Should the Chapel Hill Town Council be a member of the Chamber of Commerce?
There was an interesting essay in the Chapel Hill News by Steve Hutton which asked the question: "Should government agencies be members of the N.C. Chamber of Commerce or any of the over 160 local...
View ArticleHistoric Large-Scale Zoning of Eno Economic Development District May Happen...
On the heels of summer, while citizens are getting back from other pursuits, the County is poised to solidify an historic rezoning of a community that had the misfortune to be in an Economic...
View ArticleWhy Are High-Level Positions Almost Always Filled With Non-Local People?
It’s standard procedure. When we need to find a new County Manager or Superintendent of Schools or other top-ranking staff member, a consulting firm (usually also non-local) is paid to winnow the field...
View ArticleResponse to the “Draft Mark Marcoplos for House 50” Campaign
I have been very appreciative of the many people who have encouraged me to apply for the vacant House 50 seat. Especially since many are current elected officials, local leaders, and respected friends...
View ArticleLet's Create a County Database of Local Independent Businesses
Orange County commissioner candidate and local business owner Mark Marcoplos is proposing that the Orange County Economic Development Office create, maintain, and promote a database of the county’s...
View ArticleWhat We Should Do About Solid Waste
This recycling issue has been under consideration by the commissioners for a full year now. We are no closer to a clear resolution than we were last April.The lack of clear information conveyed to...
View ArticleLong lag time for BOCC meeting minutes
Last week I wanted to know what happened at a previous Orange County Commissioner meeting. When I went to the county web-site to read the minutes, the most recent minutes available were from almost two...
View Article2016 County Bond Should Include Affordable Housing
Local governments across the state and country are struggling to meet basic needs in this era of tax breaks for the wealthy and austerity for the rest of us.Here in Orange County, we have a variety of...
View ArticleFive Months Late, County Commissioners Invite Comment on 2016 Bond Referendum
In a strange turn of events, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is inviting comments on the 2016 bond referendum five months after they voted hurriedly—after somewhat secretive deliberations by...
View ArticleMark Marcoplos Running for At-Large County Commissioner Seat
I am running for Orange County Commissioner in the Democratic primary for an at-large seat.My decades of experience with county issues, my forty-plus years living in Orange County beginning in 1971...
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