The new year may bring a new initiative for utilizing the county’s vacant 457-acre industrial property near Siler City.

Purchased by the county in March 2000 for $1.4 million, the property hasn’t yet been put to use, though a number of proposals – including an unsuccessful offer earlier this year to give part of it to the state for a mental health hospital – have been discussed.

The industrial property, which is near the intersection of US 64 and US 421 behind Wal-Mart, was the subject of more discussion by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners during a planning retreat last week.

"We’ve got to do something with our land," said commissioner Bunkey Morgan, who loosely outlined a plan to sell part of it in order to pay for infrastructure that would make the remaining property more appealing to prospective industries.

Chatham County commissioners may face a challenging budget-making process in the coming months if current trends, such as a reduction in the anticipated local sales tax reimbursements, continue.

As part of the Board of Commissioners’ two-day planning retreat last week, commissioners began the 2004/05 budget season with a review of current revenue, expenses and a projected bottom line.

The news isn’t all bad.

"We’re in relatively good shape," said assistant county manager Renee Dickson "There is some really good news."

Chatham is avoiding some of the challenges other regions are facing, such as a declining population, Dickson said.

The county’s unemployment rate has also decreased, from 5.7 percent unemployment in September 2002 to 3.8 percent in September 2003, while other regions are facing rising unemployment rates.

Strong differences of opinion came to a head at a work session held by the School Board last Thursday.

Board members couldn’t resolve their differences Thursday and that means there will be at least an eight-month delay in the creation of a school construction bond.

The session was held following presentations made to the board at their last meeting by Jeff Tsai, from N.C. State University, and a group called Construction Control Corporation.

The N.C. State group, called Integrated Planning for Schools and Community (IPSAC), was met positively by board members and parents alike at the meeting. Their strategy, as explained by Tsai, is to plan for location and number of new schools needed in a county by using strictly mathematical formulas.

Construction Control Group would perform a more comprehensive study of a county and work with an architectural group to get schools built in an appropriate and cost-efficient manner.

Tsai’s presentation drew an immediate response at Thursday’s work session.

"I think it’s something we should start and stay with for years to come," said board member Ronnie Collins.

The rift within the board started quickly with a come-back from Cadle Cooper

"We all know where growth is coming. We’ve got to make a decision."

IPSAV could not begin its work until March, and the study would take four months, he told the group at their board meeting.

Jeff Davis photo