Now as the year comes to a close, the commissioners and county manager reflect on a year where they have done just that.
Commissioner Jim Harrell Jr. said, “We took the tact that it was a time to be aggressive ... We’ve been more aggressive than ever.”
“We’re an aggressive group of county commissioners.” said Commissioner Jimmy Miller, adding he believes the citizens want an active board.
Craig Hunter served as the chairman of the board for 2009. He said via e-mail, “The board has been a results-oriented board ... and we continue to strive for results — of ourselves and our employees and agencies. Part of the problems with some governing public entities is they are all talk and no do. Politicians talk, public servants do.”
While the commissioners tried to actively pursue projects in the county, they all noted that the county has had to face a tough economy.
Commissioner Bill Hamlin said, “It’s been a tough year on the county, on the folks in the county.”
“It was a challenging year,” said Harrell. “We continued to lose some jobs. I think the general economy affected everyone.”
“The economy could’ve been a lot better, but Surry County is finally on the right track and recruiting new businesses every day,” said Commissioner Paul Johnson, new board chairman.
He, like most of the other commissioners, listed economic development, water and sewer, and school projects as top highlights of 2009.
With a down economy, the commissioners said they tried to be wise with how they used the county’s money.
“We have been wise in our spending,” said Hunter.
Hamlin listed several projects the board has approved and said, “We have done this without raising taxes.”
He said the county received several grants throughout the year for projects. The commissioners also said they wanted to take advantage of the favorable bid climate.
Johnson said they were able to save 30 to 40 percent from their original projections on most of the building and water and sewer projects, so they decided to do them early.
“That was very wise use of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Harrell said, “We used some of our rainy day funds, but I think you could say this was a rainy day.”
He also pointed out that the projects also employed many Surry County residents. Harrell said, “Sometimes when the times are tough, it’s easy to knuckle up and squander what you’ve got. I think we’ve served the citizens well.”
“We had saved money and were able to spend it,” said Miller.
Business recruitment
Concerned about the loss of jobs in the county, the commissioners focused on recruiting new industry in 2009.
“We still lost some jobs (in 2009). We’re trying to do everything we can to keep that from happening,” said Hamlin.
“Recruitment of industry has been tough,” said Harrell.
The commissioners approved incentive packages for several different businesses this year, which helped bring in companies such as Catalina Tempering and Central States Manufacturing as well as assist existing industry Granite Tactical Vehicles with an expansion.
An issue of controversy in 2009 was FibroWatt. This company, which turns poultry waste into usable energy, announced in 2008 that it would be building a plant near Elkin. The board put its approval behind the company coming to Surry County, but some citizens have voiced concerns that the company would pollute the area.
Harrell said, “I think the pros far outweigh any cons.”
The commissioners will continue to try to attract new businesses or aid in expansion of existing industries in 2010.
Hamlin said, “Even in the next year, we’ve got to do the same thing ... I think we need to do everything within our power to bring jobs in. First and foremost, we need to focus on economic development.”
“I think recruitment of jobs is going to be at the top of all of our lists,” said Johnson.
He added, “We’ve got some real good tips and industries that are looking at the county.”
Water and sewer
expansion
For the commissioners, part of recruiting new industries involved adding new water and sewer lines in the county. They were especially proud of the water extension to the Interstates Water and Sewer District, in the Interstates 74 and 77 area. County Manager Thompson said this was “one of the county’s prime economic development sites.”
Hamlin said that water projects “will give infrastructure to bring more businesses.”
The county has more water projects in the works as it moves forward.
“I look forward to new projects,” said Hamlin.
Hunter listed continued expansion of water and sewer services as one of the projects he is looking forward to in 2010.
Building projects
The board tackled several major school construction projects in 2009, including the new Rockford Elementary School, the new Pilot Mountain Middle School, major renovation projects at Mount Airy and Elkin high schools, and planning for the conversion of Pilot Mountain Middle School into Pilot Elementary School.
“I think the educational work we did was tremendous,” said Miller. “We’re always happy to educate our kids and hopefully keep them here with jobs.”
Harrell said that not a school has been left untouched. He said, “We’ve come a long way in the building process ... If we continue to make progress in education and the schools, that’s first.”
Now he wants to look at more things the board can do to enhance learning in the classroom, such as updating technology.
According to Thompson, the school building projects seem to be on schedule. The school systems plan to have these schools open for fall 2010.
The board also worked with Surry Community College and the towns of Elkin and Pilot Mountain to establish workforce development centers.
Harrell said, “I think those will prove to be valuable assets.”
Other focuses
In addition to economic development, water and sewer, and education building projects, the commissioners mentioned a range of other projects last week that they were proud of and wanted to continue expanding.
“We’ve continued to make progress in most of the other areas,” Harrell remarked.
He is excited about the progress made with tourism in the county. But he is concerned about the state funding cuts for mental health and social service programs.
Thompson reflected on the expansion at the county landfill and the creation of a plastics recycling program.
But amidst all of the new projects in the county, the commissioners are sure to highlight the Surry County employees.
Hunter said via e-mail, “There were tons of county activities to highlight from new school construction to expanded water and sewer projects. What I am most proud of are our county employees who are committed to their jobs, their passions to help others and to public service, and who were all asked to do more with less. County employees are what makes Surry County a great place to live, work and play.”
“They get the job done,” said Miller.
The commissioners will set specific goals for the county at their planning retreat in February. They said they look forward to completing projects already in progress.
“Whatever it takes to make the lives of Surry County citizens easier and better,” Hamlin remarked.
The future is uncertain, but the commissioners voiced positive outlooks.
“There are so many outside influences that the county does not control that influence our local citizens and us as local leaders. I have no doubt we will persevere and overcome,” said Hunter.
“I think it was a great year,” said Miller. “’Bout as great a one as we ever had ... We look forward to doing the same thing next year.”
Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.
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