Blue Ribbon Commission Established to Examine County's Long-Term Building Needs, Propose Funding Strategies

12/6/2005

A blue ribbon task force of business and civic leaders will spend the next six months examining Wake County’s long-term needs for facilities such as schools, libraries and jails, and for transportation, water, sewer and other infrastructure, and will propose solutions for funding these needs, the Wake County Board of Commissioners announced Monday.

The Commissioners, in partnership with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake County Mayors Association, appointed the task force Monday and named business executives Fred Day and Frank B. Holding Jr. as co-chairs. The task force will examine planned physical infrastructure projects around Wake County for the next 20-30 years, and propose future funding strategies.

Outgoing Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Joe Bryan and newly elected Chairman Tony Gurley commended Day, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas, and Holding, president of First Citizens Bank, for assuming this critical leadership role.

“Wake County has been very successful and continues to attract new businesses and residents because we’ve always planned well for our future needs and made this a great place to live,” Gurley said. “Continued investment in our infrastructure is essential to maintaining a world-class quality of life in Wake County, and we are seeking advice from our community leaders about the best way to accomplish this. We appreciate the time and effort that the co-chairs and the entire task force have agreed to commit to this important and unique initiative.”

Day, the immediate past chairman of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, said the economic health of Wake County should be a major consideration in the County’s long-range planning.

“The business community has much at stake in ensuring Wake County’s continued success, so it makes sense that we would step up to being a part of this planning process,” Day said. “We are fortunate to have such engaged and interested business leaders in this community who are willing to give their time and expertise to this effort.”

Holding agreed with Day’s assessment, and noted that the task force also will seek input through a community forum, giving citizens a voice in the process, as well.

“Every citizen in this county is making an investment in the quality of life we experience today, and the environment we’re creating for our future generations,” Holding said. “We understand that citizens value this investment, and we are looking forward to developing a true countywide – and community-wide – plan to responsibly meet the demands of future growth.”

The Board of Commissioners on Monday approved the task force’s mission and charge, which includes:

Compiling an inventory of current infrastructure plans and projected costs for public and technical schools, transportation, water and sewer, libraries, parks, open space, jails and public buildings.
Determining funding needs and gaps.
Preparing a draft report of recommended solutions to meet those gaps (this will include exploring funding strategies used or available to meet growth requirements in other fast-growing regions).
Conducting a community forum to share the draft report and receive feedback.
Preparing a final report to be delivered to the Board of Commissioners by May 30, 2006.

The Board of Commissioners appointed the following to the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Wake County, with the understanding that others have been asked to serve and are expected to join the Task Force’s efforts:

Fred Day, Co-Chairman

Frank Holding Jr., Co-Chairman

Ann-Cabell Baum Anderson

Thomas Anhut

Sepideh Asefnia

Thomas Bradshaw

Frank Daniels Jr.

Ron Doggett

Linda Folger

James Goodmon

Rick Guirlinger

Jim Herbst

John Hood

Sig Hutchinson

Tara Lightner

Robert Luddy

Assad Meymandi

Tim Minton

Amos Mitchell

Lou Mitchell

Charles Neely Jr.

Clarence Newsome

James Oblinger

John Odom

Sheila Hale Ogle

Bill Owens

Thomas Oxholm

Ed Paradise

Virginia Parker

Doyle Parrish

Al Ragland

Mary Nash Rusher

David Strong

Dianne Boardley Suber

Keith Sutton

Brad Thompson

Mike Walden

Dale Whitworth

Carter Worthy

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