George Lucier

Commissioner Lucier Will Run for a 2nd Term

2010-12-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

George Lucier will seek re-election as Chatham County Commissioner from District 3. Lucier, a Democrat, was elected in 2006, and has a long record of public service at the local, state and national levels. He is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners and served as Chair in 2008 and 2009. Lucier also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Central Carolina Community College, the Chatham County Board of Health and the Economic Development Corporation.
While serving on the Board of Commissioners, Lucier has focused on what he calls the four essential areas of success for Chatham County; economic development, education, land use and regional planning, and fiscal responsibility.

Shortly after taking office, Lucier and his colleagues on the Board restructured the Economic Development Corporation and developed a strategic plan in cooperation with Siler City, Pittsboro, Goldston, business leaders, and interested citizens. “We are all working together to implement our economic development plan and to help existing business and we are now in a better position to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, arts, medical and pharmaceutical, ecotourism, alternative energy and wood processing”. “We have also made a significant investment in the Siler City Business Park” Lucier adds, “which includes a new hospital and new job training facilities for county citizens at the Central Carolina Community College”.

Lucier and his fellow commissioners have given strong support to the Chatham County Schools. “Education is an essential partner in the success of Chatham County” Lucier stated. Chatham County currently ranks 5th out of 100 counties in school funding per student. School funding has increased 4% this year while the overall county budget decreased 3%. The Board of Commissioners was awarded the 2009 Commissioners of the Year by North Carolina School Board Association, “in recognition of their outstanding support for the schools, developing a strong working relationship with the Board of Education and the creative funding of education in the face of financial crisis”.

“Land use and regional planning is essential for infrastructure and school planning, economic development and environmental protection”, says Lucier. To this end, the Board has revised many ordinances including zoning, subdivision, watershed, soil erosion and sedimentation control, and stormwater. “These revisions will insure that growth works to the benefit of Chatham county citizens” adds Lucier.

Plus the Board is in the midst of updating the comprehensive land conservation and development plan, which includes farmland protection, parks and recreation, and the strategic plan for economic development. “Agriculture has always been a centerpiece for Chatham County and the farmers have been recognized for their leadership in beef cattle, chickens and organic farming. It is important to work toward finalizing a farmland preservation plan that keeps agriculture at the forefront of economic development.”

The county also is working on plans to build a regional water treatment plant on the western side of Jordan Lake, and developing a joint land use plan with Cary. “Chatham County played a prominent role in the passage of the Jordan Lake nutrient rules by the state legislature. We need to protect Jordan Lake as a drinking water resource and recreational area”.

“The key to managing the affairs of the county is fiscal responsibility.” Lucier points out. “Financial indicators, both short and long term, are very positive, and county government is on a firm financial foundation as evidenced by our ability to obtain funding for the Margaret Pollard Middle School, the Community College facilities in Siler City and Pittsboro, the county library and expansion of Northwood High School”. Lucier noted that the county saved approximately $7 million by beginning construction of these facilities in an economic downturn.

Lucier is proud to be able to fund these projects with a lean county government. “I don’t think people realize that on the average Chatham County has 100 less employees per capita than other counties in the State. Our tax rate is about average, yet we are still able to accomplish quite a bit. It is the engagement and leveraging of our citizens, advisory boards and non profit agencies that make this possible”. These accomplishments, Lucier says, “have been achieved in an open and transparent manner and for the first time, we have a Commissioner Code of Ethics in Chatham County.”

Lucier says that family time with his wife, Jane and their two children is a high personal priority. However, he believes strongly in public service. “The support and appreciation expressed by many county citizens has helped to energize, motivate and encourage me to seek this office again next November. I would like to help complete the many initiatives we have begun that are important to the future of Chatham County”.

My Public Service Experience

2010-12-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

I have had the opportunity to participate on a variety of boards and committees, some of which are listed below. This has provided me with diverse experience in working with both the public and private sectors.

Chatham County:

Chair, Chatham County Planning Board
President, Rocky River Heritage Foundation
Woods Charter School Board of Directors
Coach, Woods Charter Varsity Basketball Team
President, Redbud Landowners Association
Coach of numerous recreational basketball and soccer teams in Chatham County
Science Fair judge in Chatham County and Horton Middle School
Volunteer gym supervisor, Northwood High School

North Carolina:

Chair, Science Advisory Board, NC Dept of the Environment and Natural Resources
NC Steering Committee for Development of Environmentally Superior Technologies for Hog Waste
State committee to prevent fish kills in coastal areas
Board of Trustees, Central Carolina Community College
Board Member, Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board
Member, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Environment Steering Committee

National/International:

Former Associate Director, National Toxicology Program (responsible for coordinating toxicology research and testing across several federal agencies
Technical Advisor, Office of Special Counsel for the Waco (Texas) Investigation
Chair, Clinton White House Committee to establish consistent federal guidelines for mercury exposures
Member, Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Editor, Environmental Health Perspectives for 28 years, the world’s leading environmental health journal
Advisor to the World Health Organization
Advisor to New York and Michigan Public Health Agencies

Local Boards & Committees: Commissioner Lucier currently serves as a member of the following local and regional boards:

Board of Health
Economic Development Corporation Board (ex officio)

In addition, I currently serve as commissioner liaison to the following county advisory boards and committees:

Agricultural Advisory Committee
Chatham County Board of Education
Chatham Partnership for Children Board
Environmental Review Board
Recreation Advisory Board

I am also a member of the following committees involving surrounding jurisdictions:

Orange-Chatham Work Group
Joint Chatham-cary Land Use Plan Subcommittee

Fiscal Responsibility

2010-02-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

Counties, unlike the Federal government, cannot operate with a deficit. We must balance our budget each year. Fiscal responsibility is critical for ensuring that essential and mandated services such as schools, public health, law enforcement and social services, are provided without overburdening taxpayers. Commissioners are responsible for maintaining financial stability and for the expenditure of public funds. We are and should be accountable for our decisions. Chatham County government is lean and our financial indicators are very strong in comparison to other counties. I thank our hard working county employees and the volunteer work of our citizens for their role in keeping Chatham County on a firm financial foundation. Here are some facts regarding our fiscal status:

In the face of the current recession, financial indicators for Chatham County are strong. We are well-prepared to meet both our short and long term financial obligations.
When the recession struck, Chatham County immediately froze hiring for many positions as well as wage increases.
We trimmed the overall county budget by 3% last year by instituting many cost saving measures.
Property tax rates in Chatham County are about average for North Carolina counties, yet we rank 5th highest in school funding out of 100 counties. Our government is more efficient than most.
The number of county employees per capita has decreased in the last two years from 7.07 to 6.95 per 1,000 residents.Chatham County has 20% fewer employees per capita than most counties in North Carolina. The state average is 9 employees per 1000 residents compared to about 7 for Chatham County.
Due to the efficient and effective use of resources, funding for law enforcement, public health and social services is less than the state average. This is mainly due to outstanding leadership and hard working employees in each of these areas, and the extraordinary efforts made by our non profit agencies.
Because of the county's financial stability, we are able to obtain funding (in a very difficult financial market) for the construction of the Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, the Northwood High School expansion, community college buildings in Pittsboro and Siler City, and the county library.
Because these projects were bid during the economic downturn, the county saved nearly $7 million dollars, compared to architect estimates.

Schools

2010-02-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

During my tenure on the Board of Commissioners, we focused on helping to provide the resources our schools need to succeed. I and others on the Board will continue to work with common purpose to strengthen our public school system.

I am are proud of our schools and grateful to the many parents and others who volunteer to help our dedicated teachers and staff. Our children are our future and that future will be a lot brighter with a strong public school system. We need a strong school system to attract businesses with good paying jobs.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners were selected “Commissioners of the Year” in 2009 by the North Carolina School Board Association in recognition of outstanding support for the schools, developing a strong working relationship with the Board of Education and the creative funding of education in the face of a financial crisis.
We increased school funding by 4% in 2009 while we decreased the overall county budget by 3%.
Chatham county ranks 5th out of 100 counties in school funding
In the next four years, I will continue to work with the school system and the citizens of Chatham County to develop a forward looking school construction program.
We have established a land banking program for future school sites.
Many of our schools are old and need repair and renovations. During the last three years we have increased funding for renovations at all 17 schools in the county and we will continue to do so.
We navigated through difficult financial markets to build the Margaret B. Pollard Middle School. This school is scheduled to open in late 2010 and it will alleviate overcrowding at North Chatham School and Perry Harrison.
We completed Virginia Cross Elementary School in Siler City
We secured funding for renovations/expansion of Northwood High School and those renovations have been completed.
We put the new High School back on the Capital Improvement Program.
We seek the opinion of the School Board when considering major new developments in Chatham County so that the impact on our schools can be assessed.
We expanded the Community College system allowing for increased technical and vocational training for Chatham County students.
We are working with the school system to reduce the dropout rate.

Economic Development

2010-02-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

There is a need for both economic and agricultural growth to lessen our reliance on property taxes. The county and towns must work together if we are to be successful in economic development. After all, if the towns thrive, the county will benefit and businesses often need the infrastructure available in the towns. In the past, while there was primary focus on residential development, Chatham County had no economic growth strategy or strategic plan. The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in existence at that time was unresponsive and ineffective.

During my tenure on the Board, we restructured the EDC board, hired a new President, developed a strategic plan in cooperation with Siler City, Pittsboro, Goldston, business leaders and interested citizens, and are now embarking on plan implementation. Other new initiatives include:

The Board of Commissioners has been working hard to obtain funding for a project to provide wastewater capacity for Goldston in partnership with Sandford. If/when successful, the project will have the dual benefit of stimulating economic development in Goldston and providing a healthy alternative for failing septic systems. Our partners include the towns of Goldston and Sanford, plus State and Federal funding agencies.
Emphasis on the importance of small businesses, helping existing businesses, attracting new business and entrepreneurial activity.
Recognition and incubation of business clusters where Chatham County might provide competitive advantage; including agriculture, medical/pharmaceutical, arts, ecotourism, alternative energy industries, food processing and wood processing.
Actively seeking stimulus funds and Chatham County is now being recognized as an excellent location for green business development.
Working with the State and Federal government, as well as service providers, to bring broadband internet to all parts of Chatham County so businesses will have the tools needed to compete.
Approved 58 out of 60 business/commercial rezoning requests.
Strongly supported schools as a key to economic growth. We now have one of the most stable school systems in the state.
Helped strengthen our Community College in Pittsboro and Siler City so that they are better able to provide vocational and technical job training for Chatham residents.
Provided significant investment in the Siler City Business Park, host to a new hospital and new Community College building.
Revised the County’s incentive policy to emphasize good paying jobs and the hiring of Chatham County residents for those jobs.

Land Use and Regional Planning

2010-01-31T03:50:00.000-08:00

When I took office in December 2006, Chatham County was suffering from rampant residential growth and limited or no business growth. This imbalance was stressing our schools and infrastructure capacity, while at the same time stressing our residential tax base. Chatham’s ordinances were outdated and ineffective in managing growth. They were limited in fostering economic development and in protecting our environment. In the last three years the Commissioners have made major changes to those ordinances to encourage economic growth, protect our environment, and retain our rural character. Here are some specifics:

To increase effectiveness, improve communication and lower costs, we merged and integrated several county departments and services under the Sustainable Communities Department. This Department now includes Planning, Permitting, Transportation, Affordable Housing and Green Building initiatives.
The Board amended our subdivision and zoning ordinances to increase public participation earlier in the process, to prevent sprawl, and to encourage commercial / business development.
We amended our watershed and soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinances and created a storm water control ordinance to prevent adverse impacts of new development on our rivers and streams.
To encourage economic growth, preserve open space and restrict unwanted businesses (adult entertainment centers, for example) the major highway corridors in Chatham County have been zoned. This decision permits neighbors to have a say in development that directly impacts their property values and quality of life.
The County is working on a joint land use plan with Cary for the east side of Jordan Lake. This plan will protect Jordan Lake, allow us to take economic advantage of our proximity to Research Triangle Park, and will limit Cary annexation.
To secure Chatham’s long term water needs, we are working with regional partners, the Division of Water Quality and the Army Corps of Engineers to build a water treatment plant on the west side of Jordan Lake. Negotiations are progressing very well. This is incredibly important to the future of Chatham County.
We have obtained approval from the NC Department of the Environment and Natural Resources to begin the process of building a wastewater treatment plant in Chatham County. During the next four years, we will conduct an extensive and public process on priorities for a wastewater treatment plant. I pledge to work with Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston to determine how our allocation should be used to both encourage economic development and protect our environment.
The county has drafted a farmland preservation plan which recognizes the importance of agriculture to Chatham’s future. I will work to implement this plan during the next four years.
We are considering major revisions to our Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Quality of life issues are critical determinants for companies considering Chatham County, and for those planning on expanding in Chatham. I will work to adopt and implement a plan that is both cost effective and attractive to prospective companies.

Environment and Energy Conservation

2010-01-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

In Chatham County, we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. We have three major rivers, the Haw, Rocky and the Deep and the 120 miles of Jordan Lake shoreline are almost entirely surrounded by Chatham County lands. It is important that we protect our natural resources for future generations, for sustaining our quality of life and as an attraction for economic development. Energy conservation is important now and will be even more important in the future as costs of conventional energy sources will continue to escalate. Here are some of my accomplishments in environmental protection and energy conservation and my priorities for the future.

When I took office our ordinances were ineffective in protecting water quality. We have amended our watershed and soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinances and we created a storm water ordinance. We now have the tools to limit clearing to close to our rivers and streams and to require best management practices for land development and site stabilization.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners played a key role in the successful regional negotiations enabling passage of the Jordan Lake nutrient rules by the state legislature These rules will protect Jordan Lake as a drinking water source and recreational area.
We are working with Cary on a joint land use plan East of Jordan Lake. The draft plan includes a protective rural buffer close to Jordan Lake while encouraging economic development in areas farther from the lake.
Based on a recommendation by the Green Building Task Force, we have established a policy which requires new public buildings, including schools, to be built to LEEDS Silver standards. This practice will not only conserve energy but will save the taxpayers money on energy costs. Current buildings under construction are the Margaret Pollard Middle School, the Siler City and Pittsboro Community College Buildings, the Library and the Judicial Building.
All existing public buildings are undergoing an energy audit. This audit will establish priorities for energy saving retrofits. The costs for those retrofits will be paid for entirely by reductions in energy costs.
We are exploring the benefits of constructing a county landfill coupled to an eco-industrial complex. This complex would recruit businesses to use our trash and recyclables to manufacture value added products. This approach has been used in other places to both encourage recycling and promote economic development.