alumni NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY JAZZ GROUP. Greensboro’s ROBERTO ORIHUELA and soloist changed the tempo with vibes and the Latin touch.

Bruce Mallatratt’s REAL JAZZ spotlighted the jazz renown trombonist, Curtis Fuller. The sides included Andres Shalito, guitar; Steve Haines, bass; Chris Hankins, sax and Mallatratt on drums. Then the music continued at Santana’s Restaurant.

Raffles prizes from Belk’s of Eden and AC Furniture and donations help support the FEST’S effort to raise scholarship funds for students could not afford private music instruction.

Sponsorship support came from Barbour Studio & Gallery, Carolina Fuel, Carolina Theatre of Durham, Draper Christian Church, Eden Chamber of Commerce, Gildan Knitwear, Innofa, KDH Defense System, Kim’s Pottery, National College of Danville, Pellham Transport, Rockingham Chiropractic Center, Sheetz of Eden, The AC Phoenix, Tracy’s Deli, Tri-City Ford, Walmart, WGSR TV, WLOE/WMYN AM Radio.

The performers, excellent technical support, area food and craft vendors plus volunteers gave a solid foundation for EDEN JAZZ FEST 2!

Gloria T. Best, Eden Jazz Fest emcee

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October 14, 2011

Dear Rockingham County Citizens,

Help the United Way of Rockingham County reach our million dollar goal! We need our 19 United Way agencies to continue providing critical services for one out of three people in Rockingham County.

Support United Way by donating dollars/votes to send a Rockingham County public official to jail. The top four candidates with the highest donations will enjoy the pleasure of an “Overnight Jail Stay for United Way.”

Jailbird candidates you may vote for include: Board of Commissioners Chair James Kallam, County Commissioner Craig Travis, Sheriff Sam Page, Interim County Manager Ben Neal, Animal Shelter Director Kevin Baughn, Safety/Risk Manager Mark Holzer, Director of Administration Adam Lindsay, Health Director Glenn Martin, Public Information Officer Mable Scott, Business Technology Center Director Mark Wells, and Information Technology Director David Whicker.

Vote for your favorite Jailbird candidate by bringing your donation (cash/check) to the lobby receptionist at Rockingham County Governmental Center, 371 NC 65, Wentworth, before 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19. Make checks payable to the Rockingham County United Way. Please direct questions to 336.342.8100.

Thanks for giving the United Way,

Mark Wells & Mable Scott

Rockingham County Governmental United Way Campaign Co-Chairs

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Letter to the Citizens of Rockingham County

August 19, 2011

Fellow Citizens,

Each of us as members of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners took a solemn vow to represent and responsibly lead our county. We are the official policy making body of Rockingham County and must always stay within the legal confines of the law. This is why we are sharing the following facts regarding the landfill issue in our county:

 1. We, as your elected County Commissioners, are authorized and will act in the best interest of Rockingham County, but we must also follow the requirements of the law or that authority may be taken away from us by a court.

2. A State Statute requires the applicant to obtain a franchise from the County Commissioners. This means that a private landfill must have both a local zoning approval and a franchise approval before applying for a state permit.

3. There is a process that must be followed. But remember, Commissioner approval is required for both zoning and a franchise.

4. Rockingham County has a zoning ordinance which requires a special use permit.

5. The special use permit must be first heard by the Planning Board and then by the County Commissioners.

6. The County is not creating a special use permit ordinance for the landfill applicant.

7. The applicant has applied for a special use permit but has not yet asked the County Commissioners for a franchise.

8. By law, a public hearing is required for both a franchise and a special use permit.

We hope this information will provide clarity regarding why we must wait until the formal application process before expressing any opinion on this matter. To do otherwise might jeopardize the legal outcome of the final decision.

Thank you for your support as we continue to partner with you to promote a safe and caring environment, educational excellence, economic opportunity, and a high quality of life.

Thank you and God bless Rockingham County,

James E. Kallam, Chairman

Rockingham County Board of Commissioners

Commissioners’ Response To Landfill Issue

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As Chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, I welcome ways in which to effectively communicate with our local citizenry. We hope we are building a stronger community where people in Rockingham County understand that we all live in this county together. My family lives in this county, you live in this county, and we have many of the same goals and desires. More than anything else, we as your County Board of Commissioners want to do the right thing, we want to be fair, we want to be equitable, and we want to make a just decision on this issue. Based upon the facts of the case, we will decide what is good and what is best for Rockingham County.”

James E. Kallam, Chairman

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“The only thing at this point that I can say is that I’ll do what is right and what is lawful for the best interests of the citizens and the best interests of Rockingham County.”

W. Keith Mabe, Vice-Chairman

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“We are facing a quasi-judicial issue. My concern is for our citizens to be aware of this. The bottom line is citizen awareness like what you learn from a Citizens Academy … for if you’re better informed, you can better perform. Open and free government allows us to research and study the facts and then discuss and dialogue. This prevents people being uninformed and misinformed.”

Harold A. Bass, Sr.

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“This has been designated as a quasi-judicial issue and we are under certain guidelines as per what we can communicate or not. We don’t want to prejudice or favor one way or the other. We need to wait and get as much information as possible and then make a decision.”

W. Thomas Flynt

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“Because everyone in our society is entitled to due process under our U.S. Constitution, we cannot rightly form a public opinion on the application that has been submitted for a private landfill near Eden. I will keep the best interests of Rockingham County’s citizens at heart when I make a decision on this matter. I encourage citizens to get involved and voice their views for or against this development.”

T. Craig Travis

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-Reposted from Rockingham County Website
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Dear Editor:

Most rational people in Rockingham County agree that it would be a good thing if we could just tell Kevan Combs to take his landfill idea and shove it. Believe me, I would be near the front of the line to shake his hand and wish him luck developing his private landfill somewhere far, far away from the rich, fertile soil that has sustained this county for centuries.

But almost as rich as the soil in this county is the tradition of legal procedure in the state of North Carolina. And in this case, the developer and his lawyers seem to understand that much more than they understand the mood of the citizenry toward accepting his incursion into our lives.

Make no mistake. We do not want, and will not accept without an arduous fight, a new private landfill on the Dan River that accepts municipal solid waste. The reasons to oppose Combs’ idea are legion and need not be rehashed here.

Rockingham County and its citizens are currently caught in a procedural trap brought on by our own aversion to land use restrictions and the lenient posture generations of county leaders have assumed toward the rights of citizens to use their land as they see fit.

Some have argued that we should move two steps down the legal process and deny Combs those things he has yet to apply for. The cautionary perspective in this matter is the correct one, however. If our county leaders were to terminate the special use permit application before giving it a fair and impartial hearing, as some have suggested, they would open the taxpayers of Rockingham County to the potential for significant expense in defending the lawsuit that Combs would surely file.

It is the wiser course to keep the county in a position to make a decision that can be upheld in court if Combs was to appeal a decision or sue to overturn a hasty action.

There is no denying that Combs must acquire a special use permit and a franchise agreement from local officials before he looks toward the state for a landfill permit. The layered approach to regulating this activity may be confusing some who are not well versed in government process. But the two are completely separate.

At the local level as well there are two steps in the process. Because Rockingham County has a tradition of leniency when it comes to local land use laws, they cannot now switch course with a pending development and make the process stricter. That in itself would be biased to this specific applicant.

These facts allow for Combs to apply for either a special use permit or a franchise agreement to start his application process. Because a landfill is an allowed use within an agricultural zone, his advisers made the decision to apply for the special use permit prior to the franchise agreement.

Some have gotten hung up on a state law that requires a franchise agreement before a person applies for a landfill permit from the state. The phrase “a permit” in this general statute refers to a state landfill permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It does not refer to a land use permit from the county.

Combs is navigating a complicated and multi-step process in order to develop and operate a private municipal solid waste landfill in Rockingham County. He must pass two steps at the county level before he can approach the much more stringent and multi-faceted process at the state level.

Our current county law allows for him to apply for a land use permit prior to a franchise agreement and he has chosen to take this path. Now it is incumbent upon the leadership of our county to ensure that the process is completed in a manner that safeguards us from litigation.

It is surely difficult for the average citizen to separate emotion and passion from the dry and often confusing aspects of legal procedure.

But in this case the cautious path is the wisest path.

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Jeffrey Sykes

Reidsville, NC

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 Gentlemen:

 I understand current facts of this matter to be that the attempted filings for the landfill have been rejected for inadequacy. Therefore, there is no pending “application”.

 As has been stated before, I believe that North Carolina General Statute 130A-294 clearly provides as follows: “A person who intends to apply for a new permit, the renewal of a permit, or a substantial amendment to a permit for a sanitary landfill shall obtain, prior to applying for a permit, a franchise for the operation of the sanitary landfill from each local government having jurisdiction over any part of the land on which the sanitary landfill and its appurtenances are located or to be located.”

 There being no pending application, the thousands we represent do not see any prohibition against any of you speaking and acting as you feel the vast majority of the people of Rockingham County want.

 In any event, we see no possible reason that you could damage the county’s position by immediately notifying the Planning and Zoning Department not to accept any application that does not include the franchise agreement.

 There is no excuse for running from your responsibilities to the people because you are afraid that the county will be sued. So what? You will not be sued as individuals but as representing us. If there are costs or expenses involved, we are the ones responsible for payment not you. We accept that responsibility.

 Very truly yours,

Thomas S. Harrington, Chairman

Will of the People

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 As everyone in Rockingham County now knows, an individual from Oak Ridge, North Carolina (together with one or more others unknown to us), is demanding a permit to allow the building of a huge commercial trash dump near the banks of the Dan River. This is nothing Rockingham County needs; we already have our own landfill.

 According to information furnished by the applicant, he is anticipating 500 trailer truck loads of trash per day. This trash could come from any part of the country. We feel that this project, if allowed , will cause extensive, far reaching and long lasting major damage to Rockingham County. The landfill may be expected to operate for approximately 40 years. This would result in hauling millions of tons of somebody else’s trash into Rockingham County. Nearly all landfills eventually leak. If this one leaks, it could ruin the water quality of the City of Eden, Miller Brewing Company and all other water users down river from the dump. Further, consider the devastating effect 500 loaded trailer trucks a day (and 500 empties leaving)would have on the transportation and possibly roads in our county.

 THERE ARE LAWS in North Carolina pertaining to the procedure for opening such a dangerous facility. Our LAW provides as follows: “A person who intends to apply for a new permit, the renewal of a permit, or a substantial amendment to a permit for a sanitary landfill SHALL obtain , prior to applying for a permit, a franchise for the operation of the sanitary landfill from each local government having jurisdiction over any part of the land on which the sanitary landfill and its appurtenances are located or to be located.”

 The FIRST requirement is that someone who intends to try to get permission to open a landfill must first negotiate a franchise contract with the county. In this case, the applicant has attempted to apply for a special use permit without even discussing a franchise agreement with the county. Apparently, they have no intention of complying with the LAW. There is nothing that forces the county to enter such a contract. Will of the People, working with others, intends that they not be forced.

 We have met with county commissioners and we have met with the county attorney. We do not know why they have not demanded that the applicant do what the LAW says must absolutely be done before going forward. We must assume that the applicant is familiar with the North Carolina LAW, so there must be some reason he thinks that if he gets past the hurdle of having to obtain a franchise contract that they can go forward without a contract or force us to later grant them one. We feel it is absolutely necessary that this application be opposed in every possible way because that is what should be done and what almost every person in Rockingham County wants. We do not even know who is behind this matter, but it is certainly possible that the applicant is “fronting” for someone else The county commissioners work for us and, in effect, so does the county attorney. We are not inclined to keep begging our officials to comply with the LAW that plainly tells them what they must do. We insist that the applicant be immediately informed that he is going to be required to comply with the LAW and not allowed to run rough shod over our county. This is a matter that is huge and dangerous and capable of injuring us far into the future. Only a fool would let this happen if it can be avoided. This county has its own landfill and neither needs nor wants a mega landfill damaging the county for generations to come.

 What part of “shall” don’t they understand?

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 Very truly yours,

Thomas S. Harrington, Chairman

Will of the People

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Rockingham County Democrats Oppose

Republican Redistricting Plan

The citizens of the United States, North Carolina, and Rockingham County are insulted by elected officials setting aside the public interest for the personal gain of elected officials. The current redistricting process in North Carolina is yet one more example of the needless disregard for the public interest by elected officials.

There was a time when elections were held and winners chosen based on the quality of ideas and not by the manipulation of people and places. There was a time when a party would submit ideas, the party platform, and party programs and allow voters to choose the direction elected officials would take. I can only assume either the Republican Tea Party majority lacks confidence in the voters, or they lack confidence in their own ideas.

The problems with this redistricting plan are rather obvious, even to the casual observer. The redistricting plan in its present form reflects a rather obvious attempt at racial packing or loading. This plan creates a few districts, which almost guarantees minority participation. However, the net result of racial loading is the dilution of a substantial portion of minorities within communities resulting in a low probability of minority representation. Disenfranchising a significant portion of the minority community represents a clear violation of acceptable ethical conduct, if not an actual violation of law.

Yet another consideration we must evaluate comes from the shapes of proposed State House districts. This gerrymandering is painfully obvious in the Rockingham County NC State Home district of Representative Herbert Jones where the district lines lack rational explanation. The unnecessary splitting of counties and municipalities creates both a financial and a technical burden on local election officials and increases the probability of voter error during the election process.

Splitting districts also separates neighbors and common interest, which can easily deny a county adequate or appropriate representation.

Splitting over 400 precincts into separate districts violates the very concept of keeping counties “whole” and disrupts the most basic formation of democracy by making precincts almost unrecognizable and incoherent. In 2002 the NC State Supreme Court in the case of Stephenson v. Bartlett said the “Whole County Provision,” found in the NC State Constitution must be honored to the extent it can be honored, consistent with the Voting Rights Act and other State and federal precepts. The Court in Stephenson prescribed a systematic method for harmonizing the Whole County Provision with the other laws. This redistricting plan makes a mockery of this Supreme Court ruling.

If necessary, The Rockingham County Democratic Party is prepared to enjoin The North Carolina Democratic Party in seeking judicial relief from this irresponsible redistricting plan.

If the Republican Tea Party cannot stand on the merits of its platform, then we respectfully request that you not force the citizens of North Carolina to stand with you.

Respectfully Submitted,

William Osborne

Chairman, Rockingham County

Democratic Party

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