Jacksonville Mayor Sammy Phillips has been appointed by NC House Speaker Thom Tillis to serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study the Building & Infrastructure Needs of the State. He was recommended for the State group by the NC League of Municipalities.
The 20 member commission is charged by the Legislature to study building and infrastructure needs for the State, counties and municipalities. The commission, formed in the waning days of the legislative session, follows a debate about prequalification practices whereby bidders are evaluated for capacity and past performance before they are allowed to bid and a form of professional management oversight used for some public contracts. A larger debate on building needs of the State, counties and municipalities led to the formation of the Blue Ribbon panel.
The commission is charged to evaluate the building needs of the UNC System and the Community College system, water and sewer infrastructure needs of counties and cities, and local school districts. The evaluation is to include current needs and those anticipated until the year 2025 and to create a process that would prioritize needs within each infrastructure category with an emphasis on public safety and economic development.
The panel is also to review the feasibility of establishing a building and infrastructure fund as a dedicated source of revenue for each of the categories.
Mayor Phillips is pleased with the appointment, and looks forward to representing the State’s municipalities on the panel as well as providing insight on needs for Jacksonville, Onslow County, the Coastal Community College and the Onslow County School system.
“This is a great opportunity for the legislature to see the incredible needs across this State while having a serious discussion about how to fund infrastructure that has been often overlooked during tough times,” said Mayor Phillips.
“While I will share my knowledge of local needs, I’m anxious to learn more about the total list and investigating ways to solve this problem.”
The commission must make its first report to the General Assembly during 2015 and then the final report to the 2016 General Assembly before the commission ceases its work.
Contact: Richard Woodruff – 910 938-5220
Glenn Hargett – 910 358-1001