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©2001-2005 The Chatham News Publishing Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved

County tightens water use

By Randall Rigsbee

Late last week, ongoing severe drought conditions prompted Chatham County utility officials to issue mandatory water conservation measures for county water system customers.

With the level of Jordan Lake, the primary water source for the county utility, dropping to approximately 3.5 feet below normal level, county officials enacted the more stringent conservation measures.

Since September, county water customers had been asked to voluntarily cut water use.

The mandatory restrictions apply to all county water customers, including those in the southeastern, southwestern, and northeastern districts.

Under the mandatory measures county water customers may not water lawns, gardens, shrubs, flowers and other vegetation; wash vehicles, sidewalks, driveways, patios or other outdoor structures and equipment;  use water for decorative foundations, pools or ponds;  add water to swimming pools, unless a swimming pool is critically necessary to residents’ health.

The restrictions also include:

·  Restricting  the hours of operation for water-cooled air conditioners or other equipment using non-recycled water for cooling;

· Using showers instead of bathtubs and limiting showers to four minutes;

· Limiting toilet flushing and not letting faucets run while shaving, brushing teeth or rinsing dishes;

· Limiting use of clothes washers and dishwashers by running full loads and only when necessary; and

· Installing flow restriction devices in shower heads and placing water-saving devices in toilets, such as bricks, bottles or commercial water-saving kits.

 more- See Thursday, Nov 10 paper: Vol 85, No. 50

Voters return Mayor Turner, incumbents to board posts

By Cara McDonough

This year’s municipal election had it all: there were close races and big wins. There will be some new faces in local government, but some familiar ones as well.

The results, still unofficial tallies until votes are canvassed next week, mean Pittsboro has a new mayor.  

Randy Voller beat incumbent Nancy May, who has served as mayor for the past four years, in a close race of 278 to 267 votes.

There were close races for spots on the town board, as well.

Incumbent Pittsboro board member Chris Walker won reelection to his seat, one of two open seats on the board .

Newcomer Pamela Baldwin will join him. Walker received 296 votes, Baldwin received 377, and candidate Efrain Ramirez lost with 252 votes.

The Siler City races weren’t as close.

Incumbent Mayor Charles Turner won with 538 votes, defeating Jonus Nobles, who received 56 votes, and Vince Sanabria, who received 51.  

Guy Smith won reelection to the at-large seat on the Siler City Town Board, beating newcomer Cindy Burke Bray 398 votes to 246 votes.

Tony Siler, District One commissioner and Sam Adams Jr., District 5 commissioner, ran unopposed for reelection to those seats and will remain on the board.

All races in Goldston were unopposed this year.

Mayor Tim Cunnup, at-large council member Barry Gaines, Ward 1 member Wayne Woody and Ward 3 member John T. Gaines will serve new terms.

This will be Cunnup’s fourth term as Goldston mayor.

Jeff Bright and Russell Palmer ran unopposed and will keep their Goldston Gulf Sanitary District posts.

Some candidates celebrated their wins after votes were tallied. .

 more- See Thursday, Nov 10 paper: Vol 85, No. 50

County OKs plan to pay for work

By Randall Rigsbee

Chatham County commissioners on Monday approved a financial plan that will allow the county to borrow $133 million to pay for a variety of capital improvements, including three new schools and a new county judicial building.

County officials say the plan should allow the county to build 11 new county facilities without an additional tax increase for the projects.

County commissioners reviewed the plan Monday with financial consultant Doug Carter of DEC Associates. Carter helped county officials devise the plan to fund the capital improvements.

“This is something positive the county has done,” Board of Commissioners chairman Bunkey Morgan said, noting that the four-cent tax increase implemented in the current fiscal year budget is largely responsible for funding the projects.

Morgan said the “ambitious plan” will serve county residents “for decades to come.”

Not all commissioners embraced the plan, however.

Commissioner Carl Outz, who cast the only vote against it, said the plan is too uncertain.

“There are a lot of ifs in there,” Outz said, adding that he’s “not quite sold on it yet.”

“Of course there are unknowns in there,” said commissioner Tommy Emerson. “But that’s jus part of the planning process.”

And commissioner Patrick Barnes praised the work.

“It’s a good plan,” he said.

County manager Charlie Horne said the plan uses “funds we know are in place and are solid and not likely to deviate.”

Carter praised the county’s financial staff for their planning.

 “I don’t know of any other jurisdiction that is able to achieve this kind of program,” Carter said.

The four-cent tax increase in the FY 2005-06 budget, combined with the county’s $2,900 school impact fee make the plan possible, county officials said.

  more- See Thursday, Nov 10 paper: Vol 85, No. 50

The Chatham News

is Published Every Thursday by The Chatham News Publishing Co, Inc at

303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, NC 27344, (919)663-3232

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