Cabarrus Neighbors/Charlotte Observer
Mount Pleasant Council Questionnaire
2001
Name:
Steve Silsby
Address: 1926
Marksburg Court.
Mount Pleasant,
NC 28124
704-436-5302
Date Of Birth:
July
7, 1954
Education
Associate of Applied Science, Electronics Technology
Family:
Wife of 28 years: Faye
Daughter: Deanna,
sophomore at NC State University studying Mechanical Engineering
Son: Alan,
junior at Mount Pleasant High School
Occupation: Senior
Electrical Designer. Employed by Philip
Morris for 23 years.
Political Experience: None,
but then, I wish to be a representative, NOT a politician.
Civic Organizations
And Memberships: Experimental
Aircraft Association Chapter 1083, Salisbury
Cabarrus Amateur Radio Society,
Concord
Last Book Read: "Flight:
My Life in Mission Control", by Chris Kraft
Political Figures
You Admire:
Harry Truman for his integrity
William Proxmire for his
battles against wasteful government spending
1.
What is the most important problem that Mount Pleasant has? What will you do to help solve this problem?
Mount Pleasant has many issues to face:
our water system, sewer system, development, growth, etc.
Our greatest problem is that there is no plan for addressing these issues. I agree with candidate Marie Schnitz's idea that
we must establish a five-year plan with which to prioritize the issues and set timetables
for their solutions. Without set plans and
goals, the town board has no focus for action and no way to measure its progress.
2.
How should the town pay for necessary improvements to its water infrastructure?
We need to restore lost revenue to the
waterworks. This year the town lost a major industrial customer, and that cut deeply into
revenues just when we needed more money for extensive repairs. Mount Pleasant has a tremendous capacity for water
treatment and delivery, well exceeding the needs of our customers even during the present
drought. One answer is to accelerate the
timetable for the planned connection to the Concord water system. This will allow us to sell our unneeded capacity
to them. Concord needs the water and Mount
Pleasant needs the revenue. So long as the
connection agreement guarantees Mount Pleasant 100 percent of its needs prior to any
transfers to the Concord system, it will be an excellent way to increase and stabilize
revenues.
3.
As growth pushes eastward in Cabarrus County, what should Mount Pleasant do in
response?
No community should have to respond to growth. Growth should respond to the community. This is another reason Mount Pleasant must establish a five-year plan. A well-reasoned plan of zoning and targeted incentives can guide development so that our town will benefit rather than suffer from it.