The Shelby Star article titled RV parks on the rise in Cleveland County uncharacteristically, and probably unknowingly, tells it all about the true corruption involved in the elected leadership here .in Cleveland County. Not stupidity. Not unknowingly. Not mistakenly. But a planned scheme of corruption that has infected the Commissioners through and through. The School Board and the Cleveland Community College Board of Trustees too. But that is a story for another article. And soon.
Let’s start with the most egregious act of the Commissioners regarding the approval of the new RV Park Ordinance. According to that Shelby Star Article by reporter Rebecca Sitzes; “Commissioner Johnny Hutchins proposed waiting to pass the ordinance and putting a moratorium on any new applications until commissioners had time to fully review the document.” Note the key words “until commissioners had time to fully review the document.”
This one statement tells it all. The Commissioners ended up voting to approve the RV Park Ordnance WITHOUT fully reviewing the documents. And WITHOUT heeding the words of School Board member Danny Blanton, the only member of the general public who spoke at the Public Hearing regarding the Ordnance. It seems that Mr. Blanton himself is building a RV Park on his property and already has an approved permit. Which means the Commissioners voted to approve an ordnance that they didn’t understand and refused to listen to a member of the public who knew what he was talking about. All indicators of poor leadership. But more importantly, poor leadership that had made up their minds before the meeting. From listening to advice from unknown people who probably had an interest in keeping RV Parks out of Cleveland County. Somebody with inside influence illegally used and most likely a financial interest too.
So, who could that somebody with insider influence and financial interest be??? Former Commissioner and known wheeler and dealer Eddie Holbrook comes to mind for obvious reasons. Holbrook is a part owner of the newest motel in Cleveland County, influential enough to get a well-traveled road closed so he can make $500,000 profit on the property where the closed road is torn up and re-tasked for “speculative construction” property, as well as making money by forcing people to use his motel instead of using RVs to visit Cleveland County. That is what came to my mind anyway. Logical? Right? Right!!!
Of course all this is corruption to the core. And it ain’t all of the story here!
County Planner Chris Martin also stated that the ordnance would “Also require they (RV Parks) are developed safely so occupants, if they need emergency services, they can be reached by emergency vehicles.” So, they bring in the EMS Director into the RV Park planning. The same EMS Director who has started many scandals of his own and allegedly spent excessive amounts of tax dollars and brought EMS Debt to the $4.8 million. They are stumbling all over themselves trying to make sure EMS vehicles can access the RV Park. Only a fool would not realize in about three seconds that, if RVs can access the RV Park-so can EMS vehicles. The County has made a big deal over nothing regarding safety and EMS response time. This is so simple that the issue has to be “invented.” Invented for some sinister reason. Now, I am back to thinking more about that Eddie Holbrook-Motel thought. Holbrook doesn’t want more RV parks because he wants people to pay big prices to stay at his motel. So, the County has to come up with an RV Park Ordnance so Eddie Holbrook and his partners can make bigger profits.
Other consideration NOT mentioned in the Star Article was Economic Development and Travel and Tourism. A $7 million entry in the 2020 County Budget. Let’s look at some facts”
1. The RV industry is supplied with engines, transmissions and the whole chassis assembly, all put together at the Freightliner Plant in Gaffney, SC. Hundreds of high paying jobs, many of which are filled by Cleveland County residents. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners want to restrict the livelihood of their own citizens?
2. The County has spent $millions on such things as the Earl Scruggs Center, the Foothills Shooting Complex, the Don Gibson Theater, the American Legion World Series and other things that have not been able to pay for themselves. There exists a whole and very large population of tourists who take to the road in their high dollar RVs to see the sights of North Carolina, the South East and all of America. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners want to restrict this tourism business when they are already in the RED financially??
3. The construction of the newest Electrical Generation Plant in Cliffside just a few years ago brought workers from all over America to Cleveland County for several years. Many of those workers would rather spend their money on RVs instead of Motels. RVs that they can use over and over again instead of Motel or rentals where their money is gone without a trace. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners restrict travelling workers from staying in Cleveland County rather than buying their food and fuel somewhere else???
Also, Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine defended the new RV Ordnance, knowing the Commissioners were in the dark. And the new ordnance would be foolishly inadequate until much work and revision. Why would the foolish Commissioners go along with this plan to develop a new Ordnance from scratch? Spending many tens of thousands of tax dollars “re-inventing the wheel?” Especially since I just spent less that five minutes “googling” RV Park Ordnances in North Carolina and the first item on the list was the “RV Park and Mobile Home Ordnance” from nearby Rutherford County. An Ordnance that is almost thirty years old, and updated to reflect the needs of today. I am an Engineer and spent about 10 minutes going through the Rutherford County Ordnance. I could spend about two hours changing the name from Rutherford County to Cleveland County and a few format changes and I am sure “MY” Ordnance would surely surpass what the Cleveland County Commissioners have come up with.
See for yourself below:
Mobile Home and RV Park OrdinanceNow, let’s make a long story short. How could I come up with a new RV Park Ordnance in such a short amount of time??? The answer is simple. I would NOT be interested in payoffs from people like Eddie Holbrook whose profits would go up by restricting RV Parks. I would be interested in doing my best to protect the interests of ALL Cleveland County citizens and not just the few Eddie Holbrooks that go around peddling their influence for profits as described previously.
That is also why I recommend getting rid of Commissioners like Susan Allen, Ronnie Whetstine and Johnny Hutchins and installing a new majority on the Commissioner’s Board. Robbie Morgan, Tommy McNeilly and Dennis Davis. If you are interested in better government and less waste, mark your 2020 Republican Primary Ballot as shown below. For Commissioners and the School Board too. You will be glad you did.
Voting Guide!!!
2020 Primary Elections for Cleveland County
County Commissioners and Cleveland County Board of Education
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There are No Democrat Primary Elections for these offices!!!
2020 Primary Elections–Voting Guide
County Commissioners
2020 Republican Primary Elections for County Commissioner
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2020 Primary Elections–Voting Guide
County Commissioners
2020 Republican Primary Elections for County Commissioner
Sample Ballot
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