2. Agenda Overall Process and Plan
Goal Area Discussions and Presentations
Implementation Issues

3. The Process Task When Task 1 - Steering Committee Meeting August 23
Task 2 - Information Gathering
August - September
Task 3 – Initial Planning Group Workshop
September
Task 4 - Goal Area Task Force Workshops
October
Task 5 – Planning Group Follow-Up Workshop
November 14
Task 6: County Commission Update
December 19
Task 7: County Commission Retreat
February 24

4. Steering Committee Jonathan Byers Bill Newell Vaughn Sprinkle
Cecil Stallard
Jane Testerman

5. Planning Group Don Bartell, Retired Executive - IBM & Bank of America
Jonathan Byers, Retired Teacher
James Cartner, Veterinarian Small and Large animals
Donna Corriher, Community Experience Specialist, Lowe's YMCA
Laura Ferguson, Real Estate Agent for Allen Tate
Cyndi Godfrey, Godfrey Lumber Company, Inc
Thurman Houston, Mooresville Town Board
Roger Hyatt, Interim Director of Mitchell Community College, Mooresville Center
Vickie Kidd, Construction Co. and Realty Co. Co-Owner & Developer
Glen Lindemann. Retired CEO Scott Technologies & Resident
Kenny Miller, Ed.D., Director of Plant Operations, Iredell-Statesville Schools
Lisa Miller, Early College Program Principal at Mitchell Community College
Wayne Miller, Retired School Assistant. Superintendent, Real Estate
James T. (Teddy) Millsaps, Retired high school principal and rental property
Thurman Houston, Board Member Town of Mooresville
William F “Bill” Newell, Jr., Consulting Engineer & Local Businessman
Mike Smith, Greater Statesville Development Corp.
Cecil Stallard, Transportation Logistics, Residential Custom Building, Statesville City Council
Jessie Summers, Retired Elementary School Teacher / Church & Community Volunteer
Jane Testerman, Retired Professor Emeritus UNC Charlotte, Former Superintendent MGSD
Destiny Tsumas, Real Estate
Reggie Weisner, Prison Superintendent
Ruth Wells, Retired School Teacher – Museum Board – Various Community Projects
Susan Wolff, Volunteer Coordinator, Lowe's YMCA

6. Vision and Values Vision
Prism of Opportunity Providing a Gateway to All Stages of Life
Values
Good moral base (that reflects mutual respect, equity for all, religion, and “southern hospitality”)
Importance of education (academic, arts, and recreation)
Public safety and health
Support for agriculture
Environmental sensitivity
Encouragement of business and commerce
Cultural enrichment

7. Mission
To be recognized as a leading county that provides exceptional opportunities and enhances the quality of life for all.

8. Goals Areas Land Use/Environment Economic Vitality Transportation
Collaborative Government
Education/Culture/Recreation
Comprehensive Health Care
Public Safety

9. Goal Area Workshop Process
Workshop of diverse groups of Iredell County citizens to address:
Goal
Obstacles
Most Important Current Activities
Critical Success Factors
Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities
Measures of Success
Strategies
Implementation Issues

10. Land Use/ Environment

11. Participants Vaughn Sprinkle, Chair Rex Bell Laura Ferguson
Nancy Keith
Vickie Kidd
Harry Myers
Mark Needham
Frank Templeton
Reggie Weisner
Alan Williams

12. Goal
To balance the land use plans through collaborative efforts between Iredell County and the municipalities.
Comments:
Better managed growth is essential to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Iredell County
Agriculture is very important in Iredell County

13. Land Use/Environment Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Create a coordinating group of leaders from the County and municipalities to provide leadership in land use and to discuss and resolve community-wide issues.
County Commission and Municipalities
2. Research, benchmark and adopt best practices from the top two or three communities that have successfully faced similar growth challenges, with consideration of funding issues.
Newly formed coordinating group
3. Assure that all land use plans tie together and are consistent with the County’s economic development, transportation, education, environmental, and other quality of life goals and protect the County’s agricultural community.
4. Control growth until infrastructure catches up with population and consider buying land in advance of growth.
County and Municipalities
5. Communicate land-use plans and their importance to the public.
6. Conduct bi-annual summit to review overall plans and progress and to suggest corrective action.

14. Economic Vitality

15. Participants Cecil Stallard, Chair Don Bartell Brad Howard
Melanie O’Connell Underwood
Kenny Miller
Wayne Miller
Ray Rabe
C. Michael Smith

16. Goal
To achieve sustained, balanced, and diversified commercial, industrial, and residential growth consistent with a changing economic environment
Comments:
It is essential to grow and maintain balance
It is a risk if residential increases too quickly in comparison to industrial and commercial development
Iredell County should take full advantage of State initiatives

17. Economic Vitality Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Support efforts of and enhance collaboration between economic development corporations and Chambers relating to recruitment, retention, expansion, and agri-business.
EDCs and Chambers
2. Use zoning to influence economic development efforts.
County and municipalities
3. Create public/private partnerships and determine funding to create sites for buildings.
EDCs, County, municipalities, and business groups
4. Support educational efforts to enhance work force development, explore opportunities resulting from potential labor availability created by automotive manufacturer cutbacks, and communicate existing Mitchell C.C. programs.
School Boards, Mitchell C.C., and County
5. Build on NASCAR, motorsports suppliers, and Lowes presence in the County.
6. Identify and pursue opportunities in emerging industries in which Iredell County has a competitive advantage such as alternative energy (and other agricultural related opportunities) and Life Sciences (as Kannapolis project progresses).
7. Create a Task Force to consider and, if appropriate, to champion the establishment or recruitment of a four year college.
County Commission to appoint

18. Transportation

19. Participants Don Bartell, Chair Alan Boyce Chris Dawes Bjorn Hansen
Vickie Kidd
Glen Lindemann
Teddy Millsaps
Wally Riddle
Terry Taylor
Destiny Tsumas
Harry Tsumas
Steve Warren

20. Goal
To provide a transportation infrastructure to support the growth of Iredell County communities in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner
Comment:
This goal must be achieved to positively impact economic development, citizen satisfaction, and overall quality of life the citizens desire

21. Transportation Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Establish a Task Force to explore new sources of funding and revenue such as bonds, special tax districts, grants and others; to identify funding opportunities for alternative transportation (Federal funds or others); and to support transportation issues.
County Commission to appoint the Task Force
Transportation Advisory Board
2. Strengthen lobbying efforts to enhance Iredell's transportation interests at the State, regional and local levels.
County Commission
3. Obtain strategic highway corridor designation for Highway 150 (use NC 73 as a model)
County and Municipalities
4. Ensure transportation plans are integrated with land use plans and are understood down to the lowest level of relevant organizations.
County and
Municipalities
5. Publicize and build public support for transportation issues through community action, media, public education and other public communication.
Task Force

22. Collaborative Government

23. Participants Bill Newell, Chair Anna Bonham Donna Corriher Rick Dowdle
Cheryl Mendenhall

24. Goal
To enhance cooperation among governmental entities to develop and maintain similar ordinances and policies, whenever possible
Comments:
Currently schools, police, fire, libraries are collaborating effectively to control cost and provide enhanced service.
Additional effort is needed in zoning and land-use.

25. Collaborative Government Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Obtain support from key opinion leaders from all parts of the County to get behind the effort to enhance collaboration and communicate historical successes and their impact.
Strategic Planning Group
2. Involve key elected officials and municipal management to quantify benefits, develop priorities, create “buy-in” for the concept and provide direction to the leadership group, building on their current meetings and efforts.
County and municipal leaders
3. Appoint a liaison group that reports to the respective senior management of the County and municipalities to monitor collaboration efforts, resolve problems, evaluate results (especially relating to land use and zoning), mobilize common efforts at State level, and publicize results and benefits of collaboration.

26. Education/Culture/Recreation

27. Participants Jane Testerman, Chair Don Breedlove Jim Calabrese
John Dodson
William Findt
Jane Getsinger
Devry Gibbs
Theresa Golas
Roger Hyatt
Brenda Joyner
Sherry Klepfer
Walter Klepfer
Kenny Miller
Lisa Miller
Ralph Phifer
Jessie Summers
Virginia Wagner
Steve Young

28. Goal
To excel in providing diverse educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all Iredell County residents
Comments:
This is a very high priority for the future of Iredell County
Education, culture, and recreation are important components of the educational environment
Achieving this goal will have a positive impact on all segments of the population, not just young people

29. Education/Culture/Recreation Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Increase funding for education, cultural arts, and parks & recreational facilities and opportunities through tax revenue, supplemented by additional sources such as public/private partnerships, grants, corporate funds, and others.
County Commission
and leaders of agencies and groups
2. Continue collaboration efforts of school districts and Mitchell CC to build on success already achieved with a focus on academics, vocational training, and workforce development.
Leaders of three entities
3. Establish a Task Force to research and benchmark educational, cultural, and recreational activities of other communities to identify an action plan for development and deployment of programs and activities and their funding, and to coordinate inter-agency communication.
Representatives from schools and cultural arts groups
4. Improve communication and promotion of non-school educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities that exist in Iredell County, with a comprehensive calendar and appropriate publicity.
County

30. Comprehensive Public Health

31. Participants Jonathan Byers, Chair Donna Campbell Mary Gantt
Barbara Johnson
Susan Johnson
Wayne Miller
Ray Rabe
David Swann

32. Goal
To enhance accessibility to comprehensive health care for a growing population and promotion of community wellness
Comments:
The private physicians and hospitals in Iredell County are considered excellent and are not specifically addressed by this goal area task force
Growth will continue to strain existing health resources

33. Comprehensive Health Care Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Fund public health commensurate with community growth and seek grants and additional sources of non-tax funds. Use funds to maintain and improve access to needed services.
County Commission
County Health Department
2. Work with the private sector to increase their involvement in prevention education and wellness programs (especially large employers).
Chambers of Commerce
3. Enhance access for growing under-served population including non-English speaking, poor, elderly, etc.
4. Increase County-wide communication of public health issues and disease prevention.
5. Continue and enhance education and training for public health personnel.

34. Public Safety

35. Participants Jonathan Byers, Chair Terry Beck David Cloer
William Conrad
David Hinson
Ronny Thompson
Paul Webster

36. Goal
To provide effective public safety and enhance accessibility to emergency services for a growing population, with good cooperation among governmental entities
Comments:
Must maintain safe lawful environment, despite growth
Cooperation between entities has been good and should be continued and enhanced

37. Public Safety Strategies
Strategy
Key Implementing Organization
1. Assure funding that enables public safety to keep up with growth in terms of trained paid personnel, equipment, facilities, etc.
County Commission
Municipal governing Boards
2. Maintain quality personnel and equipment with quality hiring, appropriate pay, effective training, and well-maintained equipment.
Agencies
3. Assure that growth is “public safety friendly” in terms of water pressure, roads, fire department locations, etc. Require developers to support this effort as part of approval process.
4. Create inter-agency group to address important and emerging public safety issues such as gang violence, teen crime, drugs, disaster recovery, threat of terrorism, inter-agency communications, public communication, and others.

38. Communications Strategy
Iredell County Commission
December Commission Meeting
Discuss at February Retreat
Ask for endorsement
Municipalities
Ask Mayors to present at Town/City Board meetings
Public at large – some ideas
Press release and press meeting
Inserts in utility bills
County and municipal web sites
Chambers of Commerce web sites
Strategic framework insert in local newspapers and distributed in libraries, civic centers and other public locations
Educational piece in schools – program for civics classes
Presentations to community groups

39. Implementation Issues
Keep planning group as a “Standing Committee”
Assign a member of Steering Committee as chairman
Assign Tracy Jackson as coordinator
Periodic implementation review
Plan updates and revisions
Hold implementing organizations accountable
Communicate with and solicit support of implementing organizations (governmental and other)
Acceptance of responsibility
Implementation plans
Review ongoing progress and communicate progress to the public