Steve Mensing, Editor with Rowan County Commissioner Craig Pierce
♦ The primaries are taking place and our Rowan County citizens are already coming out to vote. There appears to be quite a lot of popular support for incumbent county commissioners Craig Pierce and Mike Caskey who have served admirably in office. The Rowan Free Press supports both of these men. This morning we’re going to interview Commissioner Craig Pierce who acquired quite a productive resume during his first two terms in office.
Steve Mensing: Craig, always glad to talk with you and find out what’s going on in Rowan County. Today the focus is on you. What are your motivations for returning to the Rowan County Commission for a third term?
Craig Pierce: Thank you Steve for this opportunity. I worked hard these past years moving Rowan County into a solid path of change and economic prosperity. I implemented many positive programs and dealt with a lot of stagnant issues that other commissions ignored. I still have some plans I want to implement, such as a county water and sewer system for the I-85 corridor and the Southern end of Rowan County. I want to be in office to make sure these programs are a success.
Steve Mensing: Indeed you have implemented and engineered many tangible improvements in Rowan County. Implementing county water and sewer for the I-85 corridor and the Southern End of the county would be a real win for future economic development. Switching horses here, what are Rowan County Challenges?
Craig Pierce: Our school system is failing our children. The answer is not more money, rather a better use of funds they already have would be in order. Our classroom teachers are doing the best they can with the direction the administration has forced them to go. A change at the top is in order for our system to change and become effective for our children.
We need to address our building needs for our County offices and tackle the needs for the Sherriff’s Office. We purchased the West End Plaza to address those needs and the upfit of that space needs to be accelerated. We currently are placing the Veterans Service Offices and the long overdue Board of Elections in the places originally planned at West End. The Department of Social Services and the Health Departments should be relocated as soon as possible, freeing up space in the current location for the Sheriff and Probation.
Steve Mensing: You’ve had some major accomplishments during your two terms in office. Would you care to shine some light on those?
Craig Pierce: It’s hard to talk about just one item. There’s been a rebirth at animal control. We got rid of the gas chamber, changed our policy on spay and neuter, and made it better for the animals that come into the shelter. Fortunately we were able to work with a benefactor to build an addition on the shelter that was over 1.1 million dollar donation.
In regards to the Rowan County airport, huge advances were made since we built our first jet capable hangar. We are in the final stages of getting our runway extension and having it resurfaced and grooved to make it safer.
For good or bad, the central office is finally done and off the radar for all those people who insisted that it be built. Let’s hope it was worth it to all the citizens and not just the few in Downtown.
We are currently addressing the pay study for our employees. This will end the discussion of whether our employees are being fairly compensated and hopefully improve morale and retention.
Steve Mensing: What economic improvements have you witnessed and help actualize while in office?
Craig Pierce: The sale of the property located in the old Summit Corporate Park was a shot in the arm to not only our property tax base, but also our sales tax revenues. That move required changing the zoning to allow retail instead of commercial development on that property. (Shoppes at the Summit) The sale of the property also added to our fund balance. The sale of the property across from the fair grounds to James River Equipment was also a very good move for the County. Gildan Industries locating in Rowan meant 132 million dollar investment and the hiring of 400 people from the local labor force. That was accomplished by a local incentive agreement and the fact they could get water and sewer.
I think the future is very bright for Rowan County especially for the County’s southern end with new interchange at Beatties Ford Road and the widening of I-85 in that area.
I would like to say that I work hard for my citizens and take this commitment very seriously. I have enjoyed working for our citizens and hope they will put me back in office to serve them for another four years.
Steve Mensing: I appreciate you responding to our interview.
Craig Pierce: I appreciate the invite and the fact you always print what I actually said.
