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By Carrie J. Sidener
Statesville Record and Landmark

With new representation in Congress, city and county officials are hoping some things will change.

Twenty representatives from Iredell County, Statesville, Troutman, the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Statesville Development Corporation came together Wednesday to tell Congresswoman Virginia Foxx their concerns.

In turn, Foxx promised to look into the issues including funding for the Statesville Municipal Airport, health care costs, Social Security, homeland defense.

She promised to help.

Troutman Manager Donald Duncan said his major concern is with homeland security, asking Foxx to emphasize the importance of funding the security efforts in small communities.

“Our number-one priority is communications ...” he said.

County Commissioner Steve Johnson explained, saying that different communities in the county operate on different systems.

“We can’t communicate with each other,” he said. “Everyone has different equipment.”

Foxx said homeland security is a major concern for her, as well.

“We had a former secretary of defense speak to us and said there was a good chance that there will be a nuclear explosion in the country in the next eight years,” she said. “Folks, we are living in a time that we have to pay attention to what is going on in the world.”

For Statesville Mayor John Marshall, the biggest concern is the airport expansion. Until this year, the city received $1.5 million in grants each year from the federal government to help fund the $14.3 million project.

“We are attracting other industries, not just Lowe’s,” Marshall said. “There are a number of industries that use the airport ... I encourage you to talk to the N.C. Division of Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration about this project.”

The county concern, Johnson said, is with the federal No Child Left Behind regulations and their impact on funding needs for the Iredell-Statesville School system.

“I wonder if there is some remedy,” he asked.

Foxx said the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has misinterpreted portions of the law, and encouraged those interested to read the law carefully and ask questions.

Daryl Davidson Sr., vice president of the chamber, said his greatest concern is the spiraling cost of health care and workers’ compensation coverage.

“To be able to attract good employees, they need benefits,” he said. “There needs to be affordable workers’ comp.”

The costs of both health care and workers’ comp make it even more difficult for companies to compete, Davidson said.

Foxx said the rising cost of health care is a major concern and she promised to look into ways that spending can be controlled.

Johnson also encouraged Foxx to look into the Social Security system.

“It doesn’t work,” he said. “It is running out of gas in just a few years. People are living longer and having less children.”

Foxx encouraged area residents to contact her with concerns. Her office number in Washington is 202-225-2071 and she can be found on the Internet at www.house.gov/foxx.

“I want to let you know that I will be here often,” she said.