Kenn Gardner, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, spoke of the County's leadership on business, education and environmental issues as he delivered the "State of the County" address at today's regular Board meeting. For the complete text of the address click here.
The address marked the conclusion of Gardner's one-year tenure as Board chair, as commissioners elect a new chair and vice chair each year at their first December meeting. Gardner reflected on the County's accomplishments of the past year and spoke of the challenges that lie ahead as commissioners continue to chart the future of Wake County.
"It is an exciting time to be in Wake County," Gardner said. "I take pride that we have become a national leader in environmental, education and business initiatives. In fact, Wake County was named the second-best large county in the nation this year."
Gardner spoke of the County's leadership role in implementing a Comprehensive Open Space Plan, which knits together the County's open space plan with those of its 12 municipalities, as well as Watershed and Growth Management Plans. He alluded to the overwhelming voter support of the $26-million open space bond that was on the November 2 ballot.
"With this open space bond, we will continue to acquire stream buffers in our most critical water supply watersheds and will add to the 1,800 acres of land we purchased through partnerships with our towns, nonprofit groups and government agencies with funds from the previous bond," Gardner said.
Wake County continues to be an attractive place for business, Gardner said, citing national publications and the choice of the Canadian government in the past year to establish a consulate in Wake County.
"Canada and North Carolina do $6 billion in trade each year," Gardner said, "and landing this consulate in Wake County has strengthened our position to do business as the pipeline grows. Canada identified our region as the emerging business center along the eastern seaboard. They realized that if they were going to do business in the United States in the future, this is where they needed to be."
Gardner also pointed to international companies Pergo, Network Appliances and Credit Suisse for their decisions to locate here, and extended a "thank you" to existing businesses across the County for the fertile climate of economic growth.
"Eighty-five percent of the new jobs in our community will come from existing businesses," Gardner said.
In reflecting on the educational partnerships that keep the community strong, Gardner commended voters for approving a $40-million bond for Wake Technical Community College and also pointed to the appropriation of an additional $2 million this fall above the $234.4 million budgeted for operating expenses for the Wake County Public School System to deal with unprecedented growth.
Partnerships have also been critical in accomplishing such regional goals as a regional wastewater treatment facility for western Wake County, Gardner said, as well as in the area of public safety, where the County launched an 800-megahertz radio communications and computer-assisted dispatch system in October.
Gardner paused to remember Sheriff's deputy Mark Tucker, who was killed earlier this year; former Public Safety Department Director Jimmie Holland; and former Commissioner and volunteer extraordinaire Larry Zieverink, after whom the County's Alcoholism Treatment Center is named.
Stressing the need for children to get the best possible start in life, Gardner saluted the County's foster parents.
"In my eyes, Wake County foster parents represent the heroes in our county," Gardner said. "On behalf of myself, this board and our community, I would like to say thank you to every foster parent, who has opened his or her home to children in need of a better, safer environment."
Gardner concluded his address by thanking his fellow commissioners for their leadership and by saluting County employees for their service.
"It is my belief that this Board is committed to continue moving our county forward with positive leadership while being fiscally responsible," he said. "We will continue to strengthen our education and public safety systems just as we have these past several years. This Board of Commissioners will continue to work with business and environmental leaders to bring new jobs to our area while protecting our critical environmental resources."