hpe09192009

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HEALTH CARE: Local providers, patients talk about reform. SUNDAY OFFICIAL VISIT: U.S. Education rep views grant at work. 1B

ASHEBORO – A Randolph County Superior Court judge will view the videotapes surrounding the recent fatal police shooting on Interstate 85 of a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student. V. Bradford Long, a senior resident Superior Court judge, requested Friday that copies of

he may have a decision by the end of next week. “I think a court has to proceed this way,” Hugh Stevens, an attorney representing The High Point Enterprise, said of Long’s decision to view the tapes. “When you have sealed a record of document of this sort, the only way the court can meaningfully decide its status, it seems to me, is to look at it, and make a decision.”

125th year No. 262

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Judge to review police video the dashboard camera videotapes from two Archdale police cars be turned over to him so he can determine if the contents will be released to the public. The request to view the tapes came after Long heard a motion filed by several media outlets, including The High Point Enterprise, to allow the release of the tapes that may have caught an Archdale police officer opening fire on Smith. Long said

September 19, 2009

www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.

BIG BATTLE: Pirates, Tar Heels ready to rumble. 3C

BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

SATURDAY

Randolph County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Gregson urged Long not to release the videotapes, claiming it would taint a potential jury pool and could alter witnesses statements. Gregson also argued the videotapes are not public record because dashboard camera tapes are not defined in the general statutes of North Car-

VIDEO, 2A

New plan shows county debt growth

WHO’S NEWS

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Patricia P. O’Connor has been hired as instructor of mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at High Point University. In her new role, O’Connor is responsible for teaching a variety of mathematics courses.

INSIDE

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BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

GUILFORD COUNTY – County officials will watch debt payments grow the next few years as they pay for school construction, a new jail annex and other projects totaling $1.1 billion. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners took a quick look at a capital improvements plan Thursday that pumps about 76 percent of the money through 2019 to new schools. As plans stand now, the county will sell bonds or borrow money to pay off most of the debt. Last year, voters approved construction projects totaling $457 million for the school district, $79.5 million for Guilford Technical Community College projects and $115 million for a downtown Greensboro jail annex. This year, the county’s debt payments for authorized projects are expected to total $77 million and peak at close to $100 million in two years. “We think we are in good shape,” Michael Halford, county budget director, told commis-

Team spirit High Point Central’s Jonathan White waves his arms to pep up the crowd during Friday night’s football game against rival T. Wingate Andrews. The Bison defeated the Red Raiders 19-12. See game highlights on 1C. DON DAVIS JR. | HPE

New recyling containers arrive this week for some BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

HIGH POINT – The city will begin distributing the first batch of new, larger recycling containers to residents next week, but it will be awhile before customers notice any changes in collection services. The new carts will be rolled out first for residents on Thursday garbage, recycling and yard waste pickup routes, with delivery to Wednesday, Tuesday and Monday collection routes to follow until distribution is completed next spring. Once this happens and the city completes its transition to automated collection, recyclable collection will shift to every other week. “We hope it will be a smooth transition. We’ve gotten a lot of comments from people who like the idea of having the larger containers,” said Richard McMillan, assistant director of public services for the city. The new 95-gallon green carts – which can be pushed to the curb like garbage and yard waste containers – will have informational brochures about the recycling program attached. The containers also have information on the lids about what is and isn’t recylable. The change, which was approved by the City Council in the 2009-10 budget, is estimated to save the city $500,000 annually. Customers are being assessed a temporary $1 monthly fee to help pay for the new containers and other equipment. In addition, officials said that automation, which is being phased in for all types of collection, saves time and money because it requires fewer employees. According to the city, the change will bring other benefits, with the larger carts encouraging more recycling, which would lead to an increase in recycling revenues. City officials said the new carts should provide ample storage for bi-weekly pick-

SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE

Linda Wood, office support for Public Services, Environmental Division, pushes one of the new recycle containers. ups. Customers will be able to keep the current 18-gallon bins or place them in the new carts for recycling. McMillan said the information included with the new carts will aim to educate residents about keeping items such as scrap metal, needles and plastic bags from grocery stores out of the recycling stream while also advising them about what can be recycled. “If residents will really look at their garbage, about half of what they throw away is recyclable,” he said. pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531

NEW BANK: Loan office to open on Eastchester Drive. 2A OBITUARIES

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Mildred Duncan, 75 Lloyd Easter, 86 Chase Miller, 3 Antonia Navarro, 82 Max Nixon, 71 T. Pemberton, 47 Maston Stone, 83 Nora West, 68 Alpha Wilson, 81 Obituaries, 2B

‘We have a decrease in the tax base. We can’t afford to have all our capital funded by debt.’ Brenda Jones-Fox County manager sioners attending a workshop. “We won’t exceed all guidelines for debt payments through 2017, but it will be a while before we have more debt capacity.” The county will exceed the recommended 15 percent guideline for general obligation debt in fiscal years 2011-16 as it grows to 18 percent of the operating budget. The current budget is $586 million. But debt will remain below the recommended $3,000 per capita maximum and the suggested 3 percent debt as a percentage of assessed property valuation ceiling. Those two indicators will peak next year, according to projections, at about $2,300 debt per resident and 2.4 percent of assessed property valuation. Bond rating companies and state regulators look at those guidelines. Recession also will have an impact, said County Manager Brenda Jones-Fox. “We have a decrease in the tax base,” she said. “We can’t afford to have all our capital funded by debt.” The county’s $45.4 billion property tax base grew at just 1.9 percent last year. Commissioners have allotted just $2 million to $5 million annually for capital needs. County finance officers suggest about $16 million a year, or up to 3 cents on the property tax rate. “We have been deficient in putting in cash,” Jones-Fox said. “But we do not suggest the 3 cents as part of the tax rate.” Halford said commissioners gradually could increase capital cash contributions as county leaders work through future construction plans.

WEATHER

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Rain likely High 78, Low 62 8C

INDEX ABBY 3B BUSINESS 6-7C CLASSIFIED 1-6D COMICS 5B CROSSWORD 4B DONOHUE 5B FAITH 6-7A FUN & GAMES 4B LOCAL 2-3A, 1B LOTTERY 2A MOVIES 8A NATION 8A OBITUARIES 2B OPINION 4A SPORTS 1-5C STATE 2-3A, 2B STOCKS 7C TV 6B WEATHER 8C WORLD 5A

dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626

COUNTY DEBT

Payments: Guilford County has $626 million in authorized debt. Future projects could add $431 million. Ratings: Earlier this year, the Fitch bondrating service gave Guilford County bonds a “AA+”. The top grade is “AAA”. Fitch is one of three leading public debt rating services.

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