July 18. Mayor Woody Washam has announced the creation of a Mayor’s Task Force on Transportation Funding and Implementation.
The purpose of this task will be to investigate how to more quickly move critical town road projects forward within the town. This Task Force is a follow-up to the already established Transportation Advisory Board which focuses on projects needed, not how to pay for them.
Washam
Washam, who said the other North Mecklenburg Mayors have agreed to support this effort on a regional level, said it was imperative to find new ways to invest in improvements that will make an immediate difference. The new task force is expected “to think outside of the box” to get impactful projects done while keeping the town fiscally sound.
Task Force members:
Jim Engel – former CEO of Aquesta Bank, who will serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force
Robbie Carney – Former Executive Director of Mooresville EDC and Cabarrus EDC, IT Exec
Keith Eicher – Former Chairman of Cornelius Planning Board
Matt Gallagher – Executive, Blue Heel Developers
Carroll Gray – Former CEO of Charlotte Chamber
Mike Griffin – Griffin Brothers Companies
Joe Hannah – Kimsley Horne (Transportation Engineer)
Dr. Mike Miltich – retired physician and former Chairman of CRTPO
Richard Pappas – Financial Executive with FNB
Lou Raymond – Transportation Engineer and Chairman of Cornelius Transportation Advisory Board
Greg Wessling – Executive with LKN Company, former Lowes Executive, Board Chair of Cain Center for the Arts
Commissioner Denis Bilodeau
Commissioner Colin Furcht
We would like to think that this Task Force will actually seek and consider requests by citizens before they rubber stamp projects in furtherance of development. Some on this list are advocates of the “business campus” land use along Bailey Road East. This will increase traffic from NC115 to Mayes Road. There was little meaningful citizen input on the Growth Management Task Force. The consequences of those recommendations to change rural use to commercial use led us to the disastrous application by an out-of-state developer to build a huge industrial warehouse office complex across the road from Bailey Road Park. Fortunately, that developer withdrew their application recently amidst an outcry from hundreds of citizens. We hope that this “Task Force” will put citizen needs first. Developing transportation “solutions” that basically further commercial development on Bailey Road, like the ill-conceived Zion Avenue Connector, for example, is just a bad idea. We can do far better. FRIENDS OF BAILEY ROAD stands ready to help in this important work.
The recently expanded Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) presented a “ call for action “ and in response we received another committee and set of meetings. While this task force includes an impressive roster … coordinating 14 busy schedules seems destined to bring delays. Out of the box financing ideas will be restricted by government guard rails.
Our town manager and finance director with assistance from the LGC , consultants familiar with available municipal options could quickly bring these options to a panel of our town’s best financial experts. Rather than add a second transportation committee, let TAB pursue the cost of options and prepare for citizen’s feedback.
The clock is ticking , costs are rising, citizens are looking for action not political delays.
Amen Denis Bilodeau! The date today is July 28, ten days after this article was published and they STILL have not met not do they have a date to meet or schedule of meetings. You start task forces when you cannot make a decision. We do not need more political appointees who are out of touch with what people want and need. We have an excellent staff, finance director and informed Transportation Advisory Board. Lew them do their work without this nonsense.