Richard Blackburn (D)
What is Ashe County’s greatest need and how can you help meet it?
Without a doubt over-all economic development is Ashe County’s greatest need. Specifically, the need is for JOBS, JOBS, and more JOBS! There is nothing much more disturbing and distressing than to have folks wanting, willing, and needing to work and cannot find a job. Additionally, a good economic climate helps to take care of many problems faced by society.
Ashe County needs to continue to market its buildings and workforce by networking locally, regionally, and statewide. By utilizing the expertise of the economic developer, the county needs to collaborate with local business and industry in order to encourage them to stay in Ashe County and to expand if possible. The leading question should be: How can the county help you?
Regionally, Ashe County needs to continue to network with economic entities like Carolina West (a group of twenty-one counties), the High Country Council of Governments (a seven county group), and the Appalachian Regional Commission. It is urgent that the county participate in these agencies in order to “look and listen” for possibilities of new industry.
The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce is the statewide vehicle through which Ashe County can be promoted. Dr. Pat Mitchell is an active participant in that agency. She has made presentations before that group and should continue to do so. As the county’s representative, Dr. Mitchell should continue her participation with the North Carolina Rural Center and the Golden Leaf Foundation. Specifically, grants should be sought from both agencies.
The Ashe County Economic Development Commission is a local board with a membership of representatives from various businesses and industries in Ashe County. The commission is very active and should continue its work.
Another critical requirement for effective economic development is to continue to develop the workforce so that they have the skills needed for current jobs. The Workforce Taskforce Committee should remain active and continue to work with the public schools and Wilkes Community College.
Since the most jobs are created by small businesses and industries, Ashe County needs to promote entrepreneurism. This should continue to be done through our high school curriculum and Wilkes Community College.
Agriculture and farming should continue to be a mainstay in Ashe County’s economic development. Therefore, there should be strong support for programs like farmland preservation, present use taxation, Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation agencies, and federal programs. The county should become involved in new initiatives in agricultural production. Some of these are added value agriculture, sustainable profitability, crop diversification, and use of new technology.
The future of agriculture in Ashe County should be a part of the efforts of the newly formed Small Business Alliance. The success of agriculture is vital to Ashe County as is the success of all small businesses and industries.
Ashe County should continue to promote tourism which is a large sector of the economy. By working with the Ashe Chamber of Commerce and state agencies tourism can play even a larger role in economic development.
My role as a commissioner will be to support and cooperate with all agencies and organizations, locally, regionally, and statewide to promote a stronger economic climate in Ashe County. The well-being of Ashe County citizens depends on it.
How can recycling be better promoted in order to save landfill space? Could it become mandatory?
People need to be made aware of the consequences of not recycling certain recyclable things. Recycling must be long-term because of the environmental benefits. Chief among them is that less stuff is thrown into landfills.
Keeping our planet healthy for today and for future generations is the goal of recycling.
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy waste, reduce air and water pollution, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Incentives should be offered by large companies by making a commitment to increasing the amount of recyclable packaging they use. Various perks could be offered as customers earn points. Customer involvement increases participation. Only by adopting an incentives approach can we use the involvement of the whole population to turn our recycling “dreams” into reality.
It would be wise to continue to work through the schools since children can influence their parents. Activities could include games, crafts, and art. Curricular subjects like science and health are avenues through which recycling can be emphasized.
Recycling requires a certain mindset on the part of everyone. It needs to be clear that everyone needs to recycle in order to save money, protect health, reduce pollution, reduce litter, and most importantly protect our children’s future. The mindset must address the need to consider recycling at home, at work, and in the community.
Does Ashe County need long range land use planning and if so, how can it be accomplished?
There is a limited amount of land with many and varied uses for it. There are residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, forestry, and recreational needs. These must be blended with the need to maintain the natural environment, rural character, and farmland of Ashe County. Everything impacts the environment. If we fail to keep it safe, we have lost it all.
Land use can change rapidly as we have recently seen along US Highway 221 South corridor from Jefferson to Baldwin. Such change as this certainly requires some guidance and direction.
One of the four cornerstones of the Free Enterprise System is private ownership of property. In view of this fact, we cannot impose restrictions from the top down. Restrictions can be in place if they are requested from the bottom up by the owners themselves. If owners, communities, and citizens see the need for land use planning, they will initiate it. The question becomes: What am I willing to give up for the good of all? The people must decide.
Ashe County must continue to study and talk about land use planning, but not impose it on the people. Building standards and sub-division standards protect the seller, buyer and the environment. Other ordinances are necessary in order to protect the public.
Clean water and adequate waste disposal systems are absolutely essential pieces of infrastructure that will help to attract business and industry. Ways to achieve both must be concerns that require ongoing study and planning.
Programs like the Farmland Preservation Program serve to help strike a good balance between Ashe County’s agricultural, tourism, and increasing development which is taking place. Ashe County faces a real challenge as it strives to maintain its mountain heritage in the face of rapid development.
The goals of land use planning are to protect the environment, make communities more attractive, provide a wide range of housing, provide places for recreation including bicycle and walking trails, and protect water quality.
A land use plan should offer incentives rather than be heavy with regulations. The plan must have input from the various stakeholders (those whom it impacts) in the county. It must be written to be unique to Ashe County and reflect the basic needs of the local community. A plan for Ashe County would need to incorporate the ordinances already in place.
A land use plan for Ashe County would protect open space and farmland. It would address long term implications for growth. It could head off problems and trouble for future generations.
Biography
Richard C. Blackburn is a life-long resident of Ashe County, and lives at 451 Don Walters Road, Jefferson. He is married to the former Mary Jean Walters, and they have one son, David; a daughter-in-law, Kathy; and two grandchildren, Anna and Autumn. Richard is a retired educator having been a teacher and principal for 33 years.
Richard’s governmental experiences include serving as an alderman in the Town of Jefferson for 11 years, one term on the Ashe County School Board, and two terms as an Ashe County Commissioner. He has served for 11 years as a member of the High Country Council of Governments Executive Board and currently serves as the chairman. Richard served on the North Carolina Twenty-First Century Transportation Committee, and having been appointed by the governor, he currently serves on the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board.
Jerry McMillan (D)
What is Ashe County’s greatest need and how can you help meet it?
There are currently three critical needs in Ashe County. They are jobs, jobs, jobs.
We need to work to retain current business and industry to promote expanding. I will work to recruit new businesses and industry. I will work with our school system to direct our students to a curriculum that will prepare them for a college degree, whether it is a four-year college or community college, or a trade that will attract new industry to the county and prepare them for a job in Ashe County.
How can recycling be better promoted in order to save landfill space? Could it become mandatory?
I know as a previous alderman in West Jefferson, we did not have a recycling program. Our businesses in West Jefferson put their cardboard and other recyclable materials in with the trash pickup. The residents did the same. I know Jefferson has recycling pick up every week. I think that if we can just have recycling for West Jefferson, Lansing and existing businesses, the amount going into the landfill would be significantly less. I think a program promoting recycling to all citizens explaining all the benefits would make a big difference for the whole county.
Does Ashe County need long range land use planning and if so, how can it be accomplished?
First, if we have any form of land use planning, decisions need to be left exclusively to local government. We all live here in Ashe County and I wouldn’t like someone regionally or statewide making those decisions for me. People in each community should be able to decide what kind of classification they want in their neighborhood, wehter it be agriculture, manufacturing, mixed use residential, or whatever.
Most of use don’t want to be told what we can or cannot do without property, but on the other hand, I want to be protected from undesirable use.
4. Biography
Jerry McMillan lives in West Jefferson. He was an air traffic controller in Atlanta, GA for 27 years, reaching the position of supervisor. He was a West Jefferson aldermen for four years. He is divorced and has a 28-year-old daughter who graduated from Georgia Tech and got her Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. She is currently employed as an architect in Las Vegas, NV.
Judy Porter Poe (R)
What is Ashe County’s greatest need and how can you help meet it?
Jobs, jobs, jobs. My top priority is and had been jobs and education. With jobs comes a growing economy. With education comes a trained workforce. I continue to support education in the community college and the cooperative programs between the community college and our high school students. I have worked with Ashe County manufacturing industries to create new jobs and help retain the number of jobs we currently have. I am on the board of High Country Council of Government Consortium, which helps recruit new industry, and Northwestern NC Advanced Materials Cluster, which is looking for new industries and new items to manufacture. Currently, several of our local manufacturing plants have begun to slowly build up their workforce. I want to continue to work with our current businesses and continue to support new business in the county.
How can recycling be better promoted in order to save landfill space? Could it become mandatory?
During this year’s budget, I asked the commissioners to provide $20,000 for recycling bins for four of our schools. Westwood had received a grant to purchase recycling bins. Thanks to Joel Faraday for bringing this to my attention. Environmental services conduct recycle programs at our schools. This helps young children understand what recycling is and how it protects our environment. Public service announcements on the radio are a good way to encourage recycling. The free tarp program and ordinance on covered trash has helped reduce litter on our highways. I don’t think mandatory recycling is advisable at the current time. Mandatory recycling could be required for all garbage collection services in the county (all garbage collections services must be approved by the county commissioners), but the towns would have to also make it mandatory for incorporated areas.
Does Ashe County need long range land use planning and if so, how can it be accomplished?
Currently we have a committee working to study the land use needs of the county. Commissioners have made ordinances to control lot size, roads, etc. in subdivisions, and the health department controls placement of wells and septic tanks. We must take care in making these ordinances because we are still a rural county. I was born and raised in Ashe County, and my parents were farmers. My father respected the land and the responsibility that came with it. I know how local residents feel about land use regulations. We need to protect our farms, our property rights, and we also need to respect and protect our neighbor’s property rights also. We have a duty to protect Ashe County and insure it is as pristine for our children and grandchildren as it was for us.
4. Biography
Judy Porter Poe lives in West Jefferson. She is owner of Poe Tax Service. She currently serves on the Ashe County Board of Commissioners as chairwoman. She and her husband, Roy Glenn Poe, have been married 43 years. They have two sons and four grandchildren. She is a graduate of Northwest Ashe High School, Wilkes Community College and Appalachian State University.
Gary Roark (R)
What is Ashe County’s greatest need and how can you help meet it?
One of the greatest needs for Ashe County is jobs and one of the ways to accomplish this is to give tax breaks to businesses to locate in Ashe County. Also, tax incentives given to people who are building or purchasing new homes in Ashe County. Jobs would be provided from the initial groundbreaking to the finished products including excavation, heating, plumbing, electrical, furnishing, etc. The budget needs to be examined to insure that county spending is kept in control.
How can recycling be better promoted in order to save landfill space? Could it become mandatory?
Recycling could be better promoted if the county would make available personal recycling containers (sold to families at county cost) for families to use at home. I am not for the mandatory recycling project; however, if county residents continue not to recycle there may be no choice.
Does Ashe County need long range land use planning and if so, how can it be accomplished?
The county does not need long range land use planning. If, in the future, county residents feel long range land use planning needs to be addressed, then public hearings can be held and county residents should have the opportunity to decide, not the county government.
4. Biography
Gary Roark lives in Jefferson. He is owner of Gary Roark Construction. He is retired from the military and as a Jefferson volunteer fireman. He and his wife, Diane, have a daughter, Amy Tilley, married to Paul, and granddaughter Ashley Tilley.
William Sands (R)
What is Ashe County’s greatest need and how can you help meet it?
A major concern in Ashe County, as well as throughout the country, is the need for jobs. More consideration should be given to creating employment opportunities by enticing businesses to locate in Ashe County. One major hindrance to industry - the lack of good roads - will soon be less of an issue with the widening of 221 from 421 into West Jefferson.
We need to always patronize local businesses - especially during these trying economic times.
How can recycling be better promoted in order to save landfill space? Could it become mandatory?
The media, business and environmental groups need to work together to promote the importance and benefits of recycling - such as saving landfill space, providing revenue for the county, and reduction in the depletion of our natural resources.
I would encourage a voluntary program and do everything possible to make it successful. Mandatory enforcement should ONLY be considered as a last resort.
For some households, recycling would require a change in lifestyle. However, knowing you are making a difference for future generations is simply "the right thing to do."
Does Ashe County need long range land use planning and if so, how can it be accomplished?
Regardless of the direction of land use planning, we need to remember with growth comes change. However, no change should come at the expense of our heritage, our family farms, the beauty of our area, or the New River.
I understand a committee has been established to investigate the need for a long range land use plan. I feel, once this committee has studied the issue and made their recommendations, there should be a time for public comment with the ultimate decision resting with the people of Ashe County.
Biography
My wife Judy and I live in the Laurel Springs area. We have three children and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons, ages 9, 12 and (almost) 13.
After 34 years of service, I retired as a manager with Duke Power Company. The last 15 years have been spent as a volunteer with the Ashe County Sheriff's Office where I currently serve as a detective with the rank of Lieutenant.
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