Carrboro candidates grapple local issues

Carrboro mayoral and Board of Aldermen candidates answered questions about cross-town partnerships, town safety and economic development at a candidate forum Thursday night.

The forum was hosted by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, Empowerment Inc., The Daily Tar Heel and WCHL 1360.

Four candidates are running for three spots on the Board of Aldermen, and three candidates are campaigning for mayor.

Waste transfer station

Many candidates expressed disappointment with what is now a three-year process to find a location for a waste transfer site to transport garbage outside Orange County after the landfill reaches capacity, which is expected in 2012.

Local government officials have considered putting the transfer station near the current landfill at Eubanks Road by Rogers Road, which the historically black and poor surrounding neighborhood has protested.

“One of my concerns is that there doesn’t seem to be serious consideration of creating a landfill elsewhere in the community,” incumbent Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell said. “Transporting waste is irresponsible and an open-ended cost that will increase over time.”

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton said he opposes the Rogers Road solution as well.

“I don’t believe that a transfer station is as bad of a land use as it’s been made out by some folks, but it does carry a very negative stigma with it. … I don’t think it would be fair to do that again to the Rogers Road area.”

Town’s youth engagement

Most candidates said they would be willing to create a task force to study providing space for the town’s youth, while others said they would support simply adding on to resources that other schools and community organizations offer.

Alderman candidate Sharon Cook, who also ran in 2007, said she thinks there are opportunities to work with schools and places of worship to build opportunities for the community’s youth.

“I’d like to see us plug into what we already have rather than come up with a new program,” she said.

Economic development

In a Chamber of Commerce survey, all of the candidates indicated that economic development was a top priority.

First-time Alderman candidate Sammy Slade and Cook agreed that the town was missing an opportunity by looking at Eubanks Road as just an area that manages trash.

“We need more commercial areas up there,” Slade said. “We need to create a more commercial base to diversify our tax base.”

Five-term Alderman Jacquelyn Gist said there were many good ideas presented and that there is a property on Homestead Road that would make for an ideal location to build a small community grocery store.

First-time alderman candidate Tim Peck said he would be interested in seeing more people who live in Carrboro work in Carrboro, though Gist said she doesn’t believe the town will ever reach a point when this will happen.

“I think our role is to provide a supportive environment,” she said “We can work regionally with neighbors in Chapel Hill and Burlington and surrounding areas to make sure transportation is accessible for people to get to their jobs.”

Mayoral candidate Amanda Ashley emphasized the importance of nurturing the town’s citizens.

“To keep dollars in the community, we have to make people happy with their interaction and support of small business,” she said.

Town partnerships

When asked where candidates would like to see increased cooperation and partnership between Carrboro and surrounding communities, many voiced ideas about improvements in transportation.

“Transportation with a big T,” said Haven-O’Donnell, who discussed implementing light rails as a way to regionalize transportation.

Mayoral candidate Brian Voyce said he would bring the focus closer and look at municipal cost-sharing opportunities.

“I don’t think we need two separate libraries,” he said, and went on to question the need for a public works facility on Eubanks Road when Chapel Hill already has an expensive facility close by.

After Voyce discussed ways to implement municipal cost sharing, Peck emphasized how Carrboro has to maintain its own individuality.

“Carrboro has its own flavor. … I think it’s important to keep Carrboro Carrboro,” he said.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.