First Posted: 7/29/2013

To the Editor,

A few months ago I contacted the Commissioner Tom Taylor, who represents District 7, regarding setting up an incentive program for the residents of Robeson County. It would be similar to what many private businesses have done to attract new customers, generate profit or enhance the nature of their business.

Most of you have seen an “Idea Box” located on a wall or counter of a business. These are for employee input and good ideas get rewarded. This program has worked successfully for generations.

As the county already has an administration website, it would be simple to add an idea box to it. I explained to Tom that this could be done at the county level and if an idea submitted by a Robeson County resident is adopted and implemented, 10 percent of the money saved by the county should be a reward to the person submitting the idea. No reward would be paid out until the savings has been realized and verified.

Taylor saw the merit in such a program and set up a meeting with county administrators that took place May 29. I laid out a rough outline of how this program could work, provided that safeguards were part of it to prevent fraud and the “fingers-in-the cookie-jar syndrome.” All were in agreement that it was a good idea.

As of this writing, I haven’t heard a word from the county nor has Taylor, although he has contacted them a few times regarding this proposal and even provided them with my phone number. I’m sure that out of 135,000 minds in Robeson County, there are more than a few with some good ideas.

This is written in hopes that others will climb on board, contact their county commissioner and try to get this program started. I look at this as a win-win situation for the residents and the county as a whole.

Dan Gola

Lumberton