BC 2008 06 16 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

June 16, 2008 (Regular Meeting) Page 858 Mike Helms, resident of 7900 Malibu Road in Mt. Pleasant, expressed concerns with the tax values the County has assigned to his real and personal property. He also stated that citizens should get to elect new members to the Board. Larry Marlow, resident of 664 Odell School Road in Concord, expressed appreciation to the Board for their hard work. He also spoke in favor of electing new members to the Board; asked to have the microphones adjusted at the Agenda Work Sessions; and recommended the County place another moratorium on residential construction. Joanna Dudley, resident of 6913 Wellington Lane in Harrisburg, expressed support for expansion of the Board by election,. district representation and increased minority representation. She also asked for additional time to consider all the options. Manuel Kiser, resident of 7676 Flowes Store Road in Concord, expressed opposition to current legislation to expand the Board. He said changing the rules in the middle of the game is cheating. Allison Kitfield, resident of 192 North Union Street North in Concord, stated there is no urgency to expand the Board and that the appropriate time to expand is before an electoral season, not in the middle of one. She also commented on the unfairness to new candidates. Grace Liem, resident of 9955 Bentridge Drive in Concord, expressed support for the Board expanding by election and asked where the new members will sit. Dean Peterson, resident of 1309 Bellhook Place NW in Concord, spoke in support of expanding the Board. He advocated a nine member Board similar to Pitt County and to use the State committee to determine district boundaries. Mary Ellen Phifer-Kirton, resident of 278 Esther Circle in Kannapolis, spoke in support of expansion of the Board by a public vote of the citizens in Cabarrus County. Alex Porter, resident of 193 South Union Street South in Concord, commented on expanding the Board. He addressed district voting and district representation. Barbara Sharpe, resident of 89-H Lake Concord Road in Concord, spoke in support of expansion of the Board by election. To ensure fairness to all involved, she suggested more time be spent on investigation. Further, she suggested a bipartisan committee present an expansion plan for future discussion. Bill Smith, resident of 504 Dodge Street in Kannapolis, spoke in support of expanding the Board by holding a general election in November for two at-large, nonpartisan seats with two year terms. He explained that at the end of the term, the incumbents would have to declare their party affiliation and file for election under that banner. He further commented that legislation could be written to encompass this unique approach. Justin Thibault, resident of 5489 Coleman Circle in Concord, commented on the expansion of the Board. He suggested a committee be appointed to review all expansion options. The recommended plan would then be placed on the 2010 ballot for approval, which should dissolve any conspiracy theories. He. further recommended waiving district residency requirements and electing a majority of the Board-during presidential elections. Larry Witmer, resident of 11281 Old Cedar Court in Davidson, spoke in support of district representation. He stated district representation would provide a better racial and geographic balance to the Board. Wendy Wood, resident of 717 Union Street South in Concord, representing the Cabarrus County Democratic Party, spoke in support of the Board expansion by election and commented on the unusual timing of the' legislation. She cautioned that adding two new members would complicate the implementation of district representation since several members already reside near Concord. With there being no one else to address the Board, Chairman White closed that portion of the meeting. (E) OLD BUSINESS