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By Michael Howlett

News Editor

The Mount Airy News

Mount Airy -- Business and civic leaders, as well as a few private citizens, told U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx of their concerns during the freshman congresswoman’s stop in Mount Airy Tuesday afternoon.

Foxx’s appearance was part of the "listening tour" she is conducting before the U.S. House of Representatives gets to work next week.

The completion of Interstate 74; money for infrastructure, such as water and sewer and downtown improvements; airport construction; taxes; and health-care costs were some of the items that Foxx was asked to address upon her return to Washington.

John Springthorpe, the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce’s board chairman, told Foxx that although "Mount Airy and Surry County is blessed" that I-74 extends to the county line, the area "desperately needs I-74 completed through Forsyth County."

Paul Johnson, chairman of the Surry County Board of Commissioners, went a step farther, calling for the completion of I-74 "from Virginia to the South Carolina line."

Several request were made for infrastructure items.

Johnson said Surry County needs help with two water and sewer projects: one at exit 93 on I-77 at Dobson and another at the junction of N.C. 89, I-77 and I-74. The county needs $1.4 million to complete the first project and $4.1 million to complete the second.

"Federal help is an integral part of these projects," said Johnson.

Aaron Hunter, mayor of Pilot Mountain, also addressed water and sewer infrastructure. Hunter said the recent closings of two plants in Pilot Mountain have put a heavy burden on local citizens.

"Textile plants used to account for 80 percent of our water usage, now it’s 25 percent. We’ve had to raise rates. For people on a fixed income, it’s making it extremely hard for them," he said.

Don Brookshire, Mount Airy’s city manager, said money is needed for "infrastructure development of our downtown and community as a whole. We need some help with that. Something else might be tax credits to encourage developers to come in and undertake the costs."

Eddie Smith, Elkin’s town manager, said the renovation of the town’s historic theater is "at the top of our list. We are desperately searching for federal matching funds to get that project off the ground."

Smith added that a runway expansion at Elkin’s airport is another project that federal money would greatly benefit.

The runway expansion and improvements at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport was also brought to Foxx’s attention by Springthorpe.

"It is a project you will hear more about," he said, "and an issue that requires federal funding."

Springthorpe also asked Foxx to do something about North Carolina’s position as a "net donor" when it comes to highway funding. He noted that for each dollar in highway taxes, North Carolina receives just 90.5 cents back.

"To get that to 95 cents would be a major improvement," he said.

In addition, Springthorpe called for the permanent repeal of the death tax and a change in a federal trade policy that "has allowed jobs to go elsewhere."

"In the extent that Washington has helped us in this area," he added, "could you help us a little less?"

Johnson brought up the issue of health care, saying the county’s health insurance cost has risen 14 percent this year, following a 29-percent increase last year.

"We can’t afford this. If we continue in the direction we’re going, I don’t know what people will do to pay their insurance," said Johnson. Brookshire and Smith also called for help with high health insurance premiums. After the various concerns were expressed, Foxx responded by saying, "I’m aware of most of the issues you’ve addressed by reading the local newspapers." However, she added, there is "not going to be a lot of new money, it will be a tight budget. My philosophy is we’re going to be creative and innovative as we can be." And there will be no new taxes, she predicted. "The speaker (of the house) has said no new taxes. I think he meant what he said," said Foxx. She said tort reform, health-care costs and repeal of the death tax are items high on the Bush administration’s list of things to do.

However, the most important issue for the federal government, she continued, is national defense.

"The No. 1 job of the federal government is to keep us free. Keeping us free, that’s got to be No. 1," she said.

As for personal goals, Foxx said, "My No. 1 priority is to have the best constituent service we can have."

She said she will have two offices outside of Washington — one at in Boone and one at Clemmons — and she invited residents of the 5th District to contact one of her offices for help of any kind.