Small crowd attends commission meeting to voice concerns

A crowd of more than 50 local residents attended the Sept. 2 meeting of the Alleghany County Commission to air concerns about statements that were made at an economic development forum and reported in the Aug. 21 edition of The Alleghany News.

Led by spokesperson the Rev. Dan Edwards, the group voiced concern over statements made by AngelouEconomics Project Manager Sean Garretson. Garretson was speaking on behalf of AngelouEconomics at a meeting Aug. 14 when he said the community needs to be accepting of “creative types” with unorthodox appearance and values. Statements called into question included one he made concerning atheists. The article in the Aug. 21 edition stated that Garretson said, “The community has to be able to embrace newcomers. It has to be able to embrace, maybe, atheists.” He also alluded to area residents being accepting of individuals with unusual appearance. He said individuals with body punctures and purple hair are an extreme example. The statement was made during a talk about attracting jobs and industry to the county. The immediate discussion at the time was about attracting individuals from the design industry to relocate here.

The report presented Aug. 14 highlighted a number of target industries and areas for potential growth for the county. In fact, Garretson’s comments were only a small part of the overall presentation but turned out to be the part that has gotten the most attention.

Angelou Statement

AngelouEconomics’ principal and owner Angelos Angelou said in a prepared statement last Thursday that the statements were not made to create conflict.

His statement said, in part, “The process we are engaged in is as much about helping the county understand economic development as it is about writing a strategy. We have focused on assisting Alleghany in recognizing the seriousness of its current economic condition. We have communicated the importance of being proactive in economic development and encouraged a transition that will bring new opportunities for long-term economic health.

“The new focus may bring some changes to the county. Change can be an uncomfortable process for some. It therefore requires the support of community leaders and its citizens. Without exception, communities that embrace change, and accept it as an opportunity rather than a threat, are more successful in economic development.

“Two weeks ago, a project manager with our firm discussed this issue of change during a presentation in Alleghany County,” the statement from Angelou said. “To illustrate the nature of change, he used pointedly extreme examples. The example has caused some concern within the county. It was never intended to create conflict, nor endorse certain lifestyles.

“Within two months, we will deliver an economic development strategy that is based on almost one year of research and public input from your residents, businesses and public leaders. This strategy will provide the county with all the tools to reinvigorate the economy, create jobs and generate wealth. It is essential that the county continue to focus on the larger issue of economic development.”

Angelou also sought to clarify his company’s position during a telephone call to The Alleghany News that same day (Sept. 4). He said,

“We realize that one of our staff members made a poor choice of an example to drive his point across. My staff tells me that the comment was made in jest, and there’s no way it should be taken other than that....

“We’re not promoting atheism here; we’re promoting economic development. This plan is not about religious preference but about recruiting companies.”

Commission Meeting

At the meeting, the Rev. Edwards read a statement from N.C. State Sen. Virginia Foxx. Foxx is currently campaigning to fill Richard Burr’s soon-to-be vacated seat in the U.S. Congress.

Foxx stated that she attended the meeting and has concerns about AngelouEconomics. “Many folks are frustrated at our economic situation in this area and our county. I know the intentions behind the study involving Angelou were good ones,” she wrote. “The people with Angelou are probably experienced, well-meaning people. However, I did question and do question their experiences with rural economic development and their point of view. (It is clear that they are young and except for the owner of the company, I wonder at their life experiences). In their presentations they used benchmark cities to compare with places in this area; when they used Greenville, S.C. and other very urban areas as benchmarks for our area, I raised a concern.

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