New proposed Capital Improvements Plan for Chatham County, NC December 11, 2009
Posted by Newt and Karen in Business, Events, Life, News, Schools.Tags: capital improvements plan, Chatham County, Chatham County Board of Commissioners, Chatham County Manager, Chatham County News, Chatham County Schools, North Carolina, Pittsboro, public hearing
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The following information was posted on the Chatham County government website (http://www.chathamnc.org) on December 7, 2009. The news article is outlined below.
The Chatham County Manager’s Office presented a proposed five-year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for 2011-15 that includes several major changes to the currently adopted plan.
The Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed CIP for Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. in the District Courtroom in Pittsboro. Following the public hearing, the commissioners will discuss the proposed CIP at their budget retreat in January, with the goal of adopting a final CIP in February.
The county adopts a CIP to provide a long-term plan for funding capital needs, such as facilities, equipment and other projects that cost at least $100,000.
“What we presented are recommendations on capital projects for the next five years, but the commissioners will make the final decision on what is included or not included,” said County Manager Charlie Horne.
The major differences in the County Manager’s proposal compared to the current plan include:
- Starting construction of the county judicial facility in early 2010. This facility would provide courtrooms, and space for court related personnel. The current facilities are over-crowded and unsafe. The new building will increase security for court-related activity.
- Constructing a county-owned landfill in 2015: A landfill has been recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, based on a 2009 waste disposal study. No decisions have been made on the size or location of the proposed landfill.
- Building a new jail in 2012: The current jail is over capacity about 62% of the time. The current facility is inefficient and ineffective. If over-crowding is not addressed, the state or a judge could order Chatham County to pay to transport and house inmates outside the county.
- Postponing the new high school: Without additional revenues, this postponement is being recommended by the County Manager so that the judicial facility and the jail can be constructed earlier than previously planned.
“Given the additional capacity at the high school level and the fact that residential construction has slowed substantially, staff does not see the high school demand being as immediate as the need for a new jail and the judicial facility,” said Paschal.
The proposed CIP outlines options available to the Board of Commissioners if it decides to proceed with building the new high school in 2012 or 2014, including postponing either the jail or the judicial center. The other options involve funding the facility from property taxes, increased impact fees or some combination of the two.
At their worksession, the commissioners expressed concerns about the delay in constructing the new high school. “There are over 10,000 new homes approved in Chatham County that are not yet built,” said chair George Lucier, chair of the Board of Commissioners.
He added that “it is clear that we cannot delay the new high school as recommended. We will look at every option to fund this school sooner than what is recommended by county staff.
Want to weigh in on this proposal? Be sure to attend the public hearing on December 14 at 6:00 pm. We happen to agree with Commissioner Lucier. The new high school should not be delayed!
N.C. Senator Kay Hagan announces Green Energy Investment in Pittsboro, NC December 2, 2009
Posted by Newt and Karen in Business, Life, News.Tags: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, biodiesel, Chatham County, Chatham County News, clean energy, low-carbon fuels, NC, North Carolina, Piedmont BioFuels, Pittsboro, Small Business Innovation Research program, sustainable energy, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan
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Not only is real estate and employment looking up lately, but a small business in Pittsboro has some news to celebrate as well!
What follows is an excerpt of a press release from U.S. Senator Kay Hagan’s website dated Monday, November 23, 2009.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) today announced that Piedmont Biofuels Industrial in Pittsboro will receive a $139,249 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant for innovative clean energy research and development.
“Last year, I visited Piedmont Biofuels and saw firsthand their groundbreaking work in green energy,” Hagan said. “Today’s grant is a critical investment in a North Carolina small business that is helping to ensure that the state is a leader in the sustainable energy economy.”
“Our research staff at Piedmont Biofuels is delighted to partner with the Department of Energy and continue our work in the next generation of biofuels production. At Piedmont Biofuels we are actively evaluating and analyzing materials and technology to bring low-carbon fuels from concept to reality,” said Rachel Burton, Director of Research at Piedmont Biofuels.
Piedmont Biofuels will use the funds to develop advanced biodiesel production processes. These processes will enable biodiesel producers to reduce water usage and waste byproduct, as well as use lower grade feedstocks, such as poultry renderings. The company currently has 19 employees, and it believes the proposed innovation will lead to the hiring of additional research staff. The company’s commercial production facility in Pittsboro produces approximately 4,000 gallons of biodiesel a day using waste poultry fat or used cooking oil.
The Recovery Act funding is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which works to increase the participation of small, innovative companies in federally-funded research and development. Hagan, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, voted to extend the program in July.
Hagan worked with her Senate colleagues to craft the Recovery Act to create and save jobs.
