To the Editor

July 16, 2012

To the Editor

County commissioner, LGC member counters claims in Oates’ letter To the Editor: This letter is in response to the Letter to the Editor from the Town of Princeville Administration. I would like the citizens of Princeville to know the real truth. For the last 12 years I have served as an Edgecombe County Commissioner representing the citizens in Princeville, Speed, Conetoe and parts of Tarboro to the best of my ability. I have attended leadership classes, traveled to conferences and attended town and county meetings across the state in order to learn how to better serve my constituents. I believe I have done what has been asked of me for all of the citizens, not just a select few. The letter from Mayor Oates and Commissioners Andrews and Sherrod indicates that I have assisted other members of the board and residents to cause problems. That is a blatant lie. I have asked the town’s administration to allow me to advocate for them in my capacity as a county commissioner. I was told by the mayor that I could NOT speak before the board because I was not a citizen. SHE refused my help and actually told me to “mind my own business.” When Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed me to the Local Government Commission four years ago, I accepted because I knew it would give me an opportunity to serve the citizens of Edgecombe County on a higher level. The LGC has a job to do to make sure that all municipalities take care of its financial structure so that citizens receive the services they deserve as taxpayers. I have attended Princeville town meetings, under this administration as well as the previous administrations, because of my concern for the people who live there especially the senior citizens. My mother lived in Princeville for many years and enjoyed being a part of that community. I’ve maintained my relationships over there with the seniors in her honor. Let’s get the record straight. I did not get Princeville into debt. I did not set the tax rate or water rates for Princeville. I did not hire an attorney that the town could not afford. I did not allow some citizens to make “installment payments” on water/sewer bills until the bills got out of hand. I did not transfer funds from one fund to another without proper financial guidance. I did not fire the town manager. I did not hire an interim town manager with no experience. I did not maintain a finance officer who could not be bonded. I did not fire the police chief. I did not pay the town’s water bills and trash bills late. I did not deny the LGC access to records. I did not misplace files which were needed to complete an audit. I did not hire and continue to pay a grant writer who has not completed a grant over the last THREE years. I did not have the senior citizens water delivery stopped. I had absolutely nothing to do with the election of Princeville’s administration. What I have done is offer my assistance, attend meetings, and be a sounding board for citizens. I attend the meetings because Princeville is a major part of my district. I have also attended meetings in Tarboro, Speed, Conetoe and have never been asked to leave the meeting or not allowed to speak if I had something of interest to share with the citizens of those towns. Therefore, how is it a conflict of interest for me to do what I was elected to do 12 years ago by the citizens in District 2? I don’t just represent the citizens of Edgecombe County on the second Monday night of each month. I represent all of the citizens in the county 365 days a year. I am not against anyone but I am in favor of all citizens who live in Edgecombe County getting the services they deserve as taxpayers. Therefore, I seconded the motion to issue the warning to the Town of Princeville after looking over all of the documents presented to the board. This is why I was appointed to serve on the LGC. I voted in favor of the LGC sending experienced staff into the town to look at the town’s finances and to help them get back on track since the town’s administration doesn’t seem to have the experience or staff to do it on its own. All I want for the Town of Princeville is for it to survive and continue to thrive. I want the town to be seen in a positive light, not a negative one. I have relatives and friends who live in Princeville. I proudly represent Princeville and all of the citizens who live in District 2 on the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners. I will fight for all of them. I don’t have a personal vendetta against any of the commissioners on Princeville’s board or its administration. If you want to blame me for anything, please let it be for being concerned and interested in what happens to the citizens of Princeville. Viola S. Harris Egecombe Co. Commissioner District 2 Committee Member, Local Government Commission

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER SUBMITTED The Daily Southerner Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:35 PM EDT

TARBORO — County commissioner, LGC member

counters claims in Oates’ letter

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to the Letter to the Editor from the Town of Princeville Administration. I would like the citizens of Princeville to know the real truth.

For the last 12 years I have served as an Edgecombe County Commissioner representing the citizens in Princeville, Speed, Conetoe and parts of Tarboro to the best of my ability. I have attended leadership classes, traveled to conferences and attended town and county meetings across the state in order to learn how to better serve my constituents. I believe I have done what has been asked of me for all of the citizens, not just a select few.

The letter from Mayor Oates and Commissioners Andrews and Sherrod indicates that I have assisted other members of the board and residents to cause problems. That is a blatant lie. I have asked the town’s administration to allow me to advocate for them in my capacity as a county commissioner. I was told by the mayor that I could NOT speak before the board because I was not a citizen. SHE refused my help and actually told me to “mind my own business.”

When Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed me to the Local Government Commission four years ago, I accepted because I knew it would give me an opportunity to serve the citizens of Edgecombe County on a higher level. The LGC has a job to do to make sure that all municipalities take care of its financial structure so that citizens receive the services they deserve as taxpayers.

I have attended Princeville town meetings, under this administration as well as the previous administrations, because of my concern for the people who live there especially the senior citizens. My mother lived in Princeville for many years and enjoyed being a part of that community. I’ve maintained my relationships over there with the seniors in her honor.

Let’s get the record straight.

I did not get Princeville into debt. I did not set the tax rate or water rates for Princeville. I did not hire an attorney that the town could not afford. I did not allow some citizens to make “installment payments” on water/sewer bills until the bills got out of hand. I did not transfer funds from one fund to another without proper financial guidance. I did not fire the town manager. I did not hire an interim town manager with no experience. I did not maintain a finance officer who could not be bonded. I did not fire the police chief. I did not pay the town’s water bills and trash bills late. I did not deny the LGC access to records. I did not misplace files which were needed to complete an audit. I did not hire and continue to pay a grant writer who has not completed a grant over the last THREE years. I did not have the senior citizens water delivery stopped. I had absolutely nothing to do with the election of Princeville’s administration.

What I have done is offer my assistance, attend meetings, and be a sounding board for citizens. I attend the meetings because Princeville is a major part of my district. I have also attended meetings in Tarboro, Speed, Conetoe and have never been asked to leave the meeting or not allowed to speak if I had something of interest to share with the citizens of those towns. Therefore, how is it a conflict of interest for me to do what I was elected to do 12 years ago by the citizens in District 2? I don’t just represent the citizens of Edgecombe County on the second Monday night of each month. I represent all of the citizens in the county 365 days a year.

I am not against anyone but I am in favor of all citizens who live in Edgecombe County getting the services they deserve as taxpayers. Therefore, I seconded the motion to issue the warning to the Town of Princeville after looking over all of the documents presented to the board. This is why I was appointed to serve on the LGC. I voted in favor of the LGC sending experienced staff into the town to look at the town’s finances and to help them get back on track since the town’s administration doesn’t seem to have the experience or staff to do it on its own. All I want for the Town of Princeville is for it to survive and continue to thrive. I want the town to be seen in a positive light, not a negative one. I have relatives and friends who live in Princeville. I proudly represent Princeville and all of the citizens who live in District 2 on the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners. I will fight for all of them. I don’t have a personal vendetta against any of the commissioners on Princeville’s board or its administration. If you want to blame me for anything, please let it be for being concerned and interested in what happens to the citizens of Princeville.

Viola S. Harris

Egecombe Co. Commissioner

District 2

Committee Member,

Local Government Commission

Text Only

Letters to the Editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor;
What are you (ECC) thinking?
ECC teaching how to drink wine? Which is alcohol. ECC Foundation selling alcoholic drinks. Children will be there looking and learning. They are good music bands for a good cause, leave the alcohol out and all of its side effects.
What are you thinking?
Wonder how long before it will be taught in Public Schools. Would it not be better for everyone to teach abstinence?
What about it Mother's Against Drunk Driving? What do you think?
What are we thinking?
Carlton Adkins
Tarboro

June 5, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
TO THE EDITOR:
Thank you for your article in the Wednesday paper announcing the "Pops On The Common" on June 6. We now have Vidant Edgecombe Hospital as a major sponsor as well as KanBan Logistics. Vidant will have free health screenings available and Thorne Drugs will have free ice water. Bring your lawn chair and picnic and enjoy this under-the-stars concert.
Ronnie Ellis
V.P. - Edgecombe County Board of Directors for NC Symphony

May 20, 2013
"Princeville Cemetery Cleanup Volunteer Meeting Scheduled for Saturday"
To the Editor:
This is just a reminder to those interested and concerned with our previous announcement that we are on schedule for Saturday for our Princeville Cemetery Cleanup Volunteer Meeting.

May 15, 2013
Relay co-chairs thank residents of Edgecombe County
To the Editor:
As co-chairs of this year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life committee, we would like to thank residents of Edgecombe County for their generosity and support. Thirty-eight teams participated in this year’s event and raised more than $132,000 to help the Society’s fight for every birthday, threatened by every cancer, here and throughout the world.

May 13, 2013
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
If the flags in Tarboro are not flying at half-staff, then they should be as a true patriot, hero, and Christian has died.

March 4, 2013
To The Editor:
Your coverage on the gun control debate was fair and accurate and I have fought against gun control my whole life. The sad thing is this time the American public is haunted by the ghosts of 20 innocent children and the claims by the proponents for assault weapons is making all gun owners look callous and uncaring.

February 18, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
America works when Americans work.

February 11, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
Wrong, wrong, wrong this was just malicious.

February 11, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
One of the things I love most about returning home to my beloved Tarboro is escaping the grueling crush of northern Virginia and nasty Washington politics.

February 11, 2013
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
What has Clark Jenkins done? He has served his town, his county, and his state for five consecutive terms in the North Carolina Senate. He has led a life of service to his business, his church, and his family. He has been a friend and a partner with me and my family for over 50 years.

February 6, 2013
More Letters to the Editor Headlines

Letters to the Editor

Search Results

To the Editor

Site Map