2020 State of the County - Vice-Chair Speech
2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
Good evening and welcome to the 2020 State of the County!
I am Patricia Kusek, and I have the great pleasure of serving as
Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners, alongside our Chair
Julia Olson-Boseman and with my fellow Commissioners.
2019 was a year to remember, and tonight we get to reflect on
our successes, the work we accomplished together, and also
look to the future and the important initiatives on our horizon.
The State of the County address is typically given by the New
Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chair. And while our
chair will certainly come up here in a just a few minutes, we
wanted to change the format up a little bit.
The chair and I decided that we would
to continue our focus on collaboration and working together.
Because none of us can do this alone.
We all have to work together, focus on a common purpose, and
do what is right for this county and the people who live and
work here.
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
Working together Commissioners, county staff, volunteers,
citizens, and so many of you in this room allowed us to have an
incredibly successful 2019.
Thank you all for your partnerships.
And I want to say a special thank you to my husband Walter for
continuing to support and encourage me as I serve all of you
each day.
reflecting on all of our successes.
In 2019, we completed several capital projects, including our
new Ogden Fire Station, Pine Valley Library, and Health and
Human Services building. These are important accomplishments
and facilities that will serve our community well for decades to
come.
We revitalized our Minority and Women Business Enterprise
Program to help ensure a higher rate of participation by minority
and women-owned business in all aspects of the county's
contracting and procurement programs. We want to boost
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
entrepreneurs and increase economic diversity in New Hanover
County.
In 2019, the Board of Commissioners also approved the most
originally adopted in 1969. This amendment was the first phase
de update and provided the full
Comprehensive Plan.
Just last week, we also approved the second phase in the
of the
-adopted development codes into one document,
organized so the regulations work together and make it easier
for property owners and other users to find the information they
need.
approve a code amendment that requires the protection of large
live oak trees in the unincorporated county because they are
important for our environment, and enhance our quality of life
and the beauty of our county.
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
Our county parks and gardens certainly aid in our quality of life,
and among numerous beautification and upgrade projects in
our parks we also installed a multi-use trail along Middle
Sound Loop Road for safe biking and walking; and this trail will
be expanded to connect with Ogden Park and along Market
Street to the north. Plans are also underway for designing Battle
Park, which will be a passive public park on Carolina Beach Road.
Airlie Gardens completed their Stormwater Master Plan
Improvements and through these improvements they are
enhancing their watershed and furthering their mission as an
outstanding historical garden that has both cultural and
educational programs for citizens and visitors. Airlie is a true
gem for our region.
Our libraries continued their incredible work of serving all
people, furthering access to books and education opportunities,
and even installed new self-service check-out equipment that
The Cape Fear Museum increased their education opportunities,
brought in new exhibits like Dinosaur Discovery and To the
Moon: Snoopy Soars with Nasa, and created interactive events
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
that showed people the importance of the museum, with a focus
on science and our regions history.
We also celebrated milestone anniversaries at our Arboretum:
20 years of the Ability Garden, 30 years of the Arboretum, and
40 years of the Extension Master Gardener Program. If you
and see the amazing programs and beautiful views they offer.
, and even working to become a low-
waste campus.
On the topic of waste, I can think of no more innovative
ompleted
the installation and startup of a landfill gas collection system,
which helps dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
provides us with the opportunity to convert landfill gas into
renewable energy.
We also successfully managed what was more than 3 million
cubic yards of vegetative debris from Hurricane Florence and
turned it into about 40 acres of mulch at a depth of about 17
feet. The forward-thinking and environmentally-focused
initiatives happening at our landfill are incredibly impressive.
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
Right there off of 421, we also celebrated an important
milestone for economic development with the expansion of
sewer and water. In partnership with CFPUA, the county now
has a corridor primed and ready for more industries, smart
businesses, and diverse, higher-wage jobs to come to our region.
As we grow, public safety demands grow with it. And we are
fortunate in New Hanover County to have some of the most
dedicated public servants who keep us safe each day.
Our 911 telecommunicators are first responders behind the
scenes, making sure the right support and help is dispatched.
They should be commended for the powerful role they play
every day in keeping us safe and secure.
Our New Hanover County Fire Rescue personnel also made a
difference in 2019, responding to 6,652 calls for service, helping
accident victims, fighting fires, protecting lives, and saving
properties. They even served alongside our home delivered
meals volunteers and tested smoke detectors in homes of our
older adults.
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2020 State of the County Speaking Points
Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
also provided superior
public safety to our community. They received Triple Crown
Accreditation from the American Correctional Association,
National Commission of Correctional Health Care and
Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Triple Crown Award.
Congratulations to Sheriff Ed McMahon and his staff on this
important achievement.
This past July, the also assumed operations and
control of the Crime Lab and Blood Alcohol testing program
through a commitment of county funding and an interlocal
agreement with the city. And in only four short months, the
ceived accreditation in blood
alcohol testing from the National Accreditation Board. That is a
testament to the high-
and I believe we have positioned this to be an even better
operation moving forward.
Since 2016, the county has received 29 achievement awards
from the National Association of Counties for our innovative
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Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
programs and initiatives. In 2019, we earned 7 national awards
and I want to share those programs with you today, because I
think it shows how in so many different ways your county is
working for you, and serving you:
The Community Recovery Resource Center, which was
o
created immediately after Hurricane Florence, was
recognized because it provided a place for residents to get
the resources and supplies they needed, in a compassionate
atmosphere focused on the citizen.
Our Customer Online Access Services Tool, which we call
o
COAST, is a land development software system that was
implemented this year with the customer at the center,
making it even easier to do business with the county.
Numerous county departments were involved in this
initiative, and their collaboration has truly made it a success.
A Drug Positive Infant Protocol, spearheaded by Social
o
Services, was recognized because it ensures our staff and
community partners respond to the birth of a drug-positive
infant in a way that proactively helps the child and family.
o
system that effectively filters leachate and ensures the
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Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
county remains a good environmental steward earned high
praise. We are also the only public landfill in the state to use
this forward-thinking system.
We also produced Opioid Public Service Announcements
o
over the last few years that bring awareness to the opioid
epidemic and provide help and hope to those affected by
the crisis, and they have become a resource for so many.
Also recognized was the county-funded Pre-K Expansion
o
Pilot Program that now in its third year adds 3 new Pre-K
classrooms to help at-risk children in our community be
prepared as they enter Kindergarten. The results are
astounding. Kids are better prepared, families are lifted up.
And the county was also awarded for our partnership and
o
funding of the TIDES Program to help treat opioid-addicted
pregnant and post-partum mothers. This program is making
a difference, it is protecting lives, and it is providing hope.
We also received two state-wide awards for excellence in
innovation for the Community Recovery Resource Center that
was created right after Hurricane Florence, and for the
composting program at our landfill that is used by residents and
businesses, and has generated more than 150 cubic yards of
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Vice-Chair Patricia Kusek
finished compost. Another highlight in our work as
environmental stewards!
And the county also received a top international award for
reducing and maintaining lower rates of juvenile recidivism
through the Community Service and Restitution Program. This
program is improving and changing the lives of our youth.
Thank you to all of the departments and staff who work day-in
and day-out to implement these, and many other programs. You
are making a difference for our community.
And thank you also to the hundreds who have volunteered on
county-appointed boards and committees, our Board of
Elections, Planning Board, Soil and Water Conservation District,
and many more we appreciate your service to our community
and your passion for what you do.
Now, please join me in welcoming our Chair, Julia Olson-
Boseman, to continue sharing
address.
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