January 26, 2006

 Presentation and Awards:
The Triangle Community Coalition (TCC) held its annual membership meeting January 26, 2006 in Cary, NC.  Approximately 100 members attended the breakfast meeting to hear highlights of the TCC 2005 activities, and to hear from elected leaders from Wake, Durham and Chatham Counties.

 Martin Borden, Chair of the TCC in 2005, presented the annual report to the membership, highlighting the many accomplishments and activities of the organization in 2005.  He also informed the membership about upcoming programs planned for 2006.  Attendees received a copy of the TCC Annual Report:  Thinking Outside the Box, which includes details about the year in review.

 Following the annual report presentation, the membership voted on the new officers for 2006 including:  David Lazzo, Chair, John Myers, Vice Chair, and Sara Robertson, Secretary-Treasurer.  Tom Anhut, with Toll Brothers, Inc., was awarded the 2005 TCC Jim Wahlbrink Grassroots Leader Award.  The award, named in honor of Jim Walhbrink, a founder of the TCC, is given each year to an individual who demonstrates his or her ability to take on the tough issues facing our community. 

County Leaders Presentation:
The Chairs of Wake, Durham and Chatham Counties were guest speakers for the meeting. The Honorable Tony Gurley of Wake County, the Honorable Ellen Reckhow of Durham County, and the Honorable Bunkey Morgan of Chatham County, shared their thoughts on growth issues in their respective counties.

However, the conversation and dialogue between the elected leaders and TCC leaders quickly turned to school construction needs, paying for schools, and impact fees. Chatham County has a legal school impact fee, Durham County has a school impact fee (currently in litigation) and Wake County does not have one. But TCC members pushed the county leaders on finding creative ways to pay for new schools---including the use of public-private partnerships.

The most telling moment in the meeting came when TCC members asked the county leaders the cost of a new high school [in each respective county]. Chatham County will build a new high school for $43 million, Durham spent $35 million for its last high school, and Wake County spends a whopping $71 million for a new high school. Why the big difference? The TCC hopes to find out as it promotes the use of public-private partnerships for new schools. 

Gearing Up For 2006:
The meeting ended with Martin Borden reminding the membership that 2006 will be busy, as the organization begins to implement its new strategic plan.  A copy of the new plan is available on the members’ only section of the TCC website.  For password and user name information, please contact Chris Sinclair at 919-654-5418 or by email at email

* (For pdf files, download free Adobe reader)
Triangle Community Coalition www.TRICC.org