Business recruiting, new jail key issues in Wilkes

Seven competing for three board-of-commissioners seats

By: By Monte Mitchell | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: October 25, 2008

NORTH WILKESBORO --

Overhauling the agency that recruits jobs and industries to Wilkes County and paying for a new jail are among the big issues in this year's race for three seats on the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners.

The Republican candidates are Charlie Sink, a two-term incumbent who is the board chairman; Keith Elmore, who is in his first term; and Gary Blevins, a former town of Wilkesboro commissioner. The Democrats are Joe Anthony, Matt Ledford and Michael Holleman.

Tom Bowman, a former county commissioner, is on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate.

An architect is developing plans for a new law-enforcement center and jail to be built beside the county courthouse. The project hasn't gone to bid yet, but estimates show it could cost about $30 million, although commissioners say they are working to reduce the cost. The state has told the county it must relieve crowding at its existing jail.

Anthony said that spending up to $18 million on the jail is as high as he would go. He said he would prefer that the county build a smaller jail that can be added onto in the future.

Blevins said he couldn't imagine anybody saying just a couple of weeks before an election that they want to spend that kind of money, but that "it's what happens after the election that's really going to count.

"Who is going to stand up and do what has to be done, spend the amount of money it takes to make an adequate jail and do what's best for the community. The jail's not the only thing we face. There are other projects, too."

Ledford said he would not vote for a $30 million jail. He said he would cut the county budget, trimming 1.5 percent of spending across the board, saving $1 million.

"There is fat to be trimmed," he said. "If you're not willing to admit it, then I'm not sure you need to be back on the board."

Blevins talked about restructuring the county's Economic Development Commission and developing a public/private industrial park on U.S. 421.

Bowman said that there should be a county-wide forum in December to bring all the players back to the table about the EDC, which is a partnership of Wilkes County, Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro and the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce.

"The budget for the EDC has been flat for the last eight years," he said. "We need a strong subcommittee structure. We need to take care of our existing industries. We need to take care of entrepreneurial efforts by some of our citizens. We need to re-examine why we don't get industries."

Holleman said that the county has run up an enormous debt that threatens the future for the county's children and that economic development is key to the county's problems.

"It all starts with job creation," he said. "I feel like if we address bringing good quality jobs into the area, the bottom line, we broaden our tax base without increasing our tax burden to the average citizens."

Sink said that a big part of the county debt went for improving the middle schools and high schools, fixes that were desperately needed. He noted that the county owes a fraction of what it could borrow. That means credit agencies don't think the debt is excessive and continue to give the county good bond ratings.

"We try to hold down costs as much as we can," Sink said.

Elmore said he tried to cut about $415,000 from the budget, but didn't have the support of a majority of the board.

"Almost all that money was put back in the budget," he said. "(But) there's very little money wasted, in my opinion."

■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.