CCTA Issues and Watchdog Report- February 22, 2012

Havelock Board of Commissioners- January 23, 2012

Attended by Nancy Murdoch- Nancy's Report at Attachment 1.

River Bend Town Council Meeting- February 16, 2012
Attended by Lou Call, Catherine and Bob Stash, and Hal James, possibly other CCTA members.  Lou's Report at Attachment 2.  Hal's Report at Attachment 3.

Craven County Board of Commissioner Meeting- February 20, 2012
Attended by Lynn Childs and Hal James

Just after the meeting was being called to order, Chairman Allen stated that the Board had prayer before the public meeting was called to order. I suggest that we do the same and announce just before the public meeting is called to order that the citizens had prayer before the public meeting was called to order.

Issues of particular interest to us-
1) The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public hearing was cancelled because the lots proposed to be purchased in James City had been taken off the market by the owner. The county will go back to the original plan of building the owner a house and giving it to her. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that the owner heard of the county's plan to build her a house and decided that was a good idea for her to pursue. The Assistant County Manger for Operations/Facilities stated that the State of North Carolina had indicated the appropriated grant could not be spent to buy lots and let a non-profit organization build a house on it. If that is the direction the county wants to go (and Commissioner Dacey has led the Board in that direction) they would have to request a grant for that purpose and it would be considered. The whole proceeding seemed to be dictated from a State level. When the county staff proposal to sell at lot appraised a year ago at $36,800 for $18,000 I whispered to Don Baumgardner , Planning Director, to ask why not just have it re-appraised (at a cost of $300 or so) he replied that the whole thing was being driven by the State. To me, confirming a heavy hand at State level.


2) The presentation by the Public Health Nursing Director was terrible- She presented a bunch of statistics that were challenged by the Board and the County Manager. Examples:
     a. In order to show that we have a needy county, the Director had supplied a written presentation to the commissioners not available to us mere citizens at the meeting, but is available on line. This presentation included a statement that the rate of unemployment had grown from 4% to 9% a growth of 5% since 2002 (I believe). The point is that rate of growth is more than 100% growth! Commissioner Dacey called her on that one.
     b. Commissioner Mark wanted to know why the income covered by insurance appeared to be about 90% of the total income when the Director had stated that nearly 20% of the patients were "uninsured." I never did understand her answer, but it was obviously a toe tap. The Director stated that she could not answer all these budget questions off the top of her head. In other words, she was confused too.
     c. The Director went on with her presentation and stated that in many illnesses Craven County was more afflicted than it's Peer counties. This statement was challenged by the County Manager who said that none of the "Peer" counties were in eastern North Carolina and he wondered how they were selected.
     d. The director pointed out that Craven County had more than it's share of "teen pregnancies," teens age 19 or under. Commissioner Mark pointed out we have a heavy population of Marine families and that many of them marry young and have children early (since I shop on base, I can assure you that is accurate). Well, it turns out that these perfectly legitimate children are counted in her statistics.

I ask you, could theses statistics possibly be "cooked" to make the need for social services seem great!

3) The Deputy Social Services director did a little better, but not much. She also had quite an extensive presentation but it was available for us mere citizens to watch on power point. She stated most of her case in a charming off the cuff manner. "I want that building." She had extensive renovation plans and cost estimates ($157,000 to be taken from the general fund, plus a $99,000 a year expansion of service cost). I was sitting there wondering why all the services she talked about could not be provided at the Department of Social Services (DSS) building (not that I think the services are a proper function of government) when the County Manger (trying to help her justify the renovation expense) stated that the services are now being provided at the DSS building and by moving those people out room would be provided for more DSS workers there in the DSS building when they wanted their next expansion of service which it is only a matter of time before that happens.

WOW! When will they ever learn that we taxpayers do not have bottomless pockets! Well, Commissioner Dacey asked why this could not be included in the budget process that is now getting started for the coming fiscal year. The final decision by the board was to defer action until it could be included in the budget process. This action was supported by all the commissioners except Commissioner Sampson. Unfortunately, Commissioner Dacey hastened to tell the DSS folks not to be disheartened that this action was not saying no to expanding the DSS.


4) I was mistaken in my earlier report on the agenda about the $250,000 savings in our trash and garbage handling. Commissioner Tyson pointed out in an email to me that that savings was in the Recycling program and not the door to door pickup and handling. Since letting the recycling service out for bids had saved taxpayers a quarter of a million dollars they would do the same thing for the trash pickup and handling. That was certainly a good step although opposed by Commissioners Sampson and McCabe.

5) Well, the Board of Commissioners saved the best for last. It wasn't even on the agenda, but as part of the County Attorney's report, Jimmy Hicks dropped a bombshell. He stated that he had only learned on 14 February that the county had to implement a new "International Building Code" that would affect on home building permits in North Carolina. This is required by an agreement North Carolina entered into in order to get $100,000,000 in "stimulus funds" from the Obama administration. North Carolina agreed to implement the code by 1 March 2012 without ever having seen the code. It is still not available either in hard copy or on line. Mr. Hicks suggested a course of action for the county might be to hold all applications for building permits until copies of the code became available in April or May. Another course he suggested was to get the applicants to sign a "hold harmless" agreement. None of the Commissioners thought this was practical for anyone. Commissioner Tyson (a Realtor and builder) stated that the International Code to be adopted as North Carolina's building code would add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home and might even affect renovations, installation of HVAC systems, appliances and God knows what else (my word, not his). Mr. Hicks also suggested "reaching out" to builders, real estate agents, etc. to make them aware of the problem. Commissioner Allen, who has held an electrical contractors license for many years said they had no option but to accept the state guidance.


Raynor and I have already started work on this problem by discussing it with Representative Sanderson, Lockwood Phillips, of the talk station in Morehead City and Phil Knight, talk show host in New Bern.

Eastern NC Tea Party meeting- February 20, 2012--Agenda 21 Program
Attended by Edella Johnson, Lynn Childs, Kathy New, Matt Schwob, Raynor James, Hal James
Subject- UN Agenda 21/Sustainable development-Speaker. Louis Stannard
Summary and Bio at Attachment 4.

It is apparent that the "International Building Code" is a part of the UN Agenda 21 program being fostered on the USA by the Obama administration. They are trying to steal and redistribute America's wealth around the world. The proponents of this strategy are trying to cluster all Americans into cramped high rise type cities (Sustainable Developments) with no autos allowed, public rail service and plenty of bicycle paths. Our land would be taken out of production by environmentalists and returned to nature. Americans would then be serfs of the government. The federal government would control our food and nearly all aspects of our lives.

One of the organizations promoting this strategy is the International City/County Management Group to which Craven County belongs.

President Bush signed the agreement (not approved by Congress) in 1992 and President Clinton accelerated US compliance with it during his administration. President Obama signed Executive Order #13575 creating the "White House Rural Council." Twenty-five cabinet secretaries serve on it and it is chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Executive Order gives the Council the power to control the production of food, fiber, and energy. This Executive Order ignores Congress and acts as if the President has the power to legislate from the White House.

                                                    

GREEN IS THE NEW RED!

Mr. Stannard says that one of the best ways to combat this strategy is to volunteer for City and County Planning Boards and other boards. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

School Board

In today's Sun Journal there is a story that states, "So far no one has filed for Craven County Board of Elections seats up for districts one, three, five or seven, which are up for grabs this election year." According to the Superintendent's office, one is in Trent Woods, one in the western part of the county, one in James City and one in Havelock.

AGAIN, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

We are continuing to study the School curriculum and other school concerns of citizens, but are not ready to make any report.

Respectfully submitted,
Hal James
Issues and Watchdog Committee Chairman

ATTACHMENT 1



Attachment 2.
The meeting last night was almost standing room only, which that alone is unheard of for a council meeting. Some of the speakers included Hal James of the Craven County Taxpayers Association, former military, former law enforcement, and weapons instructors.



One of the speakers asked the council direct questions and received only blank stares. I don't know if the council honestly did not know the answer, but the look of sheer arrogance on the face of the Mayor spoke volumes. After a few tense moments, Councilman Wolfler sheepishly responded that they did not have the answers.

It was I who asked the question: "what precipitated the need for this ordinance"? Has there been a misuse of firearms on Town property that prompted this ordinance? Councilman Wolfler sheepishly responded that they did not have the answers. (He did not know of any incident that would require the promulgation of this ordinance)

I am asking you to consider sending a short email to the Council and Mayor requesting that our 2nd Amendment rights be upheld and that the rights of permitted citizens to carry concealed on Town property not be infringed upon. We are not criminals and to use the well worn 'excuse' public safety will not stand in River Bend. The term 'CHILD' or 'SAFETY' is the Washington catch word used to regulate us to death.


There is no reason for this ordinance and the existence of this ordinance will make all of us 'less safe'.

Please, when emailing, be respectful and plan on attending the next Town Council meeting on Thursday, March 15th..


Lou

Following are the email addresses for the River Bend, NC, Town Council Members:

Mayor John Kirkland jkirkland@riverbendnc.org
Councilman Bud Van Slyke bvanslyke@riverbendnc.org
Councilman Phil Seymour pseymour@riverbendnc.org
Councilwoman Brenda Garvey bgarvey@riverbendnc.org
Councilwoman Barbara Maurer bmaurer@riverbendnc.org
Councilman Karl Wolfer kwolfer@riverbendnc.org

Attachment 3.


Dear CCTA Members and Friends,

Last evening several of our members attended the River Bend Town Council meeting to hear the consideration of adopting an ordnance prohibiting the possession of a "firearm or other deadly weapon, concealed or otherwise, at any town building and it appurtenant premises, as well as at any town recreational facility."

It should be obvious to anyone remotely familiar with the NC General Statute on the subject recently adopted that he language used is way too far reaching and exceeds the authority granted to localities by the General Statute which restricts the authority to impose this restriction by localities to playgrounds, athletic fields, athletic facilities, and pools.

At the "public hearing" (I put that into quotes, because the mayor allowed only 3 minutes per speaker and disallowed any expression of support or otherwise by the citizens assembled there to exercise their constitutional right of redress of grievances) 5 people spoke against the new ordinance including Lou Call and me. Two of the speakers pointed out that the ordinance was not consistent with State law. Lou and I addressed the fact that it restricts our God given rights acknowledged by our Constitution.

The only person to speak in favor of the ordnance was the Council member who proposed it, Council member Wolfer, who gave a song and dance about how he is in favor of an armed citizenry, but thinks that would be unsafe at athletic events.

Anyway, ostensibly to have time to consult with council about the apparent inconsistency with State law, the Council tabled the decision until a later date.

The petition I made at the public hearing is below:


River Bend Town Council-16 February 2012

Mr. Mayor, Council Members, Thank you for allowing me to speak. I speak on behalf of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association.

I want to say something about the 2nd amendment that I think might surprise you.

The 2nd amendment to our Constitution does not grant us the right to defend our selves and our families.

The wise founders of our Constitution recognized our UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. These are those rights endowed by our Creator as recognized in the Declaration of Independence. "That to secure these rights (not to grant them, my words) governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

To prepare themselves to draft the Constitution the Founders studied Natural Law as one of the foundations of the Constitution. Again recognizing that we have unalienable rights granted by nature and the Creator. They did not even try to enumerate all our inalienable rights, but they did enumerate some of them.


One of these inalienable rights they enumerated is the RIGHT TO LIFE!

The Founders enumerated and restricted the powers of the Federal government in our Constitution. The second amendment recognizes the right of citizens to keep and bear arms to protect their right to life. They said this right, given by our Creator or by nature, whichever you prefer, was not to be "infringed."


I don't know for the life of me, why we have to defer to lawyers and their "precedents" to interpret such a simple phrase. The America Heritage Dictionary (nice name) define "infringe" to mean to break or ignore the terms or obligations of an oath, agreement or law, or the like, or to disregard, violate.

In my opinion, you are here and now considering violating our God given right to defend our selves and our loved ones.

Well, you might say, only a little bit for a good reason. To which I would respond - Who do you think you would be disarming? Why, the law abiding citizens who have been checked by the State of North Carolina and granted a permit to carry concealed weapons. Do you think for a minute that criminals and gang members are going to suddenly become model citizens and obey your ordinance?

You know, no outside country has tried to invade the United States for a long time. It is acknowledged that what kept Japan from doing that in World War II was that the Japanese knew that our standing army of armed citizens would defeat any invading force.

It's time we draw the line in the sand. Too many of our freedoms and even our privacy is being lost. Did you notice, you didn't even have an Invocation for this meeting. The Founders are turning over in their graves!

To quote Benjamin Franklin: "He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither."

I rest my case.
Hal James

Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association

Attachment 4