Prism of Opportunity Providing a Gateway to All Stages of Life County Commission Presentation December 19, 2006 Iredell 2025.

Prism of Opportunity Providing a Gateway to All Stages of Life

County Commission Presentation

December 19, 2006

Iredell 2025

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Agenda

Overall Process and Plan Goal Area Discussions and

Presentations Implementation Issues

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The Process

Task When

Task 1 - Steering Committee Meeting August 23

Task 2 - Information Gathering August - September

Task 3 – Initial Planning Group Workshop September 27 - 28

Task 4 - Goal Area Task Force Workshops October 17 - 26

Task 5 – Planning Group Follow-Up Workshop November 14

Task 6: County Commission Update December 19

Task 7: County Commission Retreat February 24

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Steering Committee

Jonathan Byers Bill Newell Vaughn Sprinkle Cecil Stallard Jane Testerman

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Planning Group

Don Bartell, Retired Executive - IBM & Bank of America

Jonathan Byers, Retired Teacher

James Cartner, Veterinarian Small and Large animals

Donna Corriher, Community Experience Specialist, Lowe's YMCA

Laura Ferguson, Real Estate Agent for Allen Tate

Cyndi Godfrey, Godfrey Lumber Company, Inc

Thurman Houston, Mooresville Town Board

Roger Hyatt, Interim Director of Mitchell Community College, Mooresville Center

Vickie Kidd, Construction Co. and Realty Co. Co-Owner & Developer

Glen Lindemann. Retired CEO Scott Technologies & Resident

Kenny Miller, Ed.D., Director of Plant Operations, Iredell-Statesville Schools

Lisa Miller, Early College Program Principal at Mitchell Community College

Wayne Miller, Retired School Assistant. Superintendent, Real Estate

James T. (Teddy) Millsaps, Retired high school principal and rental property

Thurman Houston, Board Member Town of Mooresville

William F “Bill” Newell, Jr., Consulting Engineer & Local Businessman

Mike Smith, Greater Statesville Development Corp.

Cecil Stallard, Transportation Logistics, Residential Custom Building, Statesville City Council

Jessie Summers, Retired Elementary School Teacher / Church & Community Volunteer

Jane Testerman, Retired Professor Emeritus UNC Charlotte, Former Superintendent MGSD

Destiny Tsumas, Real Estate Reggie Weisner, Prison

Superintendent Ruth Wells, Retired School

Teacher – Museum Board – Various Community Projects

Susan Wolff, Volunteer Coordinator, Lowe's YMCA

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Vision and Values

Vision Prism of Opportunity Providing a Gateway to All

Stages of Life

Values Good moral base (that reflects mutual respect, equity for all, religion, and

“southern hospitality”) Importance of education (academic, arts, and recreation) Public safety and health Support for agriculture Environmental sensitivity Encouragement of business and commerce Cultural enrichment

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Mission

To be recognized as a leading county that

provides exceptional opportunities and enhances

the quality of life for all.

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Goals Areas

Land Use/Environment Economic Vitality Transportation Collaborative Government Education/Culture/Recreation Comprehensive Health Care Public Safety

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Goal Area Workshop Process

Workshop of diverse groups of Iredell County citizens to address: Goal Obstacles Most Important Current Activities Critical Success Factors Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and

Opportunities Measures of Success Strategies Implementation Issues

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Land Use/Environment

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Participants

Vaughn Sprinkle, Chair Rex Bell Laura Ferguson Nancy Keith Vickie Kidd Harry Myers Mark Needham Frank Templeton Reggie Weisner Alan Williams

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Goal

To balance the land use plans through collaborative efforts

between Iredell County and the municipalities.

Comments:

• Better managed growth is essential to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Iredell County

• Agriculture is very important in Iredell County

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Land Use/Environment Strategies

StrategyKey

Implementing Organization

1. Create a coordinating group of leaders from the County and municipalities to provide leadership in land use and to discuss and resolve community-wide issues.

County Commission and Municipalities

2. Research, benchmark and adopt best practices from the top two or three communities that have successfully faced similar growth challenges, with consideration of funding issues.

Newly formed coordinating group

3. Assure that all land use plans tie together and are consistent with the County’s economic development, transportation, education, environmental, and other quality of life goals and protect the County’s agricultural community.

Newly formed coordinating group

4. Control growth until infrastructure catches up with population and consider buying land in advance of growth.

County and Municipalities

5. Communicate land-use plans and their importance to the public.

Newly formed coordinating group

6. Conduct bi-annual summit to review overall plans and progress and to suggest corrective action.

Newly formed coordinating group

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Economic Vitality

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Participants

Cecil Stallard, Chair Don Bartell Brad Howard Melanie O’Connell Underwood Kenny Miller Wayne Miller Ray Rabe C. Michael Smith

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Goal

To achieve sustained, balanced, and diversified commercial,

industrial, and residential growth consistent with a changing

economic environmentComments:

• It is essential to grow and maintain balance

• It is a risk if residential increases too quickly in comparison to industrial and commercial development

• Iredell County should take full advantage of State initiatives

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Economic Vitality Strategies

StrategyKey

Implementing Organization

1. Support efforts of and enhance collaboration between economic development corporations and Chambers relating to recruitment, retention, expansion, and agri-business.

EDCs and Chambers

2. Use zoning to influence economic development efforts. County and municipalities

3. Create public/private partnerships and determine funding to create sites for buildings.

EDCs, County, municipalities, and business groups

4. Support educational efforts to enhance work force development, explore opportunities resulting from potential labor availability created by automotive manufacturer cutbacks, and communicate existing Mitchell C.C. programs.

School Boards, Mitchell C.C., and County

5. Build on NASCAR, motorsports suppliers, and Lowes presence in the County.

EDCs and Chambers

6. Identify and pursue opportunities in emerging industries in which Iredell County has a competitive advantage such as alternative energy (and other agricultural related opportunities) and Life Sciences (as Kannapolis project progresses).

EDCs and Chambers

7. Create a Task Force to consider and, if appropriate, to champion the establishment or recruitment of a four year college.

County Commission to appoint

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Transportation

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Participants

Don Bartell, Chair

Alan Boyce Chris Dawes Bjorn Hansen Vickie Kidd Glen

Lindemann

Teddy Millsaps Wally Riddle Terry Taylor Destiny

Tsumas Harry Tsumas Steve Warren

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Goal

To provide a transportation infrastructure to support the

growth of Iredell County communities in an efficient and

environmentally friendly manner

Comment:

This goal must be achieved to positively impact economic development, citizen satisfaction, and overall quality of life the citizens desire

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Transportation Strategies

StrategyKey Implementing

Organization

1. Establish a Task Force to explore new sources of funding and revenue such as bonds, special tax districts, grants and others; to identify funding opportunities for alternative transportation (Federal funds or others); and to support transportation issues.

County Commission to appoint the Task ForceTransportation Advisory Board

2. Strengthen lobbying efforts to enhance Iredell's transportation interests at the State, regional and local levels.

County Commission

3. Obtain strategic highway corridor designation for Highway 150 (use NC 73 as a model)

County and Municipalities

4. Ensure transportation plans are integrated with land use plans and are understood down to the lowest level of relevant organizations.

County andMunicipalities

5. Publicize and build public support for transportation issues through community action, media, public education and other public communication.

Task Force

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Collaborative Government

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Participants

Bill Newell, Chair Anna Bonham Donna Corriher Rick Dowdle Cheryl Mendenhall

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Goal

To enhance cooperation among governmental entities to develop and maintain similar ordinances and policies, whenever possible

Comments:

• Currently schools, police, fire, libraries are collaborating effectively to control cost and provide enhanced service.

• Additional effort is needed in zoning and land-use.

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Collaborative Government Strategies

StrategyKey

Implementing Organization

1. Obtain support from key opinion leaders from all parts of the County to get behind the effort to enhance collaboration and communicate historical successes and their impact.

Strategic Planning Group

2. Involve key elected officials and municipal management to quantify benefits, develop priorities, create “buy-in” for the concept and provide direction to the leadership group, building on their current meetings and efforts.

County and municipal leaders

3. Appoint a liaison group that reports to the respective senior management of the County and municipalities to monitor collaboration efforts, resolve problems, evaluate results (especially relating to land use and zoning), mobilize common efforts at State level, and publicize results and benefits of collaboration.

County and municipal leaders

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Education/Culture/

Recreation

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Participants

Jane Testerman, Chair Don Breedlove Jim Calabrese John Dodson William Findt Jane Getsinger Devry Gibbs Theresa Golas Roger Hyatt Brenda Joyner

Sherry Klepfer

Walter Klepfer

Kenny Miller

Lisa Miller Ralph Phifer

Jessie Summers

Virginia Wagner

Steve Young

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Goal

To excel in providing diverse educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all Iredell County residents

Comments:

This is a very high priority for the future of Iredell County

Education, culture, and recreation are important components of the educational environment

Achieving this goal will have a positive impact on all segments of the population, not just young people

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Education/Culture/Recreation Strategies

StrategyKey Implementing

Organization

1. Increase funding for education, cultural arts, and parks & recreational facilities and opportunities through tax revenue, supplemented by additional sources such as public/private partnerships, grants, corporate funds, and others.

County Commissionand leaders of agencies and groups

2. Continue collaboration efforts of school districts and Mitchell CC to build on success already achieved with a focus on academics, vocational training, and workforce development.

Leaders of three entities

3. Establish a Task Force to research and benchmark educational, cultural, and recreational activities of other communities to identify an action plan for development and deployment of programs and activities and their funding, and to coordinate inter-agency communication.

Representatives from schools and cultural arts groups

4. Improve communication and promotion of non-school educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities that exist in Iredell County, with a comprehensive calendar and appropriate publicity.

County

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Comprehensive Public Health

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Participants

Jonathan Byers, Chair Donna Campbell Mary Gantt Barbara Johnson Susan Johnson Wayne Miller Ray Rabe David Swann

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Goal

To enhance accessibility to comprehensive health care for a

growing population and promotion of community wellness

Comments:

• The private physicians and hospitals in Iredell County are considered excellent and are not specifically addressed by this goal area task force

• Growth will continue to strain existing health resources

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Comprehensive Health Care Strategies

StrategyKey

Implementing Organization

1. Fund public health commensurate with community growth and seek grants and additional sources of non-tax funds. Use funds to maintain and improve access to needed services.

County CommissionCounty Health Department

2. Work with the private sector to increase their involvement in prevention education and wellness programs (especially large employers).

County Health DepartmentChambers of Commerce

3. Enhance access for growing under-served population including non-English speaking, poor, elderly, etc.

County Health Department

4. Increase County-wide communication of public health issues and disease prevention.

County Health Department

5. Continue and enhance education and training for public health personnel.

County Health Department

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Public Safety

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Participants

Jonathan Byers, Chair Terry Beck David Cloer William Conrad David Hinson Ronny Thompson Paul Webster

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Goal

To provide effective public safety and enhance accessibility to

emergency services for a growing population, with good cooperation

among governmental entitiesComments:

• Must maintain safe lawful environment, despite growth

• Cooperation between entities has been good and should be continued and enhanced

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Public Safety Strategies

StrategyKey

Implementing Organization

1. Assure funding that enables public safety to keep up with growth in terms of trained paid personnel, equipment, facilities, etc.

County CommissionMunicipal governing Boards

2. Maintain quality personnel and equipment with quality hiring, appropriate pay, effective training, and well-maintained equipment.

Agencies

3. Assure that growth is “public safety friendly” in terms of water pressure, roads, fire department locations, etc. Require developers to support this effort as part of approval process.

County CommissionMunicipal governing Boards

4. Create inter-agency group to address important and emerging public safety issues such as gang violence, teen crime, drugs, disaster recovery, threat of terrorism, inter-agency communications, public communication, and others.

Agencies

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Communications Strategy Iredell County Commission

December Commission Meeting Discuss at February Retreat Ask for endorsement

Municipalities Ask Mayors to present at Town/City Board meetings Ask for endorsement

Public at large – some ideas Press release and press meeting Inserts in utility bills County and municipal web sites Chambers of Commerce web sites Strategic framework insert in local newspapers and distributed

in libraries, civic centers and other public locations Educational piece in schools – program for civics classes Presentations to community groups

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Implementation Issues

Keep planning group as a “Standing Committee” Assign a member of Steering Committee as chairman Assign Tracy Jackson as coordinator Periodic implementation review Plan updates and revisions Hold implementing organizations accountable

Communicate with and solicit support of implementing organizations (governmental and other)

Acceptance of responsibility Implementation plans

Review ongoing progress and communicate progress to the public