The election for two seats in Holly Springs Town Council is going to be on November 3rd. We thought it would be a good idea to give the candidates an opportunity to express their views on some different topics. The questionnaire was sent to all five candidates with a 48 hr deadline. 4 of the 5 candidates replied. The following are the results from the questionnaire, in no particular order.
Incumbent Cheri Lee
Q. How do you plan to help with traffic in Holly Springs over the next 4 years?
A. Being in a town where everyone wants to live does have its downside. The town has recognized the traffic concerns and has worked diligently seeking grants from the NCDOT to help fund road improvements. Over the last 10 years the town has received over $13, 700,000 in NC DOT grants for these improvements. Traffic improvements such as the Main Street Extension and Avent Ferry Road Widening have already started behind the scenes with physical work starting in the next couple months.
Over the next few years, a town initiative that we are looking at is a transportation bond referendum. This is not like your normal bond. With this bond, the town would pay for the transportation improvements up front and the DOT would reimburse the town over a certain period of time. The council is supportive of this so that we can get a number of transportation projects on a priority funding list in order to be eligible for this reimbursement in the future.
Q. What do you think is the most important factor in handling the growth of Holly Springs?
A. Transportation. . I have learned a lot over the past four years about what goes into road improvements. It is much more than just randomly widening roads. Much is considered when using developer transportation fees. We have been able to leverage these fees and use them in more appropriate places, such as the Lochridge subdivision fees, which will not be used to widen frontage at that development, but will be used to provide a right turn lane at Cass Holt Road. There is a big difference between complaining about traffic and having an understanding of the process. More can be accomplished with my experience.
Q. What do you think has been the top accomplishment in Holly Springs in the past 4 years?
A. Holly Springs has become a place where you really don’t have to leave town for much. With the Holly Springs Towne Center, North Main Athletic Complex and the many other amenities coming to the area, Holly Springs has become a destination location. A recent report from the NCDOT states that 70% of our traffic is coming from outside our town. People are coming here to shop, dine, watch a ballgame and bringing their children to participate in our programs.
Just ask Paula Cole, Juice Newton, John Oats and Pat Boone! They are just a few of the entertainers that have performed to sold out crowds at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.
Lochridge subdivision fees, which will not be used to widen frontage at that development, but will be used to provide a right turn lane at Cass Holt Road. There is a big difference between complaining about traffic and having an understanding of the process. More can be accomplished with my experience.
Q. Do you think communication needs to improve between government and the citizens, and if so, how will you do that?
A. No matter what we do, we can always improve communication. However, as a town we have regular, redundant, two way communication with residents using personal contacts online and social media. The town uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Next Door and Notify Me to communicate events, alerts and other important information. Citizens can also contact the town using telephone and email. For those who are not familiar with new technology, the town offers meeting video and programming on HSTV11 and also send The Springs newsletter (Hurrahs) with utility bills. The town communications staff has consistently been recognized for excellence in this area. Personally, I am very interactive with our citizens on Facebook, more so than anyone else in this race.
Q. 5) What are your top priorities in office for the next 4 years if you’re elected?
A.One of my priorities is to develop a more effective relationship between developers and citizens in Holly Springs. We have seen how residents views have been ignored by developers but more so, we have seen these views provide positive change for a development. Also, continuing our work on transportation improvements within our town as well as involving the citizens of Holly Springs by educating them on how things come to fruition, through webinars and charrettes, are priorities for me over the next four years.
Incumbent Tim Sack
Q. How do you plan to help with traffic in Holly Springs over the next 4 years?
A. Traffic has always been an issue in Holly Springs as we have grown over the years. Being on the Council, I have been part of the long-range planning and helped set priorities for road improvements to help offset congestion. These plans take years to get approved and funded. I will continue to work with NCDOT to build the Avent Ferry and Main Street extension projects to help with congestion around the schools. I will also pursue the town’s plans for the 540 extension through Holly Springs and make sure the interchange at Holly Springs Road can handle the traffic.
Q. What do you think is the most important factor in handling the growth of Holly Springs?
A. I believe keeping up with the ever changing demographics is most important. Being on the Council, I am aware of the behind the scenes work that goes into keeping track of where things are planned and being built. Communicating that information to the Council and Wake County is vital for use in planning for schools and infrastructure needs such as water, sewer, and road improvements.
Q. What do you think has been the top accomplishment in Holly Springs in the past 4 years?
A. The passage of the Recreation bond which enabled the re-building of Womble Park, acquisition of the Sugg Farm and the building of the North Main facility. The creation of these first class recreation facilities has enabled our citizens to enjoy expanded sporting opportunities and a home town baseball team. The facilities have also attracted sports competitions to use our facilities and spend money in Holly Springs.
Q. Do you think communication needs to improve between government and the citizens, and if so, how will you do that?
A. The Town has been proactive in improving communications with the citizens. The town has established websites and social media applications to make information available and pushed information out to citizens who want to be advised on all manner of subjects affecting the town. The town also sends a news letter with every water bill to inform about issues in town. The town tries to be as transparent as possible. The town has expanded the free Wi-Fi areas around town facilities to allow access to anyone who wants to use it. There is a vast amount of Town information available, but we are always looking for new ways to communicate and will try those that offer new users.
Q. 5) What are your top priorities in office for the next 4 years if you’re elected?
A. If re-elected, I will:
Promote development of downtown to make it a destination.
Promote expansion of our business park to attract new businesses to Holly Springs.
Build more sidewalks and greenways to connect neighborhoods.
Encourage business use of Town’s fiber optics to provide high speed internet to residents and businesses.
Work on a dog park at Sugg Park.
Tom O’Brien
Q. How do you plan to help with traffic in Holly Springs over the next 4 years?
A. The number one issue that continues to come up when I speak with our town residents is traffic congestion. Holly Springs has experienced explosive growth with our population growing 150 percent between the 2000 and 2010 censuses to more than 24,600 and is now estimated at 30,000. While growth is good for a number of reasons, traffic congestion is a direct by-product of growth. I believe our town leaders have a plan to handle our current traffic issues with several key projects underway or in planning stages. What I would like to do is become more proactive and not wait until traffic is a problem before addressing it. Short-term, we continue to move along with the town plans and long-term ensure that we are forward thinking about what our town needs are for traffic and infrastructure.
Q. What do you think is the most important factor in handling the growth of Holly Springs?
A. I don’t think you can isolate one factor as being more important than the other when discussing town growth. There are a number of areas that must be taken into consideration from traffic, infrastructure (i.e. water & sewage), public safety, schools etc… The list can go on and on. Each of these factors must be taking carefully into consideration when planning for growth. You cannot simply say that traffic is the number one issue, because if we did not have enough police to handle the growth then that is a potential for disaster. I firmly believe that a leader must take all factors into consideration or else growth will become a major problem.
Q. What do you think has been the top accomplishment in Holly Springs in the past 4 years?
A. Economic development has to be a top accomplishment over the past 4 years. With the help of the town’s Economic team and the Chamber of Commerce, Holly Springs ranks number one in job growth in Wake County (according to the N.C. Department of Commerce). This economic development allows a consistent focus on business retention and expansion while providing a revenue base for our town. Holly Springs has employed over 3,000 since 2010 which is a 26% increase over the last 5 years.
Q. Do you think communication needs to improve between government and the citizens, and if so, how will you do that?
A. The town has many different resources to communicate to the public such as the town website and town meetings streamed over Time Warner Cable and now Youtube. However, communication is often times one-way with little to no feedback from residents. I believe representatives of town council need to listen more and have the leadership to understand that many people have different points of view. Constructive criticism should be accepted and then all viewpoints taking into consideration before determining the best course of action. To accomplish this, I plan to bring the information to the people of Holly Springs and try my best to address the key issues in person and to give each resident the opportunity to voice their opinion. This is hard work, but I am prepared do what it takes. I plan on visiting different subdivisions and areas so I can hear first-hand what is concerning you and to make certain you have a voice in town council.
Q. 5) What are your top priorities in office for the next 4 years if you’re elected?
A. Managing the growth of our town will be the main priority for me if I am elected. I will bring the necessary leadership to our town to make certain that our infrastructure is solid, our public safety departments are adequately resourced, through to ensuring that our traffic congestion is minimized. Our focus as a town should be growth and my priority will be to manage that growth with a clear vision and the leadership that is necessary to continue making Holly Springs a great place to raise your family and call home.
Teshor Oats
Q. How do you plan to help with traffic in Holly Springs over the next 4 years?
A. Traffic would be priority. I would meet with and listen to recommendations from NCDOT and relay that information to the citizens of Holly Springs. With the information received from NCDOT combined with citizens imput, together we can make the best decisions for the town.
Q. What do you think is the most important factor in handling the growth of Holly Springs?
A. If we are to continue having businesses and residents invest in our town, we must proactively partner with state and county government for timely widening and connectivity of roadways.
Q. What do you think has been the top accomplishment in Holly Springs in the past 4 years?
A. Our Waste Water Plan is one of the top accomplishments The waste water treatment facility is an attractive feature. Holly Springs currently has an agreement with Harnett County to supply adequate water from the Cape Fear River for years to come.
Q. Do you think communication needs to improve between government and the citizens, and if so, how will you do that?
A. TCommunication efforts in the form of social media and updates in the utility bills work well but we have to consider those who don’t have or utilize social media or only open the bill to complete payment. For urgent or emergency communication purposes I would like to see the town go to a prerecorded call system that would immediately alert our citizens of a description of the urgent matter.
Q. 5) What are your top priorities in office for the next 4 years if you’re elected?
A. Improving Infrastructure, Diversity and Transparency as it relates to spending. When elected to the Holly Springs Town Council, I plan to bring a fresh voice to town leadership that will fairly represent the needs of our diverse, growing population. As development increases, I will be a champion for every citizen of Holly Springs.
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We did not hear back from Arthur L. “Pete” Utley, Jr.. The email was sent to the contact email listed on his website.
