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UNION COUNTY
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UNION COUNTY
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MARVIN in the NEWS
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State official
cleared in conflict of interest case
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Larry
Helms
State official cleared in conflict-of-interest case
Ethics investigator has cleared N.C. Transportation Board member Larry Helms of violating conflict-of-interest rules
( Sep. 24, 2005) 
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Deputy investigated for passing stopped school bus
The Union County Sheriff's Office and
the N.C. Highway Patrol are investigating a deputy accused
of passing a stopped school bus in his patrol car.
The incident happened Sept. 13 when a 9-year-old from
Wingate Elementary was getting off the school bus at 425
Meadowview Road. The driver of the bus, Sylvia Nance, saw an
approaching deputy's patrol car and honked the horn. The
student, still at the front of the bus and possibly
concealed from the approaching officer's view, stopped.
The student's mother, Johnnie Mae Staton, is upset that an
officer of the law apparently ignored the law that requires
vehicles to stop for a school bus's stop arm. She is even
more upset that the patrol car was not using its lights or
sirens as it passed the bus, which would have provided more
warning. She has filed a complaint with the Sheriff's
Office.
Beginning Sept. 1, the penalty for passing a stopped school
bus moved from a Class 2 misdemeanor to a Class I
misdemeanor. Willful violation resulting in striking a
person and causing serious physical injury became a Class I
felony. 
(09-26-05)
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Horse riders in Marvin area help blaze new trails
It was a very hot day. But that didn't keep away a hearty group of riders intent on taming some horse trails in and around the Marvin community a couple of Sundays ago.
Thirty-one riders and some spectators showed up for the late afternoon ride that began at Hidden Valley Stables and was sponsored by the town's parks, greenways and recreation advisory board as a way to show residents what a future greenway/trail system could look like.
Village leaders hope to create such a system for equestrians, cyclists and hikers in the Marvin area.
"For that big a turnout on such a hot day on relatively short notice, it was absolutely superb," said board chairman Ray Williams, who also made the ride.
An apology here -- Williams says he's sorry for the behavior of his horse Trix at the beginning of the venture.
(10-02-05)
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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UNION COUNTY
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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Voting machine safety explained
Union County, much like counties across the country is continually finding ways to ensure the integrity of the election process is safe and secure.
With the threats of Internet vote tampering and other means of political sabotage continually surfacing, the Union County Board of Elections wants people to know their votes are safe and secure thanks in large part to the Sequoia AVC Advantage voting system which is in place in all county voting machines.
The Sequoia AVC Advantage is a standalone voting machine that has no Internet connection, no network connection and no access points of any kind for voters to attempt an attack on Election Day. It incorporates tamper-evident seals to ensure that only authorized Officials have access to design and install ballots.
"Sequoia has built an unmatched reputation for its voting machines," said Shirley Secrest, Director of the Union County Board of Elections.
When a voter casts a ballot, the machine stores the selections in multiple locations inside the equipment to make certain there is a way to retrieve the records even if one of the forms of memory is lost or damaged. This instantaneous duplication of ballot records also provides election officials with a post-election audit tool to verify that the central tally of the results is identical to the totals produced by each individual machine.
(09-12-05)
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Officials discuss Latino issues
Take a fast-growing community with services and infrastructure already stretched and toss in an additional 20,000 or more people, many of whom are unfamiliar with the language and culture, have little formal education and are mistrusting of law enforcement. The result is a long list of problems that call for community resources and collaboration and will only worsen, if not addressed. That was the idea behind a breakfast Tuesday at the Union County Health Department, where cultural specialist Natan Feldman challenged some 80 local leaders to try to "get their arms around" Latino issues and come up with creative solutions.
Beginning with a slide show to help put a face on a cultural/ethnic group virtually too diverse to define (how do you categorize people from 20 countries who often have very little in common?), Feldman said the county's rapid Latino population growth is coming not only from immigration, but also from migration, as Latinos living in other parts of the United States are drawn to the Carolinas' weather and job market. He said that as many as 60 percent of them are not counted in census figures, creating a nightmare for those expected to deliver social services, schools, housing, shopping areas and basic infrastructure.
(09-13-05)
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Boll Weevil Jamboree is Saturday
The Tams, a legendary beach and R&B group, will headline the ninth annual Boll Weevil Jamboree Sept. 17, performing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Marshville.
Gospel music has always been a staple of the Jamboree, and this year will be no exception with a variety of gospel, bluegrass, beach and country music acts performing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Jamboree grew out of the former Marshville Music Festival, which had a 15-year run and featured headliners such as Janie Fricke and Dave and Sugar.
"We pride ourselves in keeping this a family event," event Chairwoman Kay Strawn said. "We've managed to keep the music and everything in a family atmosphere."
Those who come for the music might want to bring a lawn chair if they want to sit, Strawn added.
The name change nine years ago came after a contest sponsored by the Marshville Chamber of Commerce, the event sponsor, and references the town's agricultural past. Cotton was a major crop in the town's early history and the boll weevil was a pest that would feed inside the cotton
feedpods.
(9-13-05)
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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UNION COUNTY
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MINERAL SPRINGS in the News
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Providing comfort at shelter
LINDA HASTINGS - COMMENTARY
The animals at the Union County Animal Shelter are relaxing in comfort these days, thanks to members of our community and beyond who have donated money for Kuranda beds to the facility.
These are cot-style, chew-proof beds that provide dogs with a more comfortable resting place than a concrete floor. Thanks to
Cindy Poppino with the Union County Humane Society and shelter volunteers
Kristin Blank, Chery Ridenhour and Kristy Maher for coordinating the efforts for the donations. By the way, the donations were matched by the Humane Society. And thanks to all you donors out there for your generosity.
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County's new emergency communications director now on the job
After months of searching and interviewing, Union County's newest director of Emergency Communications took office earlier this month.
Gary Thomas, who previously served as the NEWCOM 9-1-1 Operations Manager for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, officially took the post vacated by Minor Plyler earlier this year.
"We had lots and lots of applicants," Union County Homeland Security Director Pat Beekman said. "We advertised in newspapers as well as on national sites and just got in tons of candidates."
Beekman said the field of applicants was narrowed to about 12, after which a committee composed mainly of public safety individuals further narrowed the field to five.
"The committee interviewed the five candidates and Thomas stood out," Beekman said. "He was managing an area that had about 191,000 people with 38 volunteer fire departments and 15 law enforcement organizations. He was already running a center with more people than us and he was the only candidate like that we had."
(08.14.05)
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UNCC class to help Mineral Springs with planning
Mineral Springs needed a little help with its planning and development. Two professors and 24 students from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are only too happy to help.
When classes begin Aug. 25 and college students return to their dormitories and classrooms, architectural and planning students will be taking a class that will possibly affect the future look of Mineral Springs.
Professors Ken Chilton and David Walters of UNCC will teach a community planning workshop that will integrate architecture and city planning. Mineral Springs will be the laboratory.
"We won't be offering any zoning ordinances," he told the council Thursday night. "But essentially, we will facilitate policies and processes to guide the town."
Walters presented a detailed outline to explain what exactly the class will do for the town. Between late August and December, the class will work on the town's planning and development.
(08.13.05)
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Weddington in the News
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STALLINGS in the News
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INDIAN TRAIL in the News
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Only candidate for unexpired Weddington seat appointed to position
The Weddington Town Council appointed a new council member Monday night and is currently seeking a new zoning administrator.
The council will swear in L.A. Smith at its meeting Sept. 12. Smith was the only person to meet the election filing deadline and thus runs unopposed for the District I seat. Former councilman Melvin Threatt held that position until he resigned in April.
Smith is already a member of the town's Planning Board and must resign that position before the September meeting. No replacement for her on the Planning Board has been named.
The council also went into closed session to discuss hiring a new zoning administrator to replace Susannah Smith, who announced her resignation in July.
In other business, the council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a new development, the Meadows at Weddington, along Ennis and Providence roads. The development needed the permit to establish its specific entrance design. It will be 30 lots on approximately 40 acres.
(08.10.05)
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Stallings police chief wants auxiliary officers
The Stallings Police Department celebrated the end of its first year in July. Going into year two, Chief Larke Plyler on Monday presented plans to the Town Council to establish a volunteer auxiliary force.
"It's typical for most police departments and sheriff's offices to have an auxiliary force," Plyler said. "They are a resource to have on hand for events, or to help cover for officers who are away on vacation or out sick."
Plyler recommended a group of four to five volunteers for the first year to "test the waters and see how things go," he said.
While auxiliary positions would be voluntary, Plyler said members of the auxiliary force would have to be certified in law enforcement, and would be eligible for worker's compensation and possibly other benefits offered to volunteers under state laws.
"Doing this allows you to expand your force at virtually no cost," Plyler said, "and it allows those who took another career path to still put their law enforcement skills to use."
(08.09.05)
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Indian Trail development could get started sooner, following council vote
The Indian Trail Town Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to speed up the initial construction for a downtown project.
The project, called the Downtown Indian Trail Planned Unit Development, will be approximately 50 acres along Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road near the railroad tracks and will consist of a combination of commercial space, offices and residential space such as condominiums, town homes and apartments.
Donald Helms and Theron Kindley and Lane Vickery voted to change one of the conditions to a special use permit that the council had approved in February. Ray Killough and Mercedes Cass voted against the change.
The condition, which is one of 44 specified by the council, would have delayed mass grading for at least 90 days and probably into next year, developer Dean Harrell said. With the approval of the modified condition, the developer can begin mass grading in about 30 days and finish before the end of the year.
(08.10.05)
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INDIAN TRAIL in the News
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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Town opens the floor to residents
INDIAN TRAIL - The Indian Trail Town Council held its first public comment session at a meeting Tuesday night, and several outspoken residents jumped at the chance to speak.
The public comment time came just as N.C. lawmakers passed a bill requiring town councils to hold such sessions monthly.
The first to speak Tuesday was Shirley Howe, one of several Indian Trail residents who have said they were frustrated that the town did not have an opportunity for general public comments.
"This ... is long overdue," Howe said Tuesday. "Having said that, I'm glad it's available now."
Howe first asked the council for a public comment session -- which other Union County towns offer -- at a meeting in January 2004. The council did not respond to her request then.
Town Manager John Munn said Wednesday that town officials had been working on a public comment session, but the new law moved up the start date for offering it.
Munn said the town had not offered such a session in the 10 years he has worked for Indian Trail, but that there have been other ways for residents to have concerns addressed.
Tuesday's session came after the town council and planning board discussed planning issues for almost two hours.
(07.31.05)
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Annexations await feds' OK
When Sonya Pierce filed to run for the Wesley Chapel village council three weeks ago, she received some unusual news: Although the council had voted in April to annex her Berkshire subdivision, the move wasn't entirely official.
"It really was a surprise, and one I was concerned about at first," said Pierce, a mother of one making her first run for office.
As Pierce learned, the annexation was awaiting approval from the U.S. Justice Department, a step required by law for all voting-related changes in Union County. As a result, Pierce was allowed to run for office contingent on its being approved.
So far, Pierce is the only candidate affected. But delays in annexation can also confuse voters, who may be unsure whether they're in a municipality -- yet.
The Union County Elections Board has processed more than 50 annexations this year, and five residential areas are now awaiting federal approval, Elections Board Director Shirley Secrest said.
"We do anticipate them all being approved before the ballots are printed," Secrest said.
After a town approves an annexation, its attorney must file paperwork with the Justice Department, which requires a 60-day waiting period before the annexation can take effect. Usually this proceeds without incident, but people can file complaints if they feel the change abridges their right to vote.
Wesley Chapel's village attorney sent a letter to the Justice Department at the end of June, so Pierce's annexation should be official by the end of August.
(07.31.05)
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Congress sending $17 million for U.S. 74 bypass, MLK Boulevard
Congress is sending $17 million to Union County for the U.S. 74 Bypass, and possibly more money for other road projects. Numbers coming in from the different members of Congress, however, show some conflict in the funding coming to the area and to the state.
The funding comes from the Conference Report for the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) and is separate from the annual transportation appropriations, Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., said. This bill is reworked every six years, and this one has taken about 21 months to get it approved between the House and Senate, she said.
"I'm delighted to get this and the energy bill approved in the same week," she said. "The next one should come along in four years if things work out right."
The funding was requested by Myrick and Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., and Sens. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and Richard Burr, R-N.C. The House passed the bill in March, but it has since lingered in conference with the Senate. The bill will provide funds for federal highways, transit systems and road safety funding through 2009. The legislation attempts to relieve congestion, improve driver safety and overcome inefficient highway projects. Proponents like Myrick and Hayes said the bill will provide for millions of new jobs in the
transportation sector and related industries.
(07.30.05)
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WEDDINGTON in the NEWS
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INDIAN TRAIL in the News
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STALLINGS in the News
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Weddington road expansion OK'd
WEDDINGTON - The intersecting roads at Weddington's center will triple in size in future years, according to a road widening plan passed by the town's council Monday.
The expansion calls for six lanes on N.C. 84, and six to seven lanes on two stretches of Providence Road. Both roads currently have one lane in each direction, and a turn lane that can accommodate two or three cars.
Before the council's 3-0 vote in favor if the plan, about a dozen people spoke about the widening at Monday's meeting. Most were not happy, and a few gasped when the details of the plan were read aloud. The roads will require several trees, if not buildings, to be removed, with the roads extending up near businesses' front doors.
A few residents from HighGate said they were worried the subdivision's attractive entrance walls and landscaping would become asphalt. Others said they moved to Weddington to enjoy a rural setting, and asked the council not to turn the town into, well, Charlotte. A woman from Aero Plantation suggested that if the widening was such a good idea, there was no harm in waiting for the public to learn more.
Mayor Nancy Anderson agreed, opening the meeting with a request to vote on the widening project later so citizens had more time. Although public hearings were held about the plan a few years ago, council member Robert Gilmartin added the widening as an agenda item just days before the Monday meeting.
(07.14.05)
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Indian Trail OKs 60-home project
INDIAN TRAIL - The Indian Trail Town Council has approved a new housing development after council members got the developer to reduce the number of houses from 74 to 60.
The development, on 22 acres on Pioneer Lane, is the last neighborhood the council will consider until the 18-month residential building moratorium the council instituted in January is lifted.
MHL Development submitted a complete application for the neighborhood before the moratorium, so it was still eligible for the council's consideration.
The measure passed 3-0 Tuesday. Council members Theron Kindley and Ray Killough said they liked the quality of the proposed houses, but were concerned with the initial proposal for 74 houses, bringing the density to 3.3 housing units per acre.
Kindley said the surrounding neighborhoods were between 2.2 and 2.7 housing units per acre.
"It looks like a good product," Kindley said of the neighborhood. "I've got a little bit of heartburn over the density request."
But council member Lane Vickery said she had no problems with the proposal.
"I think we've been pushing for better housing, and this looks to me like better housing," she said.
Developer Cameron Helms argued that a 3,000-foot sewer line was part of the development, and the houses were needed to make the project profitable.
(07.14.05)
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Next step taken for 4-year mayor's term
STALLINGS - Stallings officials held a public hearing Monday on extending the mayor's term from two years to four, but no one spoke on the issue.
The public hearing was the next step in amending the town charter, a requirement for changing the mayor's term. The council will take a final vote at its July 25 meeting.
Council members have said they want to lengthen the mayor's term so it will match the council members' four-year terms.
If approved, the four-year mayor term will take effect in November, when Stallings elects a mayor.
So far, Mayor Lucy Drake and Realtor Lynda Paxton, who attended Monday's meeting, have filed to run for mayor.
In other business, the Town Council voted unanimously to buy three acres next to Stallings Municipal Park for $165,000.
The town is buying the land from the estate of Grace Tucker, who died about two years ago, said Town Clerk Marie Garris. The $165,000 will come from the town's savings.
In a previous meeting, the council discussed installing a community retention pond on the land.
The pond would be an amenity to the park and would collect stormwater drainage from downtown properties.
The council also voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for a sports bar and office condominium building by the town's water tower.
(07.14.05)
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UNION COUNTY
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WEDDINGTON in the NEWS
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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Wesley Chapel, Stallings support resolution calling for oversight committee
Two Union County towns will support resolutions calling for a county water and sewer oversight committee.
Both Stallings and Wesley Chapel agreed to support the resolutions after being approached by county Commissioners Stony Rushing and Kevin Pressley. Stallings put its support behind the resolution at its second monthly meeting, while Wesley Chapel endorsed most of the resolution Thursday.
Wesley Chapel Councilwoman Barbara Moore said the council agreed to alter the resolution "because we didn't want to cast dispersion on the county commissioners," she said. "We simply want some serious discussion about the issue. We know the decision still belongs to the county commissioners."
Rushing and Pressley attended the Wesley Chapel meeting to explain how the oversight committee would function. The committee would be composed of 14 representatives, one for each municipality, and two more representatives appointed by the commissioners, Moore said.
The oversight committee would have no teeth when it comes to making decisions, Moore said, except that information sharing between the towns and the county could improve as the oversight committee makes its recommendations.
(07.02.05)
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Weddington weeks away from plan that could reshape its future
Weddington might soon have a better idea of what the future could hold for its downtown.
In the next few weeks, the town is set to receive a study by the Charlotte arm of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a nonprofit real estate and land-use research and education group.
Volunteers from the institute have spent the past month or so examining how the town can shape the downtown area around N.C. 16 and N.C. 84..
Weddington Mayor Nancy Anderson says she hopes the plan will get residents thinking -- and talking -- about the future.
"Every town has its own personality," she said, "and so Weddington needs to decide `What is our personality, and what do we want?' "
The town this year also looked into hiring a private consultant to study downtown, but the cost was up to $80,000, Anderson said. The land institute work cost $8,000, provided basically as a public service by ULI with volunteer consultants.
(07.03.05)
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Census: Every municipality in county is growing
When the U.S. Census Bureau released its newest population estimates late last week, it confirmed what most Union County residents notice every day: The county's towns are growing -- and in some cases, booming.
All 14 county municipalities have grown since the 2000 census, and the newest figures are estimated town populations as of July 1, 2004.
The county continues to attract thousands of newcomers, and towns have also expanded through annexation. In general, those closest to Mecklenburg County added the most residents.
Since growth figures are based on percentages, smaller towns that added perhaps a few hundred people could rank among the fastest growing, and larger municipalities could end up further down the list.
Monroe, for example, added an estimated 2,188 people between 2000 and 2004, more than any other Union town. But because its population is larger
- 28,422 -- its growth rate was 8.3 percent.
That's the lowest in a fast-growing county, but high compared with many cities across the region and country.
(07.03.05)
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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WESLEY CHAPEL in the NEWS
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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Hispanics account for one in three county births
Anyone remotely familiar with Union County can see the growing Latino population. Government agencies are continually having to make adjustments, whether they like it or not, to be able to serve that non-English speaking sector.
Those adjustments can be found with bilingual police office, Spanish speaking DSS and Health Department Staff as well as in the Union County Public Schools. But one agency that deals with all of Union County is finding it increasingly difficult to meet the growing demands.
Union County Register of Deeds Crystal Crump was elated earlier this month when the Union County Board of Commissioners seemingly agree to not only fund the one bilingual staff position she requested, but also two additional positions.
"I was very encouraged by their actions," Crump said.
Crump's enthusiasm was basically crushed when the board not only agreed to not fund the two additional positions, but also removed any funding for a bilingual staff person.
(06.26.05)
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(73%) Raise for clerk OK'd along with new budget
Increase defended for mayor's
wife
WESLEY CHAPEL - The Wesley Chapel Village Council has unanimously passed its 2005-06 budget, including a large raise for the village clerk that initially raised eyebrows among some residents.
Village clerk Shirley Hafey will be paid $31,200 next year, an increase from her current $18,000 salary. Hafey, who is married to village Mayor Mike Hafey, works a full-time position that has been far underpaid, the council agreed.
Hafey works upward of 50 or 60 hours a week, village staff said, and has done so while being paid relatively little. Clerk since 1998, Shirley Hafey worked the position on a volunteer basis for years until the village had enough money to pay her, said Mike Hafey. At her new $31,200 salary, Shirley Hafey will be paid $15 an hour, based on a 40-hour workweek. She will not receive benefits.
Because a public budget hearing wasn't held, brief comments from citizens on the budget were allowed before the Thursday meeting. Three people made comments, asking for an explanation of a few line items, including Shirley Hafey's raise.
(06.26.05)
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Fundraiser for beds aims to help animals rest easier
Animals in the Union County Animal Shelter spend their days lying on damp, hard floors, and a group of volunteers is trying to change that.
The Humane Society of Union County has partnered with Kuranda, a maker of dog beds. The society will match every animal cot (an elevated bed) paid for by a donor, and Kuranda will sell the cots at wholesale.
The shelter has received 10 beds so far and needs at least 20 more. The "chewproof" cots are $46.50 if the money is given to the Humane Society, and $54 if the donation is made online.
Changes are under way at the shelter, which has been awaiting a new building. The Union County Sheriff's Office will take over Animal Control July 1.
Animals in the shelter are now receiving rabies and flea and tick medicine for the first time, paid for by the county.
The shelter's unsealed floors and exposed insulation have made the building uncomfortable and even disease-prone for the animals.
A new shelter, approved last year by county commissioners, is in the works, but construction has been delayed.
The planned 7,500-square-foot, climate-controlled shelter, costing about $750,000, will be run by the sheriff's office, replacing the Health Department. It also will have the county's first spay-neuter clinic.
(06.26.05)
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MINERAL SPRINGS in the NEWS
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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STALLINGS in the NEWS
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Developers sue Mineral Springs over subdivision moratorium
Developers have filed a lawsuit against Mineral Springs because of its recently enacted subdivision moratorium.
The Town Council enacted the 18-month subdivision moratorium last month as a means to control growth while the town revisits and basically rewrites its land use plan.
At the time the council adopted the moratorium by a 5-1 vote, the town had not approved the plaintiffs' subdivision plat.
The suit filed by Bingham Holdings, Site Control Development Services and First Colony Land Development states the moratorium was "an arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable act by the defendant's town council in that no 'emergency' situation existed in the town of Mineral Springs sufficient to justify the suspension of the rights of property owners, such as the plaintiffs herein, to develop their property in accordance with the already-existing zoning and subdivision regulations in the town."
The suit seeks an order of judgment to declare the moratorium null and void of effect and move the plaintiffs' proposed development forward in accordance with the town's existing ordinances. The suit also asks that the town pay the plaintiffs' costs associated with this action.
(06.16.05)
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Mayor and council member square off over Dec. e-mail
INDIAN TRAIL - An Indian Trail Town Council meeting ended in a heated exchange this week between Mayor Sandy Moore and council member Mercedes Cass after Cass questioned Moore about an e-mail Moore sent in December.
During the council members' comment section of the Tuesday meeting, Cass showed council members a copy of an e-mail, which showed that Moore sent it on Dec. 27 to all council members except Cass.
Indian Trail resident Shirley Howe said she found a copy of the e-mail several weeks ago while looking through town records for more information about flooding in Beacon Hills. Howe said she then showed the e-mail to Cass.
In the e-mail, Moore states that she "needs your approval" to write a letter to about 300 people in the Beacon Hills area who would be affected by work done to alleviate flooding problems on Clearwater Drive.
On Tuesday, Cass repeatedly asked Moore why she was left off the e-mail. She also asked if the e-mail constituted an electronic meeting because it was sent to council members and asked for an approval.
Moore replied that she didn't realize Cass was excluded, and Cass continued to question the e-mail.
(06.16.05)
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4-year mayoral term on agenda
STALLINGS - The next mayor of Stallings could serve twice as long as past mayors if a move to amend the town's charter gets final approval in July.
The Town Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday that would increase the mayor's term from two years to four.
The change would take effect in November, when Mayor Lucy Drake's current term ends. The winning mayoral candidate in November would serve a four-year term.
The council has discussed increasing the mayor's term to coincide with the terms of council members, who serve four years.
A public hearing on the proposed term change will be held June 27, and the council will make a final vote on the issue on July 11.
Drake said at a previous meeting that a four-year term would make the mayor's job easier because it can take two years to learn the job.
In other business, the council unanimously voted to allow the Union County Chamber of Commerce to rent space in the old town hall building for $1 a month.
A chamber representative in Stallings would help promote the area, said Stallings Police Chief Larke Plyler. The chamber's main office is in Monroe.
"(The chamber's) physical presence in the western part of the county is crucial," said Town Council member Gary Sides.
The chamber representative initially would work in Stallings three days a week and would use one office in the old town hall.
(06.16.05)
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MONROE in the NEWS
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UNION COUNTY
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UNION COUNTY
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Search committee appointed to find new city manager
Monroe City Council members and staff department heads will play a role in the search for a new city manager.
Mayor Judy Davis appointed council members Bob Smith, Dottie Nash and Bobby Kilgore to join city clerk Jeanne Deese, human resources director Debra Chestnut Reed, planning director Wayne Herron and finance director Sonia Vizcaino in the search for a new city manager. Davis tapped the seven-member search committee Tuesday night, naming Smith as chairman because he has previously participated in the process.
Kilgore and Nash said Friday that the committee has yet to set a date for its first meeting. While no specific qualities for the new city manager have been identified, advertisements that list the minimum requirements for the post have been recently published, including in two municipal publications.
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Commissioners hear from public safety officials
The Union County Board of Commissioners tackled several departmental budgets, including several law enforcement and public safety departments, during its latest round of budget work sessions Thursday night.
Board members heard from Sheriff Eddie Cathey, Homeland Security Director Pat Beekman and County Fire Marshal Neal Speer.
Beekman told the board that the county was close to hiring a new 911 communications director. He added the prospective director is traveling to Union County this weekend from Pittsburgh to look at county schools, churches and real estate.
He also touted the progress being made in the training of new 911 communications personnel.
The board discussed the sheriff's budget and the question of substations and satellite offices was brought up.
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Site near Marvin found for proposed sheriff's branch
County would pay a `nominal fee' to put station in development
A proposed satellite sheriff's office in western Union County took a step forward Thursday when officials said they're looking at a potential site.
Officials have been talking about the idea in some form for several years, but it took on more substance when County Manager Mike Shalati and Sheriff Eddie Cathey told the county commissioners they have been discussing a plan to include the office in a new retail development near Marvin.
Shalati and Cathey said the new development is at N.C. 16 and New Town Road. The property is now in unincorporated Union County, but is within Marvin's sphere of influence. Developer Lat Purser is aiming to have the parcel annexed into the village and then rezoned commercial, Marvin Mayor Gordon Suhre said Friday.
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UNION COUNTY
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WAXHAW in the NEWS
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WEDDINGTON in the News
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Judicial center's revolving door closed after child caught
So far the biggest flaw with the $16 million Union County Judicial Center has been getting in and out of the front door.
Deputies at the Judicial Center were forced to close off the revolving door Friday after a child was injured when he became wedged in the door's frame earlier, Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said. He said a man using a walker also became stuck in the door on Thursday.
"It's been closed for further use until the door company can fix that door," Cathey said Friday afternoon.
There have been reports of additional incidents, including a handicapped man who fell while inside the rotating door. The majority of the problems, however, have been when children get a hand caught in the door.
"Handicapped persons are not even supposed to be using that door," General Services director Barry Wyatt said. "There are side doors that are to be used for those situations."
(06.03.05)
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Waxhaw brokers agreement with former administrator
The town of Waxhaw has reached a settlement with its former town administrator, Mike Simpson, who was fired April 14.
Simpson's contract was not due to expire until June 2006. The town's commissioners voted 3-1 to terminate it, knowing the town would owe Simpson about $70,000 in wages and benefits.
The commissioners who favored the termination said they had come to distrust Simpson and were dissatisfied with his management style, and they hoped to take the town in a new direction.
Under the settlement, signed Monday, Simpson will continue to receive insurance and retirement contributions, as well as the salary he was due through June 2006, $56,005. The salary will be paid in two payments of about $28,000 each.
The town will not have to continue paying for Simpson's health, dental and/or vision insurance, however, if he obtains it through another job. And Simpson will not receive or be compensated for the 300 hours of vacation time and 550 hours of sick leave he had accumulated, Mayor Gary Underwood said.
"I think it's a fair deal for both parties," Underwood said. "Any time you make a change, you hopefully make it for the better."
(5.29.05)
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Hearing set on annexation
Filling in the holes and cleaning up the borders is part of the purpose behind Weddington's bid to annex a large tract of land between its borders and the edge of Wesley Chapel.
Mayor Nancy Anderson said the two towns share similar zoning philosophies making it easy to work together on how to grow towards a common border. There is no buffer agreement between the two communities, she said, but officials have discussed how best to create logical lines for a shared border.
"We're taking all we legally and logically can at this point," Anderson said. "We've told Wesley Chapel to get all they can while they can."
The move to annex now came about because of concerns of the county-controlled land between the two towns, Anderson said.
"There's a wide stretch of land between us and Wesley Chapel that the county can potentially do what they want with," Anderson said. "Even though it wouldn't be in our borders, what goes in there could define our communities."
(06.03.05)
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STALLINGS in the NEWS
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UNION COUNTY
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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Proposed Stallings budget includes no tax increase
The Stallings Town Council appointed 13 members to its Land Use Study Committee and moved a step closer to finalizing its 2005-2006 budget at a work session Monday.
The council voted from a field of about 20 names, and settled on 13, adding one to the group because of close voting. The 13 members are spread across the town and both sides of U.S. 74, Mayor Lucy Drake said.
The council also opened and closed the public hearing on the new budget, with no residents offering comment. Town manager Brian Matthews said the new budget maintains last year's 25 cents per $100 rate, but picks up additional money from revenues shared with the state, other taxes collected by local authorities, and miscellaneous revenues. Matthews projected the budget expenditures to be $3,150,284 and revenues from the town's property taxes to be $2,029,900.
Increases in expenditures come from the need for an additional police officer and more equipment. Stallings Police Chief Larke Plyler reported to Matthews that the additional officer would keep the department at about one officer per 500 residents. The national standard calls for one officer for every 300 residents, but Matthews' budget report said Plyler was confident the department could handle the 500-1 ratio adequately.
(5.25.05)
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Mayors, commissioners to try again
More than a year after municipal mayors walked out on the Union County Board of Commissioners because of infighting among the commissioners, all parties will try it again.
The Mayors-Commissioners Issues Conference will be 7 p.m. Thursday in the Jefferson Room of the Union County Publics Works Building.
The municipal and county leaders last met officially in January 2004. Many found the meeting frustrating as the municipal leaders were pulled into the ongoing battle over sewer service between Commissioners Stony Rushing and Clayton Loflin and county manager Mike Shalati.
Monroe Mayor Judy Davis called the impromptu walkout and asked commissioners to move on, or the mayors were leaving.
Stallings Mayor Lucy Drake is optimistic that this meeting will be productive because there are so many issues facing the county.
"This meeting is very much overdue," she said. "There are a lot of problems like the growth issue and I am looking forward to the meeting as long as some action is taken."
(05.25.05)
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Indian Trail Town Council OKs 504-home development
INDIAN TRAIL The Indian Trail Town Council on Tuesday night
finally approved a 241-acre development that will include 504
housing lots.
The council voted unanimously to rezone property
and approved a conditional use permit for the property located
on Poplin Road and Rocky River Road. The development will
include a clubhouse, pool and residences ranging from $160,00 to
$330,000.
The zoning will change from R-20 to R-6, but the council stipulated that the development will not have more
than 504 single-family units, which are typically residential
housing lots. The R-20 zoning has 2.2 houses per acre while a
pure R-6 zoning would have about seven houses per acre.
"It's actually a smaller number of houses per acre than is
currently allowed under R-20," Councilman Theron Kindley
said.
The council also expressed concerns in its March monthly
meeting about possible flooding from a nearby creek, but Kindley
added that the developer went beyond the town's
requirements.
The council also unanimously approved to extend a contract to
HNTB, a transportation consulting company. HNTB will perform a
traffic study on the future Williams Rescue Road extension.
(5.23.05)
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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MARVIN in the NEWS
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MONROE in the NEWS
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Car lots, corporate HQ and expanded campus slated at interchange
MATTHEWS - In about 12 years, there could be two college campuses, 15 car dealerships, shops, restaurants and homes, all near the Interstate I-485/U.S. 74 interchange.
At a Matthews public hearing last, Hendrick Automotive presented its long-term plan for 175 acres next to CPCC's Levine Campus. What Hendrick calls Matthews Auto Center would be one of the largest projects in town history.
Right now there are few details about when the buildings would rise and what they would look like. Proposed is an auto mall housing up to 15 car dealerships; a spot for the Hendrick Automotive Group corporate headquarters; general "mixed-use" spots; water-drainage areas and 2.5 acres for Wingate University, which would move its Matthews campus from downtown.
Students at CPCC's Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology, which is set to open next year, could intern and possibly work at the auto mall. Also, Hendrick is piecing together enough land for McKee Road to be extended through a junkyard it's buying in Stallings and on to U.S. 74.
A cadre of Hendrick supporters spoke in favor of the plan.
(05.15.05)
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Marvin looks for ways to save land for parks
MARVIN - Greenways, parks and recreation areas. Marvin leaders want to see all three.
But with the town's rapid growth and subdivisions popping up all over, open land is disappearing fast.
In effect, says Marvin council member Lanny Openshaw, the town is growing so quickly that much of the open farmland along rural thoroughfares is already headed for development.
"There's plans or developers have right of first refusal," said Openshaw.
That fact and the skyrocketing price of property prompted leaders at Tuesday's council meeting to talk about ways to raise money to buy land in the near future, including a bond referendum, applying for grant money and other alternatives.
"We're trying to look ahead," said Openshaw. "We don't have the option of waiting."
The councilman said the town's focus on honoring its rural heritage is tied to attaining and preserving park land.
(05.15.05)
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Airport expansion drives budget increase
MONROE: Making money typically requires spending money first.
The specific reason given for Monroe's call for a 3-cent tax increase for 2006 is public safety. While 19 of the city's 31 new positions are designated for additional fire and police personnel at a cost of more than $644,000 and other public safety expenses of more than $400,000, expanding the Monroe Regional Airport will cost nearly $2 million. In theory, the expansion will generate tax dollars by attracting corporate jets which might also translate into Monroe becoming home to future industry.
During Thursday's Monroe City Council budget work session, the board appeared to support the budget, including the added personnel and the airport expansion. The city's increased presence at the airport will be in direct competition with Piedmont Hawthorne -- the fixed-base operator.
City officials said it's Piedmont Hawthorne's failures and lack of competitive services, compared to surrounding regional airports, that have prompted Monroe to seize more control at the airport.
(05.15.05)
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MONROE in the NEWS
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MINERAL SPRINGS in the NEWS
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WEDDINGTON in the News
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Monroe city manager calls for 3-cent tax increase
City property owners should expect to pay more taxes for 2006 if the Monroe City Council approves its city manager's recommendation.
Additional personnel and capital projects led City Manager Doug Spell to ask the council to increase the city's property tax by 3 cents, from 48 cents to 51 cents per $100 assessed value. The additions are the result of discussions from the strategic planning retreat in February when the board learned of a possible tax increase. The total amount of all funds for the fiscal year is $122,240,752.
Spell's recommended budget includes hiring nine new Fire Department personnel and six new Police Department positions.
Police and fire expenses represent other costs as well. In addition to the new positions and their necessary equipment, other designated expenses include half the costs (half shared by Union County) of a new police firing range at $200,000. Renovations at Fire Station No. 5 are earmarked for $200,000 with another $40,000 toward fitness equipment at all stations.
(5.11.05)
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Mineral Springs to discuss subdivision moratorium
The public will have an opportunity to voice its concerns Thursday when the Mineral Springs Town Council considers adopting a subdivision moratorium to revise its land use plan.
A public hearing on the proposed moratorium will allow those both in favor of and opposed to the moratorium to express their opinions.
"When we adopted our ordinances, they were very generic, so now we need to go back and better fit the ordinances to the way Mineral Springs will grow," Mayor Rick Becker said. "We see ourselves different than other municipalities and our residents tend to be very conservation-minded."
Becker said after the public hearing, the council will discuss if it will adopt the moratorium, and set a time limit ranging from 12 to 18 months.
"I feel we would like to have the moratorium longer at first so we would avoid having to extend it if the work is not complete," Becker said.
(5.11.05)
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Weddington to vote on liquor by the drink
The residents of Weddington will vote in November on whether to have mixed-beverage sales within the town.
The Town Council voted unanimously to place a mixed-beverage referendum on the ballot, which would allow restaurants in the town to serve mixed alcoholic drinks, beer and wine on their premises. The town must now submit its resolution to the Union County Board of Elections.
Councilman Ken Evans voted for the resolution, he said, because the council heard so many requests from homeowner associations.
"The comment we always hear is we want a nice family restaurant in the town," he said.
Evans also added that no restaurant will come to the town unless the voters approve serving beer, wine and mixed drinks.
(5.11.05)
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STALLINGS in the News
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UNION COUNTY
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SCHOOLS
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Strip mall developer, tenants angry with Stallings officials
A shopping center developer and his tenants are angry with Stallings officials after the first tenant was told her business could not get a temporary certificate of occupancy.
Store owner Wendy Starnes has operated a beauty salon in Stallings for 13 years, but her move to a new location is being held up, she said, because Mayor Lucy Drake won't approve the certificate. The new store is in a strip shopping center where the old fire station used to be.
No one can move into the building until it is ready, Drake said, and the building is not ready. The building is in the downtown overlay district, which Drake said means there are a very specific requirements of what is and is not allowed for a business.
(5.07.05)
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Welfare fraud target of crackdown
Welfare recipients who abuse Union County's social services will now risk prosecution.
The Department of Social Services, the Sheriff's Office, and the District Attorney's Office have joined forces to aggressively pursue those who defraud the county. District Attorney Michael Parker has designated a prosecutor and Sheriff Eddie Cathey has agreed to provide detectives to aid DSS investigators.
"If you're defrauding the Department of Social Services, then we're coming after you," Parker said. "It's a drain on the public's coffers. They think they're stealing from the state, but they're taking from those who truly need it."
(5.06.05)
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List of banned items longer at Union schools this fall
Union County students can forget listening to an mp3 player during lunch, or skateboarding after class.
The music player and skateboards are on a list of several items that won't be allowed in the county's public schools this fall, according to new student handbooks approved by the school board Tuesday.
Items already banned district-wide (elementary school through high school) from school property include laser pointers, beepers, two-way radios, matches and cigarette lighters, unless they are locked in a private vehicle.
Cell phones, CD players, iPods, mp3 players and DVD players cannot be used by students during the school day, and cell phones must stay out of sight, such as in a purse, book bag or locker.
(05.08.05)
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WEDDINGTON in the News
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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MONROE in the NEWS
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Weddington council denies rezoning request
The Weddington Town Council unanimously declined a rezoning request Monday night.
Councilmen Ken Evans and Robert Gilmartin both voted to decline the rezoning request. Councilman Tommy Price was absent.
Gilmartin said he wouldn't honor the rezoning request because the town has a different land-use plan now.
"We put a lot of hard work into R-40 plus 10 (acres)," he said. "Everybody that comes forth has to abide by the law."
Gilmartin also added that this property had no vested interest such as preliminary plat approval from the council or the town's Planning Board.
(04.20.05)
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Developer moves forward with zoning rule change
MINT HILL - Town commissioners have approved a new zoning category, which a developer immediately sought for a planned shopping center.
The new Planned Unit Development ordinance allows large-scale commercial development to be approved under one package, instead of separate pieces as previously had been required.
As soon as the ordinance passed, commissioners accepted a petition from Childress Klein to rezone 215 acres in the northwest quadrant of Lawyers Road and I-485. Childress Klein plans to build a shopping complex, The Bridges at Mint Hill, on that site.
(04.21.05)
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City Council adopts greenway, bike trail plan
MONROE - The City Council has adopted a long-range plan for greenways and bike paths, but building the system could take years and could cost millions.
Consultants from HadenStanziale, a Charlotte-based firm the city hired to design the greenway system, presented the council detailed maps of more than 75 miles of walking trails, bike paths and greenways throughout Monroe.
"Monroe is a great place to live, work and raise a family," the consultant's report states. "A comprehensive trail system will make it an even better place to live."
The council's unanimous decision Tuesday does not mean the plan will be implemented immediately, but it will serve as a guide when money becomes available.
(04.21.05)
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UNION COUNTY
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WAXHAW in the NEWS
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UNION COUNTY
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Adjustment board applicants wanted
Are you wild about zoning? Learned in land use? Itching to consider special-use permits?
Boy, do we have a job for you.
Union County commissioners are looking for residents to serve on the new -- and, they're hoping, improved -- board of adjustment. Any county resident is eligible to apply, and the deadline is April 25.
Commissioners voted to dissolve the old board earlier this month and reconstitute it with seven regular and two alternate members.
The board meets once a month to consider zoning variances and appeals in unincorporated Union County.
Most of its actions, however, involve special-use permits, which are required for plans not usually allowed in a zoning district. If the board of adjustment determines a project will fit in with surrounding areas and not adversely affect public health, safety and welfare, it can grant the permit.
Everything from ABC stores and "adult establishments" to zoos must seek the permits, as specified in the county's land-use plan. Wal-Mart applied for one for its proposed store near Marvin -- and got it last fall, much to neighbors' dismay.
Wal-Mart was, by far, the most controversial issue the board has dealt with, but it's hardly the only heated subject it takes up, board of adjustment Clerk Janice Griffin said.
"Dog kennels get the most opposition," Griffin said. "The barking, the noise."
(4.17.05)
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Waxhaw seeking new town manager
In a matter of weeks, the town of Waxhaw will have either a new town manager or a vacancy to be filled.
Waxhaw's Board of Commissioners met Thursday night to discuss renewing the contract of current town manager Michael Simpson, who is also a commissioner, but were unable to reach an agreement.
Mayor Gary Underwood said the two sides could not agree to terms for a new contract, and would not comment on what either side was expecting.
"We finally agreed to let the contract expire," Underwood said. "He will continue to be the town manager until then."
The negotiation and the final decision were handled amicably by the commissioners and Simpson, Underwood said. If the town does not find a new manager before Simpson's contract expires, Underwood said Simpson would not remain as a fill-in or interim.
-- Staff Writer John Tompkins
The Enquirer Journal (4.16.05)
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County seeking $1.87 million in delinquent taxes
He's made a list. He's checked it twice. And on Sunday, we'll know who has been naughty.
No, we're not talking about jolly old Saint Nick, but rather Union County tax administrator John
Petosky. This year's unpaid tax list will run in Sunday's The Enquirer-Journal and contains nearly 4,000 parcels and owner's names, who for whatever reason decided not to pay their property taxes.
"We have about 3,946 parcels, which is about the norm," Petosky said.
While the county's tax collection rate is roughly 96.87 percent, Petosky said the total burden of the delinquent taxes equates to $1,870,797. He added that the posting satisfies the state statutes and has a practical application.
"The purpose of the list is not to embarrass anyone,
but is required by state law and does serve as a
notification," he said. "The posting of the list
helps because sometimes there are people on it that don't
realize they owe the taxes. Sometimes we may have the wrong
mailing address, so the taxpayer may not have received the
notification letters we had sent."
(4.16.05)
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MINERAL SPRINGS in the NEWS
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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STALLINGS in the NEWS
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Mineral Springs to discuss development moratorium
The town of Mineral Springs could become the latest Union County municipality to impose a moratorium on developments.
The Town Council will meet Thursday and will consider calling for a public hearing that would halt major subdivision growth in the town for as much as 12 months while the town revisits its land-use plan.
"We just adopted our land-use plan and ordinances in 2002, but they were very basic and we want to thoroughly go through it," Mayor Rick Becker said. "Even though we worked on it for more than a year before we adopted it, we knew it would need updating."
Becker added there was a great deal of "haphazard" development around the town, both in municipalities as well as in the county, and it was incumbent on the council to set the example.
"There is high density development coming on at least two of our borders, and we had to ask whether we were ready for that," he said. "This is the only real way we can get a handle on it and this is the only chance we have to get it right."
(4.13.05) |
Town Council delays a decision on 504-home plan
Union Observer: Special correspondent Marty Minchin
Indian Trail's Town Council will consider a proposed 504-house development in May because the developer has asked for another month to study runoff and drainage at the site.
The council was scheduled to vote Tuesday on the Centex Homes development, but town planners asked to delay consideration until May 10.
Council members initially looked at the neighborhood fronting Poplin and Rocky River roads in March. The development's application is one of the few remaining that were completed before the council enacted a temporary moratorium on most residential development Jan. 11.
In March, several council members said they were concerned with the amount of runoff the neighborhood would dump into Crooked Creek, and they asked the developer for more information about drainage before they voted on the development.
(4.14.05)
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Council OKs growth moratorium
STALLINGS - The Town Council adopted a nine-month residential building moratorium 5-1 on Monday, with one council member questioning whether the town really needed it.
The town will not accept applications for new neighborhoods during the moratorium while town officials revise the town's land use plan.
Town Manager Brian Matthews told the council that Stallings has only between 300 and 400 acres where neighborhoods could be developed, and he said he didn't think the moratorium was necessary.
Town Council member Barry Forrester, who voted against the moratorium, agreed.
"We have limited vacant land in our town, so what value is this to us?" Forrester said.
Matthews said the town's land use plan does need updating, and he told the council it could cost as much as $25,000 to pay a consultant to help with the revisions. The land use plan also will address commercial development and undeveloped Union County land outside Stallings that the town could annex.
Mayor Lucy Drake said the town has not completely revised the land use plan since the north Stallings area was annexed in 2001.
(4.14.05)
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UNION COUNTY
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SCHOOLS
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Goal in lottery: Protect education
As state-sponsored gambling grows across the country, N.C. officials hope that being one of the last states to adopt a lottery could help them avoid the mistakes of others.
On Wednesday the House passed a lottery bill by two votes, paving the way for North Carolina to become the 42nd state to have one. Backers say the measure, expected to be passed in some form by the Senate, could generate an education jackpot of up to $400 million a year.
On Thursday Gov. Mike Easley, who favors a lottery, proposed what he says could be a critical safeguard: a constitutional amendment that would put the lottery profits "in a lockbox" for education.
Some states have used lottery money for other than its stated purpose or to replace, not supplement, money for education. Others have found themselves under pressure to boost spending on lottery advertising or turn to other forms of gambling to boost revenues. Some have seen lottery-related scandals.
"The biggest challenge at this point will be to resist the temptations that naturally come to states that have adopted lotteries," said John
Dinan, a Wake Forest University political scientist and a lottery expert. "And those temptations take a variety of forms."
(4.08.05)
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Water main construction could start in 2-3 months
$12.5 million first phase expected to be completed in 2006
The first phase of a "water superhighway" designed to improve water quantity, quality and pressure across western Union County is finally moving ahead, more than a year after it was originally supposed to begin.
County commissioners Monday approved low bids for a water main and pump station for the project, officially called the County Wide Water Transmission Main. Construction should start in the next two to three months, once procedural work to finalize the contract is completed, county Public Works Director Jon Dyer said.
The line will go from Sims Road near Waxhaw to Watkins Road, between Wesley Chapel and Monroe, with a pump station at Watkins Road. The remaining two phases will head farther northward, and the project will eventually stretch about 20 miles.
The first phase was on track to start in fall 2003, but the county was prevented from getting the last permit it needed when the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources requested an environmental assessment -- something county Finance Director Kai Nelson called "unprecedented for this type of project."
(4.10.05)
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Schools try to ease Weddington growth pain
Short-term fixes sought for middle school that's over-capacity by 600
Union County school officials say they won't make Weddington Middle School less crowded, but until a new school is built, the district is looking for ways to make life at the school a bit more bearable.
David Clarke, assistant superintendent of auxiliary services, is meeting with school principals in the Weddington cluster and the middle school's parent and teacher team for some serious brainstorming.
The school currently has 1,600 students enrolled -- 600 more than it was designed for -- and a new middle school to help alleviate the overcrowding won't be opening in the area until 2007 at the earliest.
Clarke said his job is to find solutions for some of the problems the overcrowding causes: everything from morning traffic to serving extra lunches.
"You can't relieve the overcrowding -- it's there -- but there are strategies you can put in place to keep the kids safe," Clarke said.
Clarke said some of the district's interest in examining the middle school is the result of last winter's elementary school-assignment process, when some of the reassignment plans called for ways to divert students from Weddington Middle.
(4.10.05)
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HEMBY BRIDGE in the NEWS |
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your information |
UNION COUNTY
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McClain ousted as Hemby Bridge mayor
HEMBY BRIDGE: The Hemby Bridge Board of Aldermen ousted David McClain as its mayor and mayor pro tem in the wake of several allegations against the family-dominated board.
On the board's agenda Monday night was the removal of McClain, changing the board's monthly meeting place and addressing a number of allegations. As far as the allegations, a few new ones -- including document forgery -- surfaced that the board used to justify busting McClain down to alderman.
On behalf of Alderman Rodney Mullis, attorney Bill McGuirt said the town's monthly meeting minutes between June 2003 and July 2004 contained a forged Kevin Pressley signature. Although McClain, the town clerk during that period, was not named as the forger, the board held him accountable for the documents and voted 4-0 to remove him as mayor.
McGuirt also pointed out that because McClain never officially took the oath of office after his January appointment, McClain was technically not the mayor anyway. He did, however, still hold his former post of mayor pro tem until the board unanimously stripped him of that title as well.
(3.31.05) |
Gridlock ahead for highway projects?
Budget cut would delay improvements for years
Years of construction delays would hit virtually every major Charlotte-area road project under a budget-cutting plan being considered by the state Transportation Department.
The draft Transportation Improvement Plan includes these proposed delays:
• The last leg of the outerbelt in north Mecklenburg County would not be started until 2011, a three-year delay.
• The widening of the outerbelt's jammed southern leg would be delayed until at least 2012. That project has never had a construction date.
• The project to convert Independence Boulevard to an expressway from Albemarle Road to Idlewild Road would be delayed two years, to about 2012.
And delays would affect a range of key regional commuter routes, including Brawley School Road in Iredell County, Poplar Tent Road in Cabarrus County and N.C. 16 in Union County.
That's all according to a draft of the department's budget reviewed by the Observer. N.C. DOT spokeswoman Ashley Memory cautioned that the seven-year plan, which would take effect in 2006, is "a working document" and can change.
(3.31.05)
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County officials clash over policy
Manager says questions about easements, his home a waste of time
A long-running dispute between Union County manager Mike Shalati and commissioner Stony Rushing has flared up again, with Rushing's criticism of the county's water and sewer line easement policy.
At commissioners' meetings, in an e-mail and on his Web site, Rushing has implied possible connections between the price and assessed value of Shalati's house and condemnations for sewer easements.
Shalati has defended his record, denied any wrongdoing and says Rushing has been conducting "a McCarthyist witch hunt" that is wasting county time.
"This stuff -- it's a lie, it's untrue, and it needs to be put to bed," he said. "If there's an issue, we have laws and agencies that deal with this stuff. That's the proper way."
Though Rushing has clashed with the county manager in the past, he says his current campaign is not the result of a personal feud.
(3.31.05)
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HEMBY BRIDGE in the NEWS |
UNION COUNTY |
MINERAL SPRINGS in the NEWS
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Hemby Bridge residents upset after aldermen miss meeting
HEMBY BRIDGE: Controversy continues to swirl in Hemby Bridge as some town residents are outraged about a recent appointment to the town's Board of Aldermen. When residents showed up Thursday night to again protest the appointment, three aldermen -- including newly appointed Larry Pressley's debut -- failed to attend the scheduled meeting.
One month after the board voted 3-1 in favor of appointing Pressley to fill a board vacancy, residents packed McClain's Auction Barn to voice their discontent about impaneling a family-dominated board. Only Alderman Teddy Baucom and Mayor David McClain were present, while brothers-in-law Pressley and Johnny Lemmond were absent. Rodney Mullis, also a relative of the two by marriage, was absent.
Pressley said Monday that he didn't attend because of sickness. Lemmond said he had to work and care for his ailing wife, Ann Lemmond, who is also the town's finance officer. She too was absent. Mullis said he had a house closing to take care of and a family car to repair. All said there was no pressing town business or they would have attended.
(3.22.05) |
Commissioner accuses county manager of sweetheart home deal
The latest bout in the ongoing dispute between Union County Commissioner Stony Rushing and county manager Mike Shalati came to a head Monday night when Shalati defended himself, yet again, against a number of allegations.
Shalati took the podium near the end of Monday's meeting to respond to allegations of impropriety, which Rushing sent to various investigative organizations, as well as numerous county residents.
While Shalati contends that he had to defend his professional reputation, Rushing said he just wants the truth to come out.
"We need someone from outside Union County to look at these allegations, look at these actions and tell us if there is a problem," Rushing said.
he crux of Rushing's case stems from the condemnation of property for a developer and the lack of adequate notification for that property owner as well as the county's payment for that property. The property owners were offered $827 for their property for a sewer easement, but eventually, through litigation, was awarded a $40,000 sum.
(3.22.05) |
Mineral Springs weighs business use for land
MINERAL SPRINGS: The Mineral
Springs Planning Board during a special meeting Thursday will consider a
rezoning request that could add 1.47 acres of business property in the
town.
The board with consider a request by Michael
Autry for the rezoning of property along N.C. 75 adjacent to Patterson
Mini Storage.
The property is currently zoned residential and with
be considered for change from RA-20 to Business-4 zoning.
The bulk of the town's commercial zoning is
located around the intersection of N.C. 75 and Potter Road, with a few
pockets of commercial areas. The town also has two light industrial
areas, one to the north with Parkdale Mills, and one in the south with
no current operation on it.
The B-4 zoning would allow for a wider range of
commercial businesses than the town's B-2 zoning. The B-4 zoning was
established for businesses that usually generate more traffic and are a
higher profile than those in B-2 zoning.
(3.23.05)
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UNION COUNTY
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Board of Adjustment to get hearing Monday
Commissioners angry over Wal-Mart permit want panel dissolved
When the Union County Board of Adjustment last fall approved a permit Wal-Mart needs to build a store near Marvin, members knew their ruling would be controversial.
They didn't expect it to bring about the board's demise.
But as the Wal-Mart debate persists, county commissioners are moving toward abolishing the board and rebuilding it with new members.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the issue at their meeting Monday Those in favor of eliminating the board say it is the best way to deal with a dysfunctional body.
"They (board members) didn't do their job, they've earned their pink slips, and I want to hand them to them," said commissioner Hughie Sexton, who proposed the dissolution Feb. 7.
Residents near the proposed Wal-Mart say the board ignored their concerns, neglected requirements of the county's land-use plan, and broke the law by acting with a "lack of professionalism" and "apparent bias" throughout the hearings.
"After hearing 30-hours-plus of testimony, there was no discussion of evidence," said Ginger
Leppert, who lives near the proposed store site at Tom Short and Rea roads.
(3.13.05)
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Federal transportation bill includes $6 million for Monroe bypass
The U.S. House approved a mammoth $284 billion highway and transit bill Thursday with an intent to reduce traffic congestion nationwide and provide jobs in every lawmaker's home district. The bill includes $6 million in federal funds requested by Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., for the Monroe Bypass.
The bill next goes before the Senate for approval, and if passed, would go to a conference for a final review.
The bill easily passed the House with a vote of 417-9. Myrick said past transportation bills have usually had good support.
"This time, the support was better than before," she said during a telephone interview. "This bill managed to stay within the budgeted numbers."
The bill is divided into three areas, guaranteeing $225.5 billion over a six-year period to the Federal Highway Administration, $52.3 billion to the Federal Transit Administration and more than $6 billion for use in safety programs. While the spending on the bill was reined in, Myrick said she was not pleased with some of the last-minute pork items that were added.
(3.11.05)
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County may scrap land provision
Subsidy had allowed builders more units for subdivision amenities
Union County commissioners will take up the county's "smart growth" bonus density land use provision at a Monday public hearing, possibly scrapping a measure that allows developers to build extra units in exchange for providing amenities like sidewalks.
The provision has been criticized by commissioner Hughie Sexton as "a developer subsidy the county can no longer afford," and a repeal is likely, considering the board also recommended it in a 3-2 vote in February.
Much of the debate can be traced to Union County's zoning, which predominantly allows for roughly one house per acre in unincorporated residential areas.
This type of zoning is common in other semi-rural areas, but planners say it does not necessarily accommodate the needs of booming suburban communities.
"It's typically low-density, and uncoordinated as far as placing higher densities closer to services and existing infrastructure," said Bill Pugh, a planner with the Centralina Council of Governments.
That contributes to sprawl and dependence on cars, says Vicki
Bott, director of land use and environmental planning at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute.
"The need to provide more choices is out there, and (developers) may be frustrated that land use regulations aren't keeping up with allowing those choices," Bott said.
(3.13.05)
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MARSHVILLE in the
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WEDDINGTON in the News |
VIEWPOINTS
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Marshville meeting to focus on Police Department
An informational meeting or a police bashing?
On behalf of some concerned businesses and residents, the Marshville Town Council and the town's Police Department will have an open meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. The topic of discussion is how police are responding to a recent crime spree that includes 19 break-ins over a 14-month period, 16 within the last nine months. Lt. Matt Tarlton said the majority of the crimes occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when only one officer patrols the town of more than 2,500.
Town administrator Carl Webber said the meeting, called by Mayor Denise Whitley, would not be confrontational, but police Chief Mike Gaddy said he believes his department will be unfairly attacked...
(3.13.05)
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Weddington council member resigns
Weddington council member Melvin Threatt is resigning from the town board, effective Monday.
Threatt submitted his resignation letter to Mayor Nancy Anderson and the town council on Thursday, saying he is moving out of the district he serves. As a result, he will no longer be eligible to continue his office.
The councilman has served the town for almost 10 years.
In his letter, dated March 8, he wrote, "It has been a pleasure to serve two years on the Planning and Zoning Board, and almost two terms on the Town Council of Weddington."
(3.13.05)
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One superintendent candidate not enough
I am extremely disappointed in the Union County School Boards' decision to close the superintendent search with only one internal applicant. How can we possibly know if we have selected the best superintendent if we limit our search to one
candidate?....
Limited search will perpetuate problems
Limiting your search for a new superintendent to internal candidates will only perpetuate the problems our schools are experiencing.
Most of you have demonstrated that you do not possess the political fortitude to rise to the challenges our school system faces today.
...
Letters to the Editor
(3.13.05)
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WAXHAW in the News |
WEDDINGTON in the News |
INDIAN TRAIL in the News
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Mixed zoning on 61 acres rejected
WAXHAW - After hearing debate on both sides, the Waxhaw Board of Commissioners accepted an amended zoning resolution making 61 acres near Waxhaw Presbyterian Church entirely residential.
The original zoning amendment considered by the board and debated Tuesday night during a public hearing would have zoned the parcel owned by Melvin Graham for a mix of single-family homes, town homes and commercial property.
Several speakers complained that the proposed project would tax the city's infrastructure and might lower property values. Bill
Reule, speaking on behalf of the developer, said the project would not be started until infrastructure was in place to support it.
(03.10.05)
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How will Weddington grow?
WEDDINGTON - How might Weddington develop in the next five or 10 years, commercially and residentially?
Town leaders may have an answer to that question in the upcoming months.
The council is considering working with the Urban Land Institute in Charlotte to prepare an assessment of future growth and give recommendations on how and in what direction the community should develop.
The study's cost is $8,000 and it could take place within the next several months.
"They'll make recommendations as to how we should target our efforts," said Weddington Mayor Nancy Anderson.
Officials plan to vote on a contract with the group, which assists small municipalities, at Monday's council meeting.
(03.10.05)
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Concerns about creek delay decision on 504-home project
INDIAN TRAIL - The town council has delayed consideration of a large housing development after two council members said they were concerned with the amount of runoff the neighborhood would dump into a nearby creek.
Representatives of Centex Homes presented a plan for a 504-home neighborhood fronting Poplin and Rocky River roads.
The council considered the application for the neighborhood because it was completed before Jan. 11, when the council enacted a temporary moratorium on most residential development.
Resident Shirley Howe spoke at a Tuesday public hearing before the council's vote, saying the runoff into Crooked Creek would add to what's already going into the creek from other new developments.
That could lead to flooding, she said, creating difficult situations for other residents.
(03.10.05)
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION |
ON THE HORIZON |
SCHOOLS
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School's PTA trying to raise $80,000 for new playgrounds
Waxhaw Elementary's playground, viewed as a big game by kids, is being treated as serious business by some parents.
The school's PTA is trying to raise at least $80,000 to build new play areas at the school, where much of the playground equipment is more than 25 years old. They're calling their committee's effort "Operation Playground."
The playground, the parents say, is a place for physical and mental development.
(03.03.05)
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2 hurt in robbery at Pineville Bojangles
Pineville police swarmed a Bojangles' restaurant Tuesday night after two people were injured amid gunfire in the latest of a recent spate of shootings in Mecklenburg County stores.
The shooting occurred at 9:45 p.m. during an armed robbery at the eatery on Pineville-Matthews Road near Interstate 485, police said. Medic, a Mecklenburg County ambulance service, transported two people to Carolinas Medical Center, a dispatcher said. Few additional details were available early today.
(03.09.05) |
No decision on corporal punishment
The Union County Board of Education came to no decision on what to do about corporal punishment in the school system at a special meeting Tuesday.
On the table were proposals to ban corporal punishment or to modify the existing policy.
Attached with the proposal to ban corporal punishment was a discussion of alternatives administrators have already developed at some of the county's schools.
(3.09.05)
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WEDDINGTON in the NEWS |
SCHOOLS |
STALLINGS in the NEWS
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Weddington to buy ambulance
WEDDINGTON - Residents who live on the western edge of Union County may see quicker emergency service response times within the next few months.
Weddington leaders have approved a contract with Union County and Union EMS in which the town has agreed to pay $100,000 to purchase an ambulance for the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department on New Town Road. The station currently has no ambulance.
The county has 30 days to arrange a lease with the fire department and 90 days to get personnel, according to Weddington Mayor Nancy Anderson.
Anderson said the town had originally planned to pay for the vehicle over a three-year period. But when asked by county officials to pay it in one lump sum, the council agreed.
"Public safety is a major issue with us," said the mayor, adding that the response times to emergencies should be improved with the new location.
Terry Byrum, fire chief at Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, said it has taken as long as 23 minutes for an ambulance to reach some areas covered by the station. Byrum said the closest ambulances are in Waxhaw and Indian Trail.
(2.27.05)
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School board addresses bullying
Bullying is now defined and banned under Union schools' discrimination and harassment policy after the Union County Board of Education voted to expand the policy Tuesday.
The policy forbids the bullying of both students and employees and defines bullying as "repeated intimidation of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical, verbal, written, electronically submitted or emotional abuse." Bullying may include name-calling and put-downs, exclusion, extortion of possessions and other behaviors.
The board's policy committee has been reworking the schools' harassment and discrimination to include bullying for several months. A few parents in the audience at Tuesday's meeting applauded when it passed.
· Two parents asked the board to expand the search for a new superintendent beyond current staff. The parents said the schools' decision to proceed with an internal search first to replace retiring superintendent Jerry Thomas was too narrow.
(3.02.05) |
Stallings officials: No tax hike
STALLINGS - Officials have declared they will not raise the town's tax rate this year.
This year's budget, which the Stallings Town Council will begin discussing more in depth later this month, came up at a work session Monday when Town Manager Brian Matthews told the council the police department has requested $1.3 million for next year.
That's a $137,000 increase over last year's police budget, which was paid for in part by a nine-cent tax increase that some residents protested at a hearing before the 2004-05 budget was approved.
Matthews said the police department's proposed higher budget would be absorbed by increased revenues and would not require raising taxes.
"We have made a commitment that there will be no tax increase," Matthews told the council.
Mayor Lucy Drake added that Police Chief Larke Plyler has said he does not want the police department to cause any increase in the tax rate.
The additional $137,000 that the department has requested for next year's budget will pay for new vehicles and a patrol officer.
(3.02.05)
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MONROE in the NEWS |
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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Civic center back on Monroe City Council's radar
The Monroe City Council appears set on shelving the idea of a downtown performing arts center in favor of a civic center.
The council has soured on a performing arts center because of rising construction costs. Estimates are that the construction price has doubled since the council first discussed a performing arts center.
Discussions about a proposed 45,000-square-foot civic center heightened at this year's strategic planning retreat, being held at the Monroe Airport, as the board identified the former Scott Aviation building as a possible site. Another possibility includes erecting a city parking deck at the Scott site while building the civic center off Skyway Drive.
(02.27.05) |
Planners to weigh smart growth repeal
The Union County Planning Board received clear direction form the Union County Board of Commissioners last week with regards to any smart growth incentives to developers. That direction was "repeal" the ordinance that allows for the incentives.
Tuesday, planning board members will have another crack at reaching some type of consensus on smart growth incentives, and have the opportunity to follow that direction and make the recommendation to repeal the incentives to the board of commissioners.
After two work sessions of discussing the incentives and being unable to come up with a recommendation on their own, the planning board voted 4-3 to ask for "clarity" from commissioners.
(02.27.05) |
Residents protest road plans.
New downtown project includes connector for South Fork, Park
INDIAN TRAIL - Residents of South Fork Road handed Indian Trail Town Council members a formal petition Tuesday night asking them to reconsider or reverse their vote on Feb. 8 that approved plans for a new downtown center.
Frank Rosmon, who helped gather32 signatures, said residents along South Fork and Park roads are upset they were not notified about the council's consideration of a stipulation requiring the developer to build a cut-through connecting their roads as part of the downtown project.
"We had no representation, and we had no participation in the process," Rosmon said.
(02.24.05)
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HEMBY BRIDGE in the NEWS |
VIEWPOINTS
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Commissioners to conduct a public hearing
· Animal shelter costs double
The Union County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing regarding the process of electing officers on the Union County Planning Board during its meeting Monday at 7 p.m.
Commissioners are looking into ways to avoid a repeat of the occurrences of the last three months.
The Planning Board has elected a new chairman each of the past three months, all stemming from the non-appointment of Steve Nash in December. After commissioners did not reappoint Nash to the Planning Board, Charles Green was elected chairman of the Planning Board in January, with outgoing board members participating in the vote. A new election was conducted in February with all the new members, with Jim King elected chairman.
Commissioners are looking to firm up the language in the county's land use plan that would specifically outline how and when the Planning Board officers would be elected.
(02.20.05)
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Former Hemby Bridge mayor's father appointed to Board of Aldermen, owes three years back taxes to county
Town aldermen filled a board vacancy Thursday night despite protests that the appointment brings too many family members into town business. Also, records show the man appointed to fill the post is three years delinquent in his county property taxes and owes more than $4,172.
In a confrontational meeting, the board voted 3-1 in favor of Larry Pressley, father of former mayor Kevin Pressley, who is now a member of the Union County Board of Commissioners. Larry Pressley joins his brother-in-law Johnny Lemmond on the board and both their wives serve the board, with Carolyn Pressley as town clerk and Ann Lemmond as finance officer.
"It does appear that one family is trying to control this town," Mayor David McClain said prior to the vote.
(02.19.05)
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School board plan fails to address overcrowding
What a tangled web the school board has woven. The plan they approved will do nothing to relieve the overcrowding at Weddington Middle School.
It will continue bursting at the seams with all the current elementary schools in the Weddington/Wesley Chapel areas feeding into it. Anyone who thinks this plan is the best way to provide for our children is fooling themselves.
Taking children from the three subdivisions (that must have been drawn from a hat) out of Wesley Chapel Elementary is not going to accomplish anything except to temporarily help fill a school (that was built in the wrong location) until closer neighborhoods are completed and occupied, at which time the kids will be bumped yet somewhere else to fill yet another school.
(02.20.05)
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WEDDINGTON in the NEWS |
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GRASS ROOTS IN ACTION
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Weddington considers annexation
The Weddington Town Council is considering annexation of property along its eastern and southeastern boundaries and had a hearing Monday night to gather public input.
The potential annexation might include property along Antioch Church Road, Beulah Church Road and Deal Road. If the council were to approve it, it would affect nearly 850 acres, a total of 482 separate parcels of land and approximately 1,300 residents. Some of these residents spoke of their disapproval and wanted to remain in the county, not in Weddington or any town.
"I don't see any personal benefit from it," said Sam Deal, who lives in the desired area.
(02.16.05) |
County sorting out legalities of construction role.
Commissioner wants staff, equipment used to lower cost of laying pipe
He doesn't do it as much as he used to, but every once in a while Rick Davis still drinks a glassful of water from his tap.
After 30 years of it, you just get used to the taste of well water, says the south Union County resident.
His grandchildren drink bottled water, though, because he says there is arsenic in the water pumped up through his faucet.
It's a problem shared by many of his neighbors, Davis said. The 32 households along Mount Pleasant Church Road know the solution is hooking into the county's water system, but installing water lines is expensive.
(02.13.05)
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Residents sue Indian Trail over petition dismissal
INDIAN TRAIL: The Indian Trail Town Council is coming under fire from a group of residents who believe their unaccepted petition was wrongly dismissed.
Robert S. Broadwell has filed a complaint for declarity judgment with Union County Superior Court.
"If the property gets rezoned we will have to live with it, but laws should not be bent or broken in the process," Broadwell said.
The 25-part suit stems from the council's Jan. 11 decision to modify a 20-acre tract of land owned by Dean Harrell at Potter and Fincher roads.
(02.15.05)
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INDIAN TRAIL in
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS |
STALLINGS in the NEWS
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Indian Trail councilwoman claims council had illegal meeting
After nearly a year of anxious trepidation, one Indian Trail Town Council member is blowing the whistle on what she calls an illegal meeting that occurred while a majority of the council was out of town for training.
Mercedes Cass, only a few months into her newly elected position on the council, said while she, Mayor Sandy Moore, town manager John Munn and council members Don Helms and Lane Vickery were at a training session in Asheville in February of last year, she was summoned to Moore's room where the entire group discussed town issues.
While Cass understands the loss of credibility by waiting for nearly a year to go public, she also feels now is the time to lift the burden she says she has been carrying.
(2.11.05) |
Indian Trail council OKs downtown plan
The Indian Trail Town Council on Tuesday night approved a text amendment and further development that will change the face of its downtown district.
In a 3-2 vote, the council made several changes to the town's zoning ordinance that will affect requirements for business and residential zoning. Councilmen Donald Helms and Theron Kindley and Councilwoman Lane Vickery voted for the Houser Text amendment. Councilman Ray Killough and Councilwoman Mercedes Cass voted against it.
Among the changes were dropping the minimum requirement of 100 acres for any potential planned unit developments. Each development would have to come before the council because its developer would be applying for a special use permit.
(02.10.05) |
Council is seeking specifics on proposed building moratorium
The Stallings Town Council has moved one step closer to a residential building moratorium by directing the town planning board to draw one up for the council to consider in March.
The council first discussed a moratorium last month after neighboring Indian Trail instituted one.
Stallings Town Manager Brian Matthews said the planning board would discuss the moratorium at its Tuesday meeting.
A public hearing will be held at the Town Council's March 14 meeting, and the council could vote on it that night...
(02.10.05)
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MONROE in the NEWS |
WESLEY CHAPEL NEWS
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Commissioners move to dissolve county Board of Adjustment
The Union County Board of Commissioners during its meeting Monday took the first step toward dissolving a county board about which one commissioner said he had "little confidence in its abilities."
Commissioner Hughie Sexton, who made that comment, also made the motion to dissolve the Union County Board Of Adjustment, just days after the county and residents opposed to a 206,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter near Marvin joined forces and filed an appeal in Superior Court over the Board of Adjustment's decision that granted the retailer a special-use permit.
"This board is set up to serve the people of Union County and they have ignored the county land use plan and the findings and facts," Sexton said. "This board (commissioners) does not have the luxury of taking or leaving recommendations from the Board of Adjustments
2.08.05 |
Three ready to run if, as expected, Davis doesn't seek re-election
MONROE: Minutes after Monroe Mayor Judy Davis said Monday she will not seek re-election in October and opened the floodgate for new candidates, she then cracked the door to her political future.
Although surprised that her decision had been made public, Davis first confirmed that she would end her eight-year reign as mayor in favor of spending more time with her family.
"I've been thinking about it for a long time," Davis said from her home in Florida. "I want to spend more time with my family. I have a 2-year-old granddaughter and I want to spend time with my daughter, her husband and my husband. We're both retired and we like to play golf."
2.08.05 |
Wesley Chapel council to meet this morning to renew
resolution of consideration
The Wesley Chapel Village Council will
have meeting at 7:15 a.m. today to re-adopt the village's
Resolution of Consideration. The resolution marks out areas
the village may consider for future annexations, Mayor Mike
Hafey said. The resolution is not considered part of a
sphere-of- influence agreement, and other communities like
Mineral Springs or Indian Trail could choose to pursue
annexing those same properties, he said. The resolution has a
two-year shelf life, and was first adopted by the council on
Feb. 10, 2003. Hafey said he was surprised to discover the
resolution hadn't expired already, and called for the meeting
to renew the resolution.
02.08.05
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Commissioners, neighbors file suit to halt Wal-Mart!
Intent is overturning special-use permit for store off Rea Road
Union County and residents against a proposed Wal-Mart will appeal a
local board's decision to give the retail giant one of the two permits
it needs to build a 206,000-square-foot building off Rea Road. Attorneys for the county and residents filed the appeal in Superior
Court on Thursday -- two days before the end of the 30-day appeals
period. The Board of Adjustment unanimously agreed to grant Wal-Mart a
special-use permit in November, but didn't file the decision with the
county's inspection and zoning department until Jan. 5. Resident Ginger Leppert said Friday she was relieved to finally get the appeal filed.
"I feel really great that we are on the same paper with the county,"
she said. "I think that is going to make a strong statement to the
judge." Residents have fought Wal-Mart's project since the company announced
plans to erect a Supercenter at the corner of Rea and Tom Short roads
more than three years ago. They fear such a large store would generate
too much noise and traffic near their homes.
2.06.05
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Clayton Loflin, you, too, share in the blame
...Under their watch, the commission has allowed, and encouraged, the rampant development that has caused our schools to become overcrowded, our roads to be inadequate, some polling precincts to be undersized, and all police and fire departments to be overburdened. Never mind the damage such development is causing to our ecosystem...
A sad day in December when tax bill is due
This letter was sent to the Union County commissioners.
Dear Commissioners,
Enclosed is a copy of a check I mailed to the county, my tax bill for 2004.
It made me sick to mail this check. It's all of my income for the month of December, just to pay one bill -- or $200 a month for me to live in my own home.
I figure if I don't let someone know how disappointed I am, the powers that be may think I'm satisfied or happy with my
situation No point in talking to the bureaucrats.
You, the commissioners, are the only ones who can stop this nonsense...
Read
all the letters in their entirety.
2.06.05 |
$12 million park in the making
Wanda Smith can see it already -- the three soccer fields here, the playground equipment there, the walking trails beyond.
Jesse Helms Park will have it all -- and more. A skate park, baseball fields and a climbing wall are planned as well.
For now though, the future of the 230 acres between Monroe and Wingate rests in Smith's mind and on some sketches in her office. But the county parks and recreation director hopes everyone will be able to share at least a part of her vision by spring 2006.
Construction on the park's first phase -- which includes three soccer fields, playground equipment and trails -- is expected to begin later this year. Smith will ask county commissioners to select a consultant for the project at their Monday meeting.
It will be that person's job to refine the project plans, expected to take three or four months, Smith said. Then the county will seek construction bids. Dirt is expected to begin flying this fall.
The project may not be starting as soon as county officials and residents want, but it's not as late as it could have been.
2.06.05
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Superintendent halts corporal punishment
Corporal punishment might be a thing of the past in Union County. A memo sent to principals in the Union County Public Schools system from Superintendent Jerry Thomas on Wednesday said he has informed the Union County Board of Education that corporal punishment will not be used until a final decision has been made on the issue by the board.
In the memo, Thomas said he went through a process of gathering information from a wide base of sources that included meetings with high school students, faculty and administrators and school site-based teams. Thomas also said in the memo that information from the public received at board meetings and through e-mails factored into his decision.
2.03.05 |
Mudslinging avoids school board issue
...Why can't the public understand that the old regime is the very group that so narrow-mindedly ignored planning for the future? Did the houses pop up overnight? Do they drive around their county wearing
blinders?...
Don't blame Jill Reed for recent Fairhaven vote
... He seemed to blame Jill Reed for the recent vote our town council made on the Fairhaven development.
Since Mrs. Reed is not on the council, she can hardly be blamed for the council's failure...
Read
all the letters in their entirety.
2.03.05
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King becomes chairman of Planning Board
To make a long story short, Jim King is the new chairman of the Union County Planning Board.
But, anyone who thought the parliamentary process was in shambles during the board's January meeting had to wait only one month to see what might have been a more severe breach.
Motions on top of motions, the lack of following proper procedure and an overall battle of wills consumed Tuesday night's meeting
With the three newly appointed members (Liza Kravis, Mark DiBiasio and Robert Allen) at the meeting, Chairman Charles Greene opened the meeting only to be met with a motion by DiBiasio to place the election of a new chairman on the agenda.
2.02.05
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STALLINGS in the NEWS |
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WAXHAW in the NEWS
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Stallings, Mint Hill race to secure malls
Stallings officials are concerned that Mint Hill's plans for a large shopping mall -- competition for a mall Stallings has had in the works for years -- could move ahead without meeting stringent environmental standards designed to protect an endangered mussel that lives in nearby streams.
The malls are being planned just miles apart on Interstate 485 interchanges in Mint Hill and Stallings. Officials from both towns say they are being built too close.
Last week, General Growth Properties Inc. of Chicago and Charlotte's Childress Klein Properties made public plans to build a 1.3 million-square-foot outdoor mall at the I-485 and Lawyers Road interchange. They are asking that the 200-acre property, which Mint Hill originally planned for residential development, be rezoned.
In 2001, Stallings annexed 25 acres from Mecklenburg to complete an 80-acre parcel at the interchange of I-485 and Idlewild Road. In 2002, at developer Ron Withrow's request, the land was rezoned for an 800,000-square-foot mall.
Withrow has not presented Stallings with a formal plan for a mall, but Stallings Mayor Lucy Drake said he has cleared a key hurdle that has held up another major Union County project for years: designing development with the least impact to the Carolina heelsplitter mussel's habitat.
1.30.06
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Planners may settle
leadership
The
Union County Planning Board will enter a new era Tuesday when several
new board members are sworn into office and the new board decides how to
proceed in regard to its leadership.
Liza
Kravis, Mark DiBiasio and Robert Allen will assume board duties,
replacing Steve Nash, Sidney Sandy and Keith Bell. While Allen had
served as an alternate, both DiBiasio and Kravis are new to the board.
In addition, Lee Godwin will also take office as an alternate, replacing
Allen.
Tuesday
also marks the board's first meeting since its somewhat controversial
process of electing its chairman and vice chairman during last month's
meeting.
At
its January meeting the board elected Charles Greene as chairman and
Mike McGee as vice chairman. despite county attorney Jeff Crook's
advisory to the board to wait until the new members are sworn in. During
that meeting, the three outgo- ing members voted in favor of Greene and
McGee.
That
process has led to the Union County Board of Commissioners revisiting
its ordinance pertaining to the election of Planning Board officers.
The
board has only two agenda items for Tuesday's meeting: How to proceed
with the election of officers; and how to proceed with incentives for
smart growth design.
Planning
Director Dick Black said the Planning Board will discuss the issues and
make recommendations to the commissioners. He added that the board might
take action in regard to the possible new election of officers.
1.30.05 |
Residents call for reduced speed limit
WAXHAW: Waxhaw-Marvin Road winds through the hills of western Union County, up, down, curving past subdivisions and pastures with virtually no shoulder and a 55 mph speed limit -- too fast, some neighbors say, for a secondary road serving a growing population.
The stretch between Gray Byrum Road and the Waxhaw limits is seeing increased traffic as the designated N.C. 16 detour route, and 70 percent of those traveling it are speeding, said Cpl. Todd Burnett of the Waxhaw Police Department. Burnett is currently working 12-hour shifts "just for speed enforcement" along the detour.
Two Union County cousins died in a car wreck coming off a curve in the road in the early hours of Jan. 22, going 90 mph and not wearing seat belts.
"I feel like it should be 45 down through there," said Waxhaw Police Chief Lane
McSheehan. He said he had been under the impression the limit would be reduced when the detour took effect. The fatal crash reminded him it hadn't been.
"Fifty-five is too fast on that country road," he said.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has not received any resident requests to reduce the 55 mph limit that applies to most of the road, however, said Tim Kirk, an NCDOT assistant traffic engineer who handles speed queries for Mecklenburg, Union,
Cabarrus, Stanly and Anson counties.
1.30.05
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MARVIN in the NEWS
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Mayor
and council member should be embarrassed
After Stallings Town Council voted 5 to 1 to approve the
controversial Fairhaven development, many citizens have - expressed
their frustration with the council's lack of responsibility and the
total lack of regard both for the facts and the wishes of the
people.
The mayor and Ms. Privette have even written to the editor claiming
they did not know about how many homes had already been approved that
are not yet built. I should think that any elected official would be
embarrassed to admit that he/she presumes to make decisions for the town
without a thorough knowledge of such matters.
And if the council did not have information beforehand. I personally
presented research gathered from the IPSAC study and from onsite agents
in 6 communities within a 3-5 mile radius of the Fairhaven development
to show that there are 3500 homes approved in that corner of the
county alone, many of which are not yet built. Two of those subdivisions
were approved by Indian Trail but the others are within Stallings town
limits.
1.27.05
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Indian
Trail won't reveal resolution of trash problem
The Enquirer-Journal printed a front page story on Aug. 21, 2003,
regarding the Town of Indian Trail and the loss of revenue from their
billing errors for trash pick-up with Action Garbage. According to the
story, an amount of $50,000 was the estimated loss to the town. At the
last budget meeting in June 2004, I questioned the total amount of loss
to the taxpayer of Indian. Trail. I received no response to my questions
that I considered reasonable. At the most recent town council meeting,
the Planning Director reported that the Town has accounted for all but
14 cans, thanks in large to the staff, GIS tracking and Action Garbage.
1.26.05
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Marvin officials to discuss 2 mixed-use proposals tonight
The Marvin Town Council and Planning Board will meet tonight to discuss two mixed-use development proposals.
The meeting is at 8:30 p.m. at Marvin Elementary and will follow a special council meeting. One development is proposed for the town's sole commercial district at Rea Road.
Longview South wants to develop 150-plus acres, part of it outside the village, and is proposing residential units as part of the project. The land includes a 30-acre parcel previously planned for business only.
Town planner Karen Dunn says the proposal is more of a vision for the property and no formal application has been submitted. Dunn said the developer's preliminary plans don't conform to current land use policies because "of the density of the development and some of the proposed uses."
The other proposal, also business mixed with residential, has been submitted by Lat Purser and Associates for land at Providence and New Town roads. The land is outside the village but designated for possible annexation.
1.27.05
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STALLINGS in the NEWS |
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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Stallings council proceeds toward possible development moratorium The Stallings Town Council met Monday to discuss placing a moratorium on residential building in the town's limits. Mayor Lucy Drake said the council unanimously approved the decision to have more information gathered and presented at the February meeting. If the council approves and feels it will not get into a lawsuit, Drake said the recommendation would go to the town Planning Board. A public hearing would be needed, she said, after which the council would vote to either approve or deny the request for a moratorium.
1.27.05 |
Bypass main topic at transportation meeting Several county and municipal leaders, as well as individuals in the business community, took part in the latest installment of informational meetings to determine the region's future transportation priorities Tuesday at Monroe City Hall.
Representatives from the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization, or
MUMPO, shared the process of developing the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan.
Carl Gibilaro, an engineer with PBS&J, told the group that the Long Range Transportation Plan sets the guidelines for future road projects through 2030.
"MUMPO takes the wish lists from the members in the area and looks at the most fair way to distribute funds to satisfy the transportation needs," Gibilaro said.
While Gibilaro said the public meetings like this provide much-needed feedback on prospective road projects, he said the final decisions will come from the MUMPO board according to what road priorities are set.
Much of Tuesday's discussion was spent on the future of the Monroe Bypass, or the Monroe Connector. The group -- which included county commissioners and Planning Board members, elected officials from Wingate, Wesley Chapel and Weddington, and representatives from Union Power, the city of Monroe, and the Union County Chamber of Commerce -- fired questions regarding the alignment, start and completion date, and funding sources of the proposed bypass.
1.27.05 |
New houses to be on agenda
Applications were pre-moratorium
Indian Trail's 6,600-plus roster of approved but unbuilt houses could increase next month when the Town Council considers applications for new neighborhoods that were completed before its Jan. 11 residential growth moratorium.
The council unanimously approved the moratorium, which will last up to 18 months, after learning that more than 6,000 houses still were to be built in Indian Trail within the next 10 years.
The moratorium did not apply to developers who got their applications in before Jan. 11. If all seven are approved, 1,975 more housing units will be built in Indian Trail.
The Town Council is scheduled to vote on five of those neighborhoods at its Feb. 8 meeting, said Lee Bailey, Indian Trail planning director. The planning board will look at the other two applications in February and March.
If all eventually are approved, the total of approved but unbuilt houses in Indian Trail would increase to 8,617. That includes 5,830 houses approved in developments that are under construction and 812 houses in approved future developments.
1.27.05
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Concerned about growth? Notify the right people
Your child is eating lunch at 10:30 a.m.
You're slogging through 35 minutes of traffic on a crowded farm road to get your kids to school.
You're peeved, and you want something done about it.
Hundreds of parents have been turning out to recent school board meetings on student reassignment for two new elementary schools. Some are telling the board how unhappy they are with the influx of new homes and subdivisions -- things the school board has no control over.
But while parents pack school board meetings, meeting turnout for area town councils and the county commissioners, which can rein in growth, sometimes is slim.
"We like to think that (the school board's) biggest contribution to growth is that people move here for the great schools," said school board member Tripp Helms. Helms said he understands why people are coming to the school board, rather than other boards, to talk about growth.
"The schools are one place where the growth really hits us, and people can see it," he said. And while Helms said he welcomes the public comments, he says the school board can't address some of them.
1.23.05
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LETTER TO THE
EDITOR: Message to Indian Trail, Stallings: Bad effects of growth are obvious
Re: "Indian Trail freezes most new residential projects" (Jan. 16): I was appalled by the article in last Sunday's Union Observer on growth concerns in Indian Trail and Stallings. How can Indian Trail and Stallings be surprised at the number of approved houses? Didn't their planning boards and town staff have to approve most of these homes? Do they look at each development request in a vacuum, ignoring the overall picture for their communities?
Is Indian Trail really paying $165,000 to find out much of what is in their own records? It is not difficult to calculate the impact an average of two cars per household will have on community roads and the effect the additional population will have on schools, water and sewer -- all negative.
According to the article, Indian Trail's planned houses will add enough children to fill two elementary schools and half a middle and high school. Where will these children go to school?
While development brings tax dollars to the towns, they place a tremendous financial burden on the county, forcing them to provide schools, water and sewer. The state is also forced to fund road improvements for the additional traffic.
The bill is ultimately paid by the taxpayers.
1.23.05
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MUMPO to meet in Monroe to hear transportation concerns A quorum of Union County commissioners will be on hand at Tuesday's Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MUMPO, meeting at Monroe City Hall. Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Stone sent out the public notice about the commissioners' special meeting because he had received information that more than two commissioners will be at the meeting. "It is my understanding that MUMPO will be coming to town to hear comments from the public as to the future of the roads in the area," Stone said. The meeting is slated to consist of public discussion and information gathering regarding the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan. "We have done these meetings across the region and invited home owner associations, planning board members and other people who may have some concerns or comments," said Robert Cook, with the Mecklenburg Planning Commission. "The public is invited to participate and we welcome as much discussion as possible." More specifically, the meeting serves to: Gather input on the goals, objectives and policies of the Long Range Transportation Plan.
1.22.05
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Stone looks back, ahead
New chair vows to be a leader who `listens more than he speaks'
After a decade of service on the Union Board of County Commissioners, Richard Stone assumed the chairmanship in December.
As head of the five-member, all Republican panel, Stone helps set the agenda and runs the board's meetings.
Last year may have been contentious for commissioners, but with two new faces and a lengthy to-do list, Stone believes the board will settle into an efficient, cordial groove. Time will tell.
Either way, it will be a busy year for commissioners. The new courthouse will soon open. The agricultural services center at Jesse Helms Park is expected to be completed later this year.
And commissioners will continue to grapple with how to manage the county's rapid growth. A plan for managing and providing services for development -- called an adequate public facilities ordinance -- is expected to be completed this year.
Here, in an edited conversation, are Stone's thoughts on other issues facing the county in 2005:
Q. How do you feel overall about the accomplishments of last year, and what are they? Each year the county commission gets involved in many aspects of government within our county. Last year was no exception.
The positive changes that occurred last year were additional support for our libraries, a meaningful balanced budget, a modification as to how appointees are assigned to our Union Regional Medical Center boards and a forward-thinking motion towards the basic needs of improving our county government.
Finally, the direction and construction of much-needed schools to help the overcrowding in our county.
Q. The adequate public facilities ordinance is expected to be finished this year. When it is completed, what do you expect it will do? The adequate public facilities ordinance will require over 25,000 man hours until it is finalized. Having inputs from all the municipalities, all the different factors within the county, the homebuilders, the developers, the staff of our county, the citizens. When we place all those hours together from all the different people involved, we're going to exceed 25,000 hours. For that reason, that ordinance may not come into play until late fall this year. And only after extensive public hearings and an understanding of exactly where this process will go.
I believe that the adequate public facilities ordinance will finally give the citizens of this county an understanding of the growth processes of the county, and how it may be aided in a positive motion that allows for all services to match the growth rate.
01.16.05
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: STALLINGS & INDIAN
TRAIL
Drake's concern about growth comes too late
We read with interest the news that Mayor Drake is advocating a building moratorium for Stallings.
It's a shame Mayor Drake and the council didn't pay better attention at their own public hearing on the Fairhaven subdivision on Jan. 3. If they did, they would have learned both orally and in written form that other municipalities like Indian Trail already have permitted thousands of homes in the area.
Instead, Mayor Drake attends the Indian Trail council meeting and then hits the press with her recent revelation that growth is an issue and talks of a moratorium "after hearing that over 6,000 plus homes were approved for Indian Trail."
Mayor Drake and the council had those facts and many more before them Jan. 3 and chose to ignore them and approve the recent zoning change from R-20 to CUR-10 for Fairhaven while residents were rallying for at least 200 fewer homes.
A moratorium for Stallings would be great. Effective and responsive government and more timely actions would be even better. Mayor Drake's sudden concern for growth is certainly appreciated but is in sharp contrast to her opposition to a county Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, her push for additional sewer in Union County, the approval of a land use plan update this summer despite concerns raised by citizens at the hearing this summer and the town's recent actions in approving a new 550 home subdivision. Must be time for image
repair...
01.16.05
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N.C. 16 bridge work in Waxhaw means 5-mile detour until April
N.C. 16 drivers in the Waxhaw area face a five-mile detour for the next three months as the state replaces an old bridge over Twelve Mile Creek.
The bridge will close at 9 a.m. Tuesday as crews begin replacing the 20-foot wide bridge with a 37-foot bridge. Crews will work 24 hours a day on the new bridge, said Garland Haywood, a state engineer. It will open to traffic on April 17.
The bridge, built in 1930, is too narrow, Haywood said. When the state widens N.C. 16 to four lanes, another two-lane bridge will be built nearby, with one bridge used for northbound traffic and one for southbound.
The state is not building a four-lane bridge now because the widening is several years away and engineers have not decided where the future lanes will be built.
The detour from southbound N.C. 16 takes traffic right on Gray Byrum Road, left on Waxhaw-Marvin Road and back to N.C. 16 in downtown Waxhaw.
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Residents raise concerns about condemnation process Union County officials have been condemning land at what some see as questionable property values, en route to constructing a sewer line at the request and benefit of two developers, including a former Board of Commissioners' chairman. Some property owners have already settled with the county, while others are filing suit to prevent what they perceive as unfair land condemnations triggered by a conflict of interest between the county and developers. While the county is negotiating the price of the land through its call for eminent domain for the construction of West Fork Twelve Mile Creek Trunk Sewer Project, the developers are supposed to reimburse the county for the costs of the land. Attorney Larry Harrington said county officials using closed-session meetings to shield what he calls a suspect relationship with two developers. "It's all a fraud," Harrington said Tuesday. "Developers are doing it and they're using Union County as the front man. "If a developer is paying for condemnations, why don't they tell the people and the court?" he added. "Why do they have to hide behind closed meetings."...
01.13.05
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Judge rules against Durham County in impact fee suit
DURHAM -- Durham County can no longer collect impact fees on new residential construction, a judge ruled today.
Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson issued the ruling, ordering the repayment of more than $2.2 million in collected fees. If upheld on appeal, the decision would force the county to seek alternate ways of funding school capital projects.
"I am extremely disappointed in the court's decision," said Durham County Commissioners Chairwoman Ellen Reckhow.
"School impact fees are an important component in our strategy to meet growing school facility needs," she said. "The court's decision means that Durham County will be forced to rely on the property tax system to finance school construction. This will put greater pressure on our property tax rate to meet future school facility needs."
01.16.05
(EDITORS NOTE: This ruling will affect plans
for Union County to assess Impact Fees as a method to finance
new schools.)
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS |
INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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Town imposes halt to more new homes;
18-month moratorium needed to take stock
INDIAN TRAIL - For now, Indian Trail's hot housing market is closed for business.
The town council unanimously approved a residential growth moratorium Tuesday for up to 18 months, agreeing that the town needs time to take stock of the projects it already has approved and plan carefully for future growth. It was effective immediately.
Town Planning Director Lee Bailey told the council Tuesday that at least 6,000 houses have been approved that aren't yet built in Indian Trail.
But that number could increase because at least six applications for new neighborhoods that were completed before the moratorium took effect will be allowed to move forward, Bailey said.
Development moratoriums aren't new to Union County and have been in place at various times in Weddington, Marvin, Marshville and Wingate.
01.13.05
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Multifamily houses OK'd at Potter Rd.
153 units to include townhouses, duplexes.
INDIAN TRAIL - After years of trying, developer Dean Harrell finally has the go-ahead to build townhouses on Potter and Fincher roads.
The town council on Tuesday night approved a conditional use permit that will allow Harrell to build 153 housing units, including townhouses, duplexes and "pinwheel" units, small connected ranch style-houses, by a 4-1 vote.
Council member Mercedes Cass, who said in a public hearing that the development did not fit the character of the surrounding neighborhoods, voted against it.
Harrell's plans for the 20 acres prompted hours of public comment at past hearings. Residents have argued the townhouses would add too many cars and too many children to crowded schools and open the door to similar projects.
Tuesday's hearing was short. Only a few residents spoke, with several saying they were still against the development but that they like these plans better than others that had called for as many as 240 housing units.
"Once we allow this to happen, the next guy will buy a lot and it will happen again and again," said Indian Trail resident Robert Sego.
01.13.05
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Bonus density program getting another look
Developers warn of tinkering too much
Just over a year after the county curtailed the number of extra units developers can build per acre in exchange for certain amenities, commissioners again will review their bonus density program.
Commissioner Hughie Sexton asked for the review and was clear he hopes the result is the elimination of the bonus program -- which he called a "developer subsidy" the county can no longer afford.
Monday, the five-member panel unanimously agreed to have staffers offer revisions to the county's land-use ordinance, over the objections of local builders.
Extra units mean more people using county services such as roads, water and sewer and schools, Sexton said. Providing those services, especially school construction in recent years, has led county finance officials to warn the county it must curb spending or face debt levels it cannot handle.
But commissioners should be wary of tinkering too much, local developers said. Though some residents see the county's rapid growth as a curse, it's a blessing that helps sustain the county, commercial developer Jerry Fitzgerald said.
"Be sure you are managing, not executing, the growth," he said.
01.13.05
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Wesley Chapel passes new rules for
developers
Developers who come into Wesley
Chapel in the future will find a longer list of what they
can and cannot build, and how those developments will be
maintained. The Village Council on Monday night passed a
series of recommendations from the village Planning Board
that will force all major developments to establish a
homeowner's association responsible for maintenance, payment
of local taxes, and to be responsible for improvements
regarded as public property. The council also strengthened
the wording on gateways and gatehouses leading into
developments, preventing any obstructive decor to cross over
the street and to assure turnaround space for vehicles. The
council also put a limit on the number of houses/structures
that could be built around the access of just one private
easement. A proposal to require street lighting in future
developments didn't meet the concerns of council members.
Butch Plyler asked if the revision called for a maximum
spacing between lights, or a desired height for lights. Bill
Pugh of Centralina Council on Government said the revision
did not give specifics.
01.10.05 |
Commissioners discuss smart growth
Smart Growth was once again a topic of
discussion for the Union County Board of Commissioners Monday
night.
Nearly 15 months after the board revamped its smart-growth
incentive program for developers, the board again directed
county staff to look into revising the incentives given.
Hughie Sexton led the assault on the county's plan and said he
"saw the freight train coming towards Union County."
He criticized the smart-growth incentives and said he felt the
county had given relief to developers.
"It should be called the developer subsidy section,"
he said.
While Sexton focused on the density bonuses given to
developers, Commissioner Stony Rushing countered Sexton's
comment with the retort: "I believe the whistle you heard
was the one of the new sewer plant coming," he said.
Rushing said if the county wanted to stop or slow growth, it
couldn't continue to build or expand sewer plants. He added
that the construction of the sewer plant will be subsidized by
new homes signing on to use its service, and if the new homes
are not there, the county will have to pay for the sewer plant
through other means.
01.10.05
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Court to hear dispute over impact fees
DURHAM -- The long-running dispute over whether Durham County has the power to make homebuilders help pay for schools finally should have its day in court this week.
A class-action lawsuit over whether the county has the right to impose the charges, called impact fees, on new construction is scheduled to be heard at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, said County Attorney Chuck Kitchen.
The session will be held in the grand jury courtroom on the sixth floor of the Durham County Courthouse.
Hank Fordham, one of the attorneys for the people who filed the suit, and Kitchen declined to comment on the case before the trial.
The issue dates back to September 2003, when Durham County became the first county in the state to approve school impact fees without prior legislative authority.
Orange and Chatham counties also charge impact fees for schools. But both received authority from the General Assembly, which has since frowned upon such measures.
Durham County approved impact fees after a decade of controversy and requests to the General Assembly for the authority to levy the fees.
Durham County charges a $2,000 impact fee for each new house permit and $1,155 for each new apartment or townhouse. County officials expect the fees to raise about $5 million a year.
01.09.05
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MARVIN in the NEWS
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WEDDINGTON in the NEWS
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Stallings town government is
unresponsive to citizens!
STALLINGS: Monday night,
Stallings Town Council approved a high density housing
development during a public hearing filled with an estimated
160 residents. Close to 40 speakers expressed their concerns
and over 450 have signed petitions to stop this particular
development, asking council to consider other, less dense,
development instead. The only speakers in favor of the
development were the property owner, real estate agents, and
developers. Residents walked out of the meeting in disgust
as their concerns about the impact an additional 550 homes
will have on schools, water, sewer, traffic, and surrounding
property values were virtually ignored by Council members.
Renee Hartis was the only councilman who tried to represent the concerns of the residents, but her lone vote was
not enough...
01.08.05
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2 developers propose mixed-use projects
MARVIN: Two commercial developers within the Marvin community are asking village officials to consider mixed-use developments, in essence blending businesses and offices with residential townhomes or housing on small lots.
The town's planning board met Monday night to look at both site proposals, one submitted by Longview
LLC, which wants to develop 154 acres in and around the town's commercial center at Rea Road.
The land includes a 30-acre parcel that previously had been planned for business development.
The other proposal was presented by Lat Purser and Associates, which is seeking to develop a 40-acre tract at the southeast corner of Providence and New Town roads.
The property, just outside Marvin borders, is in the town's sphere of influence, an area designated for possible annexation.
01.06.06
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1,190 acres eyed for annexing
· Town's population would swell to 9,008, an increase of 17%
WEDDINGTON - Weddington is looking at plans for growth that could bring about its first involuntary annexation and increase its population by 17 percent.
The town council approved an annexation report Monday night, detailing a proposal to incorporate approximately 1,190 acres between the community and the village of Wesley Chapel.
A public involvement meeting to get citizen comment on the annexation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Weddington Town Hall, 1924 Weddington
Road A public hearing is set for Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
The move would take in more than 1,300 residents.
01.06.05
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INDIAN TRAIL in the NEWS
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Stallings council OKs Fair Haven subdivision
The Stallings Town Council on Monday approved on a 5-1 vote a conditional use permit that will allow for 550 homes to be built on Stevens Mill Road. The vote came after a long meeting that featured many people against the proposed development, some for it, and a vocal audience of about 160 people applauding at times and interjecting their disapproval at other times. Opponents of the new development, to be called Fair Haven, said 550 houses is too many. Concerns over traffic congestion, school crowding, already poor water pressure and sewer services and devaluing of property were brought up many times by residents. Several -- like Mark Miller, who lives across from the proposed site -- said they would be happy if fewer homes were in the development.
01.04.05 |
2004: Promise, perils of growth shape past year
The fastest growing county in the state.
It's a phrase you hear a lot about Union County, sometimes as a sign of promise, or to warning of challenges to come.
And growth was the backdrop for much of the news in 2004, although other events, some heart-rending, had their roots elsewhere. Here's a look at Union County in 2004.
School growth continues
The district weathered a year with more classroom trailers, another student reassignment plan in the works, and more students than ever.
The good news: Student performance is also growing. District high schoolers scored an average 1,030 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test in the 2003-04 school year.
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01.01.05
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 Indian Trail reaches
development saturation point!
Like closing the proverbial barn door after
the horses have escaped, the Indian Trail Town Council will hear a
resolution halting certain types of development for up to 18
months.... see the "News You Should Know" section on the
Indian Trail FYI website.
01.01.05
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Principals picked to lead the newest
elementary schools
Two current assistant principals have
been picked to run the county's newest elementary schools,
both of which are scheduled to open for the 2005-06 school
year. Tom Childers has been named principal of Sandy Ridge
Elementary. Childers is assistant principal at Marvin
Elementary. He will assume the post in January, although the
school is expected to open mid-fall. Childers has worked for
the district since 1991, when he served as a science and
physical education teacher at Sun Valley High. He went on to
teach and hold administrative positions at several more
schools, including Wesley Chapel Elementary, East Union
Middle and Wingate Elementary. He is a graduate of
Appalachian State and Winthrop universities and lives in
Indian Trail. Rachel Clarke has been named principal of
Kensington Elementary. Clarke is assistant principal at
Benton Heights Elementary, a position she has held for five
years. She will assume the new post in January.
12.26.04 |
Rushing asking towns: Wait before growing
County commissioner Stony Rushing is
"respectfully requesting" towns refrain from
increasing the number of houses built on newly annexed land,
at least until the county crafts a growth management plan. And
he wants Stallings to be the first, by halting the rezoning of
176 acres off Stevens Mill Road that was annexed in June. The
town council is scheduled to consider a development plan for
it that includes 550 houses and a park at its Jan. 3 meeting.
Mayor Lucy Drake said she knew that neighbors concerned about
density would oppose the plan, but she didn't expect a county
official to weigh in. "No other town when a developer has
applied for sewer the proper way has been questioned by a
county commissioner," she said. "Everything has been
done properly. He (Rushing) is just trying to stir up some
trouble." Rushing said he is not picking on Stallings. He
says it's just the latest example of faults in the county's
growth process. Instead of issuing water and sewer permits
first-come-first-served, based on capacity, the county needs a
plan, he said.
12.26.04
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Parents have reason for opposing school plans
Re: Tracy Gilfillan's "New
`primary' schools will separate students" (Dec. 19
Letters to the Editor): In response to Tracy Gilfillan's
remarks about the school board trying to make the Stonegate
subdivision happy by not moving Stonegate children to
Kensington "just because they don't want to change
schools" and then attacking the Stonegate parents by
saying "no wonder kids these days have a problem with
change -- the parents can't deal with change": It just
shows that when you're uninformed about a subject, you should
keep your uninformed comments to yourself.
The Stonegate parents aren't fighting the move to Kensington
because they don't want change. The Stonegate parents are
fighting the move to Kensington primarily because we know, and
the board knows, with the growth in the Kensington school
area, we will have to be moved again in another two to three
years. The board has acknowledged this, and is (hopefully)
working on a longer-term plan for our children. Stonegate
parents do not want our children to be a temporary solution to
a long term problem.
12.26.04
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WAXHAW in the NEWS
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SCHOOLS
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Planning Board gets new members Two familiar faces on the Union County Planning Board were ousted Monday when the Union County Board of Commissioners made its appointments. Gone are Steve Nash, Sidney Sandy and Keith Bell, replaced by Liza Kravis, Robert Allen and Mark DiBiasio. Kravis, who recently served as Commissioner Roger Lane's treasurer in his election campaign, was nominated to the Planning Board by Lane, while Allen, who currently serves as an alternate on the Planning Board, was nominated by Commissioner Kevin Pressley. DiBiasio currently maintains a watchdog Web site that is primarily focused on the Wesley Chapel Village Council and was nominated by Commissioner Hughie Sexton. Lee Godwin was appointed as an alternate to fill the seat left by Allen's move to the full board.
12.21.04
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Waxhaw's growth helping to sustain its financial picture
WAXHAW - Waxhaw's growth has had a positive impact on its finances, town commissioners learned last week.
The auditor, Potter and Company, issued an "unqualified opinion," on the financial records, the highest opinion possible, Ted Potter told the board Tuesday.
Potter said the town had a $233,000 surplus for the year, and $878,000 in available assets. Investments earned the town about $19,000.
"The town has made great strides in increasing its revenues and reducing its costs, which is a change from last year," he said.
The growth of the town has increased the revenues, one factor in the turnaround he said.
12.19.04
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Group of year-round schools honors Shiloh Elementary
Shiloh Elementary School has been named a 2004-2005 School of Merit by the National Year-Round Education Association, making it one of 10 schools nationwide selected for the honor.
The award comes nearly a decade after Shiloh decided an innovative approach would improve student performance.
After reviewing test scores and polling their teachers and parents, Shiloh decided to switch from the traditional calendar to a year-round calendar in 1995, said Linda Fritz, who has been Shiloh's principal for 16 years.
Despite the name, a year-round calendar doesn't mean the children are toiling away in school all year long. Students do have 15 more days than the typical school calendar (with its three month summer, and one week holiday and spring breaks).
12.19.01
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