Is there an issue you think deserves more attention than it is currently getting?
Charlie Overcash: Yes, I would like to see Oriental have more green way area. Especially along the waterfront.
Allen Price: Attention to issues is a moving target. From a high level I believe the town is well managed and the attention to issues is well planned out. The town reacts to peoples request the best they can. Unexpected issues are addressed as they arise. The town does a great job trying to keep in front of the aging infrastructure but it is difficult to predict the next issue from an aging system until something breaks. When something goes wrong it can require a lot of time that is not scheduled. This can change the town's priorities.
Dianne Simmons: The protection of our resources is an issue that deserves a great deal of attention and our constant vigilance. I am confident that those of us who moved here from somewhere else did so because of the river environment and the opportunities for fishing, boating and the sheer enjoyment of the natural beauty. Maintaining clean air and water are of prime importance, as well, to the local residents, businesses and tourists who choose to vacation here. Preserving the local wildlife and vegetation is also essential.
Unpolluted air and water are vital to local fishermen and to the businesses which rely on tourists. Taking care of what we have been given is good for all of us.
David White: As with many small cities or towns, Oriental is faced with a limited budget from which it needs to fund all Town activities, such as: current and future infrastructure; hurricane and storm preparation and recovery; storm water drainage issues; Town employees; day to day administrative work; the Water Plant; and debris, recycling and waste pick up services, just to name a few. It is very important for the Town to rank and pick the right set of activities to focus on in order to ensure that Oriental continues to function as effectively as it has done in the past. There has been excellent work done on Oriental’s Long Range Plan developed under previous administrations that needs to be referenced when discussing budgets to ensure the Town is on the right track. Additionally, each year the Town engages in a planning session, which is open to the public, to review the Long Range Plan and budget considerations and to set the Town’s priorities. I urge all to attend and participate in these meetings and all of the Town Meetings to make sure the policies and processes reflect what is in the best interest of the Town.
J. Martin Barrow: The attention to any issue varies based on urgency, impact, probable solutions, and reasonable execution.
I believe our streets are a priority. Some of our streets would benefit from permanent repairs that would replace the temporary gravel patches in several places. We need to be able to make timely repairs and improve the safety of those streets. Poorly maintained streets pose a risk to safety as much as a poor driver. Exploring all resources available for the cost of street improvements including both private and public grant funding should be a priority.
Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): No.
One hears it said we need more businesses in Oriental; what type of business(es) would you like to see?
Charlie Overcash: In order to stimulate year around businesses, I believe we should encourage more tourist related businesses. This would bring more visitors to our great village. Many of those may chose to move here and, therefore, that would build a larger base of residents which would, in turn, result in more year around businesses.
Allen Price: I look for small businesses in or around Oriental that will employee a few people or bring people to Oriental for a need – Examples are a car wash, laundry mat, dry cleaners drop off, pharmacy, and/or team up with PCC and see what they have to offer. This traffic would help the local merchants, the needs of the community and generate revenue year round.
Dianne Simmons: Oriental is fortunate to have so many enterprises in such a small town and I urge everyone to support them. I am not opposed to more businesses in Oriental. I am a customer of almost every business in town - a frequent patron of quite a few of them. I try to do all of my shopping in Oriental, so I would personally like a drug store if the customer base would support it. I’m sure that more businesses will open as customer support grows.
David White: The Town needs to consider all types of businesses that wish to locate or set up facilities in Oriental. What types will be allowed is governed by the Table of Permissible Uses in the GMO and our local Ordinances, which encompass a broad range of businesses and services. With that said, improvements to our infrastructure (streets, waterways, harbor, communities, water accesses, etc.) only help to attract service industries and other types of business entities. We are a small community, but we have much to offer with our water vistas, great restaurants and bars, retail stores, waterways, wonderful sense of community, grocery store, hardware store, deli, post office, theater and many other services and facilities.
J. Martin Barrow: With the litany of possible businesses that might locate in Oriental, it would be difficult for me to identify or narrow the scope of the types of businesses we could support. However, I would put a local pharmacy at the top of the list. Before Denton’s Pharmacy closed, the pharmacy was convenient and it was nice to do business with people invested in Oriental.
We should develop and maintain an active ‘business-friendly’ environment, which encourages investments by new and existing businesses. The Board’s role is to ensure the type and scope of those businesses would be a positive addition to the town.
Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): Yes we need more businesses. Retail and Service Industry.
