BY MILES LAYTON
Most Saturday mornings, Chowan County Commissioner Larry McLaughlin talks to folks at Edenton Coffee Shop – bond comes up because that’s what folks are talking about these days.
The county has a $15 million bond referendum that, if passed, is poised to provide money for recreation planning that includes ballfields, a senior center, and perhaps a kayak ramp on Queen Anne’s Creek.
McLaughlin has been following social media – he’s seen a lot of comments and opinions posted near and far about whether the bond is a good idea.
“I’m not going to take issue with anybody’s point of view because it is just that,” he said. “I want to emphasize that this is a referendum, that it’s up to the people to decide. Bond — that’s a route we decided to go.”
McLaughlin said one of the reasons for supporting the bond is that it would provide funds for a centralized sports complex. Any parent can tell you that if you have kids playing different sports, sometimes it can be a hassle to go near and far from field to field.
“That $15 million was what we felt the public could absorb and the county could pay back and all that — We could do something that we could afford is the bottom line,” he said.
“One of the arguments for a centralized rec recreation complex is that would allow parents in particular to bring their kids to one central location instead of running from field to field or the husband goes here, you go there. So that’s a benefit,” he said.
County owns the land where the sports complex would be located at Red Banks, near the American Legion Post 40 by the county’s fairgrounds.
“One of the complaints I heard from someone is that it’s too far out of town — that we need to have this complex that is sort of more walkable, perhaps for a senior center too,” he said. “I talked to Shannon Ray, the park director and I asked her how many people walk to the senior center. She says it’s very small. She said 95% of people drive. Other folks use intra-county transit or walk.”
McLaughlin said other bond opponents have cited conservation easements, which would affect the county’s ability to develop the land.
“It’s not just cut and dry. You could put ball fields out there, but you could perhaps put a senior center on it,” McLaughlin said. “Now there is some higher ground that could be utilized and that is something that we will be looking at.”
McLaughlin continued, “There is some property that’s adjacent to this acreage that we own that we could consider buying. And if the bond were to pass, we would certainly have the means to purchase it, which would then resolve any future expansion for any recreational things that the county would want.”
McLaughlin said the Red Banks site is not the only possible location for a senior center. He said the Town of Edenton has suggested another potential site for a senior citizens center.
“The bottom line is we have money for a senior center in the bond. We could look at different places to put it. It doesn’t have to go out there at that particular site (Red Banks),” he said. “That’s the thing. There are other places in Chowan County where a senior center could go. Several are within the city limits — one is by the old D. F. Walker School. Another one is on another property that adjoins the parcel that the town the county owns.”
McLaughlin continued, “And so with the bond if the bond should pass, we would have money to research and figure out where a senior center could go. As we’ve said before, some people might want it closer to town, well, that’s certainly something that can be looked at.”
McLaughlin said Red Bank’s proximity to highways makes it a great location.
“One of the nice things about the site across the street from the American Legion is that it’s close to the bypass. So if it becomes a sports complex like other counties have, it’s very convenient for people coming from other counties to find it. I mean, it’s practically right there.”
McLaughlin continued, “And so there’s people who argue that this sports complex would be good for attracting young families to the county who have small children with kids going up through grade school and up. People would come to a tournament and they would buy food and other things while they were here. That’s all speculation, but more than likely that’s what would happen.”
McLaughlin contends there are some positives and some negatives to bond.
“Of course, one of the biggest negatives is there’s going to be a tax increase, as it’s been pointed out on social media, the tax increase is only on money that it spent — it’s a line of credit in other words. So if we spend money to get a site plan done and then you do some you have to put in a road and do some site work. Well, those costs could be paid for. And it wouldn’t be done in the first year maybe. Who knows when it would start? But it would be a gradual expenditure of that money. So in that regard, it won’t be a big sock in the wallet right off the bat.”
McLaughlin said then there’s the folks who say you want to spend all this money, but you don’t know what we’re buying. He said the county’s Rec Department needs a 10-year plan identifying the potential for developing the Red Bank’s area. So if the bond were to pass, the county would have the money to get a site-specific plan, engineering for drainage and layout, and all that cost money.
Why can’t a possible sales tax increase fund recreation department improvements?
“No — it’s not a good alternative because a quarter cent increase, I believe, only garners about $400,000. How are you able to pay for a plan that way?” McLaughlin said. “Even if you’re not a property owner and you buy an ice cream cone, you’re paying a sales tax. Alright? So it’s more equitable. But people who spend more money actually pay more in taxes.”
McLaughlin continued, “Also, you know, putting that on the ballot runs the risk of it not passing.”
How did the commissioners determine that $15 million was needed?
People will decide what’s best for Chowan County.
“We put it to the people. And again I’ll say the discussion on social media has been useful for me to listen to what people are saying. It’s also useful for engaging the populace in the government. That’s what they want.”
Casting a vote in support of the bond is a chance for the county to move forward.
“If the people make their voices heard and support the bond, I believe there will be something that will benefit everyone, whether it is a sports complex, a senior center, ball fields too,” McLaughlin said. “These kinds of things will attract families to our community and we will continue to grow, move forward as a county.”
