Nags Head Blog: Recent Comments

Comment on Obama on immigration part 2

Duke — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:30:19 GMT

Sorry guys, I can't agree with you on this. I know it is a cliché but what part of illegal is hard to understand. We continue to spend money and make accommodations to illegal immigrants. Whether it is push 1 for english, having a Spanish speaking requirement to work for government, giving them food stamps and housing subsidies or paying for their health care. The original excuse was just turn your head because they are doing the jobs Americans won't do. Well why are we educating them to do these jobs? Why are we training and educating when it will be illegal to work here anyway? Will we have to import 12 million new immigrants to replace them after they get educated and quit these jobs? What incentive is there to ever return home? How much of American money is being sent out of this country? Will we give them unemployment or social security benefits? Will Obama send them a tax credit check also? This is too big a topic to put in a blog but I don't want any of my tax money subsidizing illegal immigrants in the complete education system much less the Community Colleges

Comment on Obama on immigration part 2

Ronnie Roach — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:36:14 GMT

Bob,

I agree - Obama is on the right side of this issue. It sure does seem the state is spending a lot of money to decide if they should educate 112 students. Why not let the students improve themselves - it could be a small price to pay for long term success for all parties.

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:09:13 GMT

Bob,
Let Wheeler retire and let Dare County put the job out for hire. Then see how many highly qualified MPA's from all over the state and country will apply.
Do you suppose then, the county commissioners will consider someone with a high school education; even at 1/3 the salary? Other counties aside, I'll wager you there are fewer than a handful, if any, public employees in the entire state government of North Carolina who make as much money as Dare's county manager; not to mention there are dozens of them with (1) more education, (2) qualifications, (3) experience, (4) responsibilities, (5) employees to supervise, and,(6) years of service. Back to county managers. Want to bet that the county managers of Wake, Mecklenburg, Durham, etc. counties don't stand up and salute Wheeler when he passes by? Or else they just ignore him. Go figure.
As to Nags Head's current manager; nothing personal from me there...I understand small-town politics. Hey, look at Southern Shores! :)

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Bob Oakes — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:56:52 GMT

Ray,

How big is Dare County's budget compard to the $250k? Honestly, the $60K from 10 years ago sounds low, the $250k now sounds high, and almost had to include some disproportionate raises. Is the "only has to report to work when he feels like it" in his contract? Or is that your opinion? The managers I have known have made themselves available to the Board and others the vast majority of their time, including weekends and nights.

I think elected Boards fear change as much as anyone, and I suspect that Dare's Board has put off the challenge of finding new management by sweetening the manager's contract to entice him to stay instead of retire. I think they have lined up an assistant manager so he can move into the top spot at some point in the future.

I don't think Dare County politics had anything to do with the hiring of Charlie Cameron to be the Nags Head Town Manager, and I'm in a pretty good position to know. We went through the selection process and hired a new manager to replace Mr. Fuller, and the new manager lasted about a year - various reasons, which I can't discuss. Charlie was the best person to become manager at the time, and he has provided good leadership for the town organization.  I'lll take a good leader over an MPA anyday, because qualifications on paper are only a partial indicator of the ability to lead an organization. In Charlie, we have a known and tested leader - you never know what you'll get in a new hire.

You ask how I can make a judgement on Mary Easley, and not on Dare County's manager? Three points: 1)Ms. Easley's position was created for her a couple (3 or 4 years) ago.  2)She appears to be hiring speakers for NC State, not managing an organization of any size. 3) Her salary increased 80% at one crack.

Mr. Wheeler has worked for Dare for over 10 years( I think longer), and the position was not created for him. Dare County is a large organization, and I would say it's grown over the last ten years - sure seems like there are more county employees now than in 1998. Mr. Wheeler is not married to the Governor.

But there is something you can do about Mr. Wheeler - run for office at the next opportunity!

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Ray — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:27:40 GMT

Bob,
As an after-thought, I have to ask...
"if you haven't had time to research the merits of your own county manager's excessive salary, have you had the time to research the merits of the Governor's wife's salary (to which you speak)?"
You're starting to sound like Muller. :)
You know Muller????...the ex-mayor who tried to soak your town's residents for beach nourishment tax assessment(s) as his 'last act' of holding elected office.

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Ray — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:22:22 GMT

Less than 10 years ago, with no education beyond high school and no subsequent training since taking the job, this county manager was earning approx. $60,000 per year. Today, with no more qualifications/training, and with a only a small increase in number of personnel; and no new departments, that salary/benefits have jumped to 1/4 million dollars per year; the highest in the State of North Carolina; and he only has to report to work when he feels it is necessary. Added to that, he now has an assistant county manager, who makes in excess of $100,000 per year.
You're no dummy, Bob.. you know Dare County politics. Why else would your own town hire an ex-police chief to be a town manager? Qualifications mean little in the "goodliest land under the scope of heaven". Right?

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Bob O — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:49:44 GMT

Correction - Seth Godin did not write The Long Tail - sorry for the bad info.

Ray, On your specific example, I haven't dug for the info to make a reasonable call on the highest paid county manager. Depending on longevity, size of the budget, other challenges, it could be reasonable to have the highest paid manager. I think the smaller county and town managers face a lot of different challenges than the larger counties, but the cost of a mistake is a lot bigger in a bigger budget. Hiring and compensating the manager is one of the few essential Board duties, probably the most important for day to day operations.

Comment on What to do when the system breaks

Ray — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:48:40 GMT

While I agree with your "gripe" about the Governor's wife's raise, I have to wonder why you, as an elected official, haven't spoken out about similar raises given governmental employees here in your own county. Any word there? For example, do you agree that Dare County should have the highest paid county manager in the entire State of North Carolina? Or is that salary justified and based upon a "long career" of salting the political coffers of Dare County.

Comment on Obama on Immigration Blog

Uncle Jack — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:34:03 GMT

As I have said before, you are a good man, Bob O.

Comment on Obama on Immigration Blog

Caroline — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:17:23 GMT

I thought this line was particularly important to keep in mind:
we all understand its importance and understand the value of having a debate that does not use rhetoric to vilify undocumented immigrants, immigrants in general or the Latino community.