f*ij PAIL PLEASANT
Jusi a few years ago, some citizens
of Kings Mountain were threatening
to withdraw their town from Cleveland
County and have it attached to Gas¬
ton.
The "secession" move was never
taken very seriously, but it did illus¬
trate the rivalry or bad feeling which
so often exists between communities in
the same county.
Since then, the Cleveland Associa¬
tion of Governmental Officials has
been so busy examining mutual prob¬
lems and opportunities, and so anxious
to find avenues of co-operative ac¬
tion, that such division seems as re¬
mote as the 18th century.
It may be the first such organiza¬
tion in America. Phin Horton III.
Shelby's city manager, says there are
organizations of municipalities in a
county. But this one just about takes
in every governmental unit.
Not only docs it include the county
government and the seven incorporated
towns, but it has representatives of the
three school systems (county. Shelby.
Kings Mountain).
It already has been able to accom¬
plish so much for economy, good gov¬
ernment. and good community rela¬
tions that its sponsors arc predicting it
will lead eventually to massive con¬
solidation of overlapping or correla¬
tive functions and perhaps even to a
one-government county.
All that is in the future. CAGO. as
the agency now is called, has enough
work cut out for it to keep it occupied
with current matters. Though the chief
accomplishment so far has been to pro¬
vide a vehicle for candid discussion of
matters of mutual interest, more mea¬
surable results also are reported. For
example. 25 police vehicles recently
were purchased co-operatively by
CAGO. the pooling of purchases giv¬
ing the county and municipalities
greater purchasing powers. CAGO of¬
ficials expect to combine purchases of
Other equipment and supplies, such as
tax abstracts, tax notices and other
printing.
One of its proudest achievements
was pooling of C.AGO's efforts to es¬
tablish a community action program.
As a result. Cleveland and its com¬
munities have brought in a state-paid
community service consultant to work
on anti-poverty programs. Head Start
The courlhomc ol Shelby
County, Towns, and
Schools Pool Brains
and Neighborhood Yough Corps proj¬
ects are underway, with funds admin¬
istered through CAGO. Its Community
Action Committee. Inc., received ap¬
proval of a federal grant for a com¬
prehensive anti-poverty campaign.
Here are some of the goals, immedi¬
ate or remote, discussed by CAGO of¬
ficials: a county-wide water and sewer
system; county-wide building regula¬
tions and comprehensive land use de¬
velopment: a computer system for cen¬
tral tax billing, utility billing, payroll
accounting, purchase accounting and
data processing; major thoroughfare
plans.
ALL SELF-ADHESIVE & WATER TYPE
DECALS
Designed -Manufactured by
CREATIVE GRAPHICS, INC.
Box 1588 Ralolgh, N. C./832-I828
But the longer look is even more-
fascinating — the consolidation of
school, police, welfare, health, library,
and fire departments. Some CAGO
representatives think governmental
services now impossible for the smaller
communities alone can be provided
with proper co-operation and financ¬
ing.
The organization meets quarterly on
a regular basis, but special meet¬
ings are called when necessary. Each
unit pays a part of the project costs
proportionate to its size, but non-tax
funds only are used. Mayors, aider-
men, city managers, schiH>I superin¬
tendent' and school board members
all are eligible, with maximum mem¬
bership fixed by the charter.
So far. CAGO has been warmly re¬
ceived by the citizenship of Cleveland
County. For one reason, it makes sense
in a county of many small com¬
munities. And for another, its positive
and hopeful approach to multi-gov¬
ernment problems has crowded out
much of the old rivalry and bickering.
13
THE STATE. FEBRUARY 15. 1967
I