As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the five candidates running for Tega Cay City Council. We’ve provided them with a series of questions designed to provide the answers you need in order to decide on the candidates who will occupy the two available seats.
Each week leading up to the election, we will feature one of the candidates along with their responses to the list of questions provided to them. We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice. The order was determined by response time to our inquiry.
This week, we’ll introduce Adam Grabiec. Adam is an architect who lives in Tega Cay. For a list of all candidates, please refer to our original article from several weeks ago: https://tegacaysun.com/2023/09/08/candidates-for-tega-cay-city-council/
Please state your name:
Adam Grabiec
Please state your occupation:
Architect
How long have you lived in Tega Cay?
Over 5 years.
What do you believe is the role of the City Council in our community?
To represent the interests of the community. Council should uphold the values of the community and vote on policy accordingly.
What skills and experience do you have that you believe would be beneficial to you as a Council member?
As a former educator and architect with two decades of experience, I bring a wealth of diverse expertise to the position of council member. I have an extensive background in architecture, having worked in four different states, overseeing numerous project completions, all while effectively managing the complexities of various jurisdictional bureaucracies to ensure successful project outcomes.I have a strong track record of managing substantial budgets, making decisions with potential financial impacts of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m skilled in finding creative cost-saving solutions and have successfully worked with various stakeholders, including developers, engineers, contractors, and owners. This experience uniquely qualifies me to address our city’s current challenges.
What previous community involvement have you had in Tega Cay or another city?
I’ve contributed my time and effort to volunteering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, The Relatives (for displaced teens), Fort Mill High School Band, and Forest Hill Church.
What do you see as top priorities for the City and why?
Managing Growth – Addressing the issue of rapid growth – our community is expanding at an unsustainable pace. Regrettably, the commitment to halt further housing developments has not been honored by our current council, and I am fully dedicated to correcting this situation.
Promoting Accountability: We must exercise fiscal discipline, enhance transparency within the community, allocate tax dollars wisely, and maintain a strong sense of responsibility to the residents of Tega Cay.
Enhancing Safety – In light of the rapid growth our community is undergoing, it’s imperative to ensure that our first responders are fully equipped to meet the emerging challenges. Additionally, we must address the pressing issues related to our aging infrastructure and successfully execute the best proposed solution(s) to manage the deer population.
Have you previously served on a governing board of any type (business, government, non-profit organization, church, etc.) or as a leader in any organization? If so, please briefly describe the organization(s), your role, and the number of years you served in that capacity below.
I bring a strong record of community involvement, having served on the Tega Cay Planning Commission for one year and the Mecklenburg County Board of Zoning Adjustment Advisory Board for three years. Additionally, during my tenure as Cameron Creek HOA president, we successfully terminated contracts with underperforming vendors, securing new ones, implemented the Flock camera system at main entries, installed stop signs, and all the while maintained association dues below industry averages. Even after stepping down, I persistently pursued the installation of crosswalks at the 160 entries, an effort that highlights the need for improved city responsiveness – an issue I am committed to addressing if elected to council.
What do you believe are the three (3) greatest strengths of the City of Tega Cay
The people, the safety, and being in the Fort Mill school district.
Does your interest in serving on the City Council stem from a personal interest or goal? Is there something in particular you hope to accomplish while serving on the City Council, and why is serving on the Council important to you? Please elaborate.
I decided to run for office because, after only a few short years of moving here from Charlotte, I noticed our community was rapidly transforming into just another busy suburb. My goal is to proactively manage development and selectively attract businesses that will truly contribute to the betterment of our community.
Please list any areas you believe the City of Tega Cay could improve upon:
Efficiency, transparency, and leadership.
The City Council must render decisions regarding the implementation of policies and/or programs that may be somewhat difficult. Are you willing to take on the responsibility of making decisions that are in the best interest of the public even though they may be somewhat difficult?
I don’t believe making the right decision is difficult. I also don’t see it as a responsibility, but a duty I owe to the residents of Tega Cay. And I would consider it an honor if entrusted to make those decisions as a member of council. I’m not going to say one thing and do another, as I believe in living up to my word.
Many are concerned about the growth within Tega Cay. What’s your plan to help ensure we maintain a small town feel while continuing to grow appropriately?
These are my thoughts and concerns that I clearly expressed during planning commission meetings this year. They demonstrate my position on the excessive growth:
“Commissioner Grabiec expressed concern due to the scale of the plan, destruction of natural habitat, traffic, and density of the overall plan.”
“Commissioner Grabiec expressed appreciation for the efforts that Collier Engineering has done, however advised that he does not want to recommend this item when residents appear to be against the plan.”
I was the only “nay” vote for the city center mixed use development at the intersection of Gold Hill Road and Hubert Graham Way, near Tega Cay Elementary School. Regarding the Lakewood Development on Dam Rd, our options were limited, so I urged the commission to rezone to PUD R-13, instead as PUD R-8, thus requiring a much larger lot and reducing the density of the homes. Unfortunately, our City Council did not agree with the planning commission’s recommendation. This is yet another example of where I perceive the council to have fallen short in representing the best interests of our residents. If elected, I am committed to implementing changes to the business license tax system that will foster a favorable environment for both small and large businesses to establish themselves in Tega Cay.
Is there anything you’d want to tell us about yourself and why the people of Tega Cay should vote for you?
People should vote for me because my passion, dedication, experience and conservative ideals demonstrate a commitment to making necessary decisions, policy or staff changes, and crafting policies that are a reflection of the ideals that brought us to Tega Cay in the first place. My history of putting words into action should reassure anyone with doubts that I’ll follow through on my commitments. I appreciate your support and I kindly request your vote so we can advance our shared goals and aspirations for Tega Cay.
