EAST SPENCER — Candidates took their turns addressing the town’s leaking water
utility Tuesday night at a forum sparsely attended by residents and candidates.The candidates who did participate spoke of
the importance of having a stronger infrastructure to attract new business and industry
they said the town desperately needs.
Several candidates especially
promoted development along Andrew Street leading to Interstate 85 and building up the
Interstate 85 exit at East Spencer’s city limits.
Others spoke of trying to improve
the town’s image and said East Spencer is too big not to have a bank.
Deloris V. High, one of two women
running for three available seats for alderman, said the board needs a woman’s point
of view and someone who knows how to pray. “I’m your candidate,” she said.
“I know how to get answers from God.”
Mayoral candidates attending the
forum included incumbent Rajive Patel, Kenneth Fox and Titus King. Roderick Robinson and
John L. Rustin Sr. did not attend the event, sponsored by the Dunbar Family Resource
Center.
Of seven candidates for aldermen,
incumbent Chris Sharpe and challengers High and Ronald Hash attended. Several of the
no-shows had conflicts.
Sharpe said incumbent Alderman
Thomas Mitchell was just released from the hospital. Incumbent John G. Noble III was
attending a N.C. League of Municipalities conference on the town’s behalf.
Robinson, the mayoral candidate,
informed the Post earlier this week that he had a previous commitment. “I sincerely
had hoped to participate in a debate,” he said.
Other candidates for alderman
include Andrae Alexander and Naomi Cowan. The East Spencer mayor serves a two-year term;
aldermen serve four years.
Moderator Sean Reid asked each of
the candidates what he or she would do to improve the water utility. Fox, who now serves
as mayor pro tem, said he has met with Salisbury city officials six times in the past two
years. Fox wants Salisbury to study the possibility of taking over East Spencer’s
water-sewer utility. Salisbury has almost completed a yearlong study on consolidating with
Spencer’s utility.
East Spencer’s share of the
study cost would be $12,500, Fox said. East Spencer would be attractive in providing new
retail customers for Salisbury if East Spencer’s infrastructure were improved, Fox
said. The town needs state grant money to fix its leaking water pipes, Fox added.
Hash said he also favors such a
study.
Sharpe said the town must secure a
state or federal grant, “unless you have a rich uncle with a million dollars.”
The town should qualify based on its minority population and its status as an economically
depressed area, Sharpe said. The state’s offer of a $800,000 loan to address the
town’s utility needs isn’t “worth a nickel because you have to pay it
back,” he said. Getting a grant will take twisting arms and necks, Sharpe said.
King wasn’t ready to
completely write off the idea of a loan for the water system.
“If a loan is the only way,
deal with it,” King said. He promised to improve the town’s administration of
the water-sewer utility.
Patel noted the town has again
submitted a grant application to the state for utility line replacements, though he’s
worried that Hurricane Floyd’s impact on eastern counties may hurt East
Spencer’s chances for that money.
Patel acknowledged that water
bills are too high and meters are not always read correctly. He said radio-read meters
will improve the accuracy and billing. “If we’re losing as much water as we say,
we have enough to supply the whole county,” Patel said.
High said she has a
“citizen’s knowledge” of what’s going on with the water system and she
knows that bills are too high. She also credited the current administration for trying to
find a solution and said she would have to study the problem, if elected.
“Let’s face it and be
real,” High said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to know.
And if I know it, I’m going to tell you.”
Some notes on each of the
candidates at Tuesday’s forum:
- Kenneth Fox: Fox said the town is
in an excellent position to grow in the area of Andrew and North Long streets. He promoted
his economic plan for the town, his efforts at attracting a financial institution, his
work to improve relations with county officials and his concern for the town’s image.
Fox publicly endorsed Sharpe, High
and Hash for the three available seats for aldermen.
- Ronald Hash: Hash described himself
as a team player who believes in the town’s potential. He promised to bring more
professionalism and organizational skills to the board.
“Most of all, I’m a
grants writer,” he said. “... To receive grants is a process, and I think
we’ve started the right process.”
- Deloris High: High agreed that the
town needs a bank, if for nothing else than to offer an automatic teller machine for
people exiting from the interstate. She noted the potential for development of the I-85
exit.
Without good infrastructure and
improved public safety, High said, new business or industry won’t be interested in
East Spencer. “I think we’re working on some good things to broaden the tax base
here,” she said.
- Titus King: Asked what he would do
to ensure a cohesive town board, King said it was more important that the board be honest,
regardless of differences.
“The biggest thing is to
recognize a good idea and take the town forward,” King said.
- Rajive Patel: Patel said the town
must broaden its tax base by attracting new industry and building new homes.
“These are things I’m
initiating that I would like to complete,” Patel said. The mayor said he supported
the formation of more citizen committees to work with the board. Patel said his own plan
for East Spencer’s economic development includes a hotel and restaurants at the I-85
exit, with any development coordinated with the state’s road widening project.
- Chris Sharpe: Sharpe described
himself as a good communicator who shoots “straight from the hip.”
“I’m here for the
citizens,” Sharpe said. “Between Southern Bell and the front porch, people can
get in touch with me.”
After having met with all the
banking institutions in Rowan County, Sharpe said he believes East Spencer should start
its own financial institution. He said present committees on the East Spencer board
“are doing a wonderful job.”
Sharpe promoted the development
possibilities of Andrew Street toward I-85. “We’re sitting on a gold mine,”
he said.
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