In this month’s article I would like to cover one topic in detail and touch on two other issues of importance to the town. The two brief issues are highlighted at the end of this column.

First, I’d like to ask you to think about combined services with the other towns and county.  I mentioned before in a previous column the issue of efficiency in providing town services. Being efficient with taxpayer money is always important; however, it becomes a higher priority as costs increase and we try to maintain taxes at or about current levels.

When I was young and the fossils were still wet, my mother traveled all over our small Arkansas town to pay utility bills. Remember when every utility maintained an office in every town? The introduction of technology allowed these companies to consolidate into a smaller number of offices with more specialized workers. In some cases, like the telephone companies, this resulted in a dramatic reduction in the need for operators. In other companies different factors were involved, but all closures were enabled by technology and forced by the need to reduce costs, primarily real estate and personnel costs. I cannot remember the last time I walked into a utility company office and a large number of our population is not old enough to have ever done that. We miss the personal service, but we also realize that we can do without it. If we can order things we need from halfway around the world through the internet and be satisfied with the service, we can get by without paying bills in person.

What does all that have to do with Tryon and providing town services, you ask? Tryon, Saluda, Columbus and Polk County all provide services that duplicate what the others provide. For example, we all issue tax bills and collect them, most issue water bills and collect them. We all have separate police forces, public works organizations, maintain water systems, etc. The towns all collect garbage, maintain sewer systems, plow snow, pick up yard waste . . . and the list goes on.

Many may think that the current way those services are provided is efficient. If, though, we do not remain focused on making them more efficient, then as all costs go up, taxes will increase. We also need to keep in mind that there are fewer than 20,000 citizens in our county. If we were all in one town, that would make us about the 42nd largest town in North Carolina, ranking with Havalock City.

Let me be very clear about one thing! This is not about the individuals doing the jobs. It is, however, about change and, over time, managing the number of employees we have in the towns and county. A consolidation could be implemented with no short-term job reductions, but, as employees retire or otherwise leave town or county employment some would not be replaced.

Success will involve all three towns and the county working together. To successfully implement some consolidations, we will have to invest in the technology necessary to support them.

While I was not here when the school systems consolidated, the Polk County School System is a great example of consolidation while maintaining and improving a great product – an outstanding educational system.

From my view, Tryon needs to begin working with the other two towns and the county to begin a strategic plan that will consolidate services where consolidation is appropriate. Then we must begin implementing the plan. It is either that or raise taxes and/or cut services. This will not be a pleasant exercise if we wait until the towns are no longer able to remain financially viable.

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Good Taste: I am frequently asked: “why doesn’t the town do something about (insert your favorite eyesore here)?” Maintaining architectural or design “good taste” is, frankly, not the town’s role. The town’s role is to set and enforce minimum standards for things such as signs and to do a good a job with the designs the town is responsible for, like town buildings. Once the town minimums are set, it is the responsibility of the building owner or tenant to comply and they may do anything beyond that that they wish.

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Mrs. Whitmire:  Finally, you should know that the town has reached an agreement with Mrs. Whitmire. As most of you remember, Mrs. Whitmire is the resident whose home was affected by sewer line leakages over many years. She will be moving back into her home as soon as the repairs that were agreed to in her home are complete. The sewer line repair was completed late last year. I have apologized to her for the length of time it has taken to resolve the issues related to her property. I appreciate her patience while the town has looked for solutions all these years.

_____________________________________________________________________ Tryon Mayor Jim Wright