Fall 2011

2011 Fall Leaf Schedule

Page 9

FALL 2011 Information You Can Use

Major Road Improvements Ahead Just one of many unique features of the I-85 widening project, NCDOT’s contractor will use a temporary construction bridge just north of Poplar Tent Road to bring materials to the median with minimal impact to motorists. Read more beginning on page 4.

Protect Our Environment Page 2

Your Trees Page 9

Celebrating Youth Council Page 10 Concord Regional Airport Back

City Council

David W. Phillips District 1

Protect Our Environment

Properly Manage your Yard Waste

James E. Ramseur District 2

When you mow your lawn or do other yard work, be sure to sweep or blow grass and other clippings back into your yard and out of the street. When animal waste, leaves, and grass clippings are left in the street, they enter the City’s stormdrain system and local bodies of water. When Nitrogen and Phosphorus from these materials enter the aquatic ecosystem oxygen levels Ella Mae Small District 3

Alfred M. Brown, Jr. District 4 Mayor Pro-Tem

can drop, harming fish and other wildlife.

Do your part to protect wildlife!

W. Lamar Barrier District 5

Hector H. Henry II District 6

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

The Concord City Circular is produced quarterly by the City Manager’s Office to provide Concord citizens with information about current activities of the City of Concord. It contains items that will help make it easier for you to do business with the City.

Your comments and questions are welcomed. Please send them to: Concord City Circular P.O. Box 308, Concord, NC 28026 or call 704-920-5210 or e-mail franzese@concordnc.gov.

In this Issue: From the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Manager’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Here’s what you can you do about it: • Keep grass clippings on your yard to decay naturally, or bag them in clear, untied bags for collection by the City of Concord. In the fall, keep leaves out of the street.

• Compost yard waste and vegetable scraps for a special treat to your garden.

• Pick up after pets.

Protect Your Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

• Don’t over-fertilize your lawn, and be sure to sweep any stray fertilizer granules off of paved surfaces back into the grass. Never wash them off with water.

Concord Youth Council . . . . . . . . . . 10

To report spills or illegal dumping into

Road Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 International Business Park . . . . . . . 6 Leaf Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

storm drains, ditches, lakes, streams, Concord Regional Airport . . . . . . . Back

Designed by Granite Sky Design, Inc. 2 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

or along roads, please call the Customer Care Center at 704-920-5555.

[

From the Mayor

Manager’s Notes

J. Scott Padgett

Brian Hiatt, Concord City Manager

Moving Forward

City Outreach Programs Essential to our Organization

[]

I am often asked about the status of future transportation projects that affect local citizens.

Our roads shape our schedules and quality of life, and are vital to economic

In total, Celgard is making a $227.4 million investment in our community, bringing 573 jobs.

development. The frequent questions are rightfully asked, as we have many transportation needs, and fortunately help is on the way. The good news is that many of our needs will be addressed over the next few years. The bad news is that it will take some time to complete the projects, and, of course, the construction phase will be inconvenient. Please see the article on page 4 for details about these important improvements.

Over the last two City Circular issues, I have written about Celgard, a company that manufactures specialty membranes used in the battery industry for automobiles and other consumer electronics. The

This edition of the City Circular contains an article highlighting the tenth anniversary of

I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of the many high school age young people who have participated in this program since it was established by the Mayor and City

the City of Concord Youth Council.

Council. These students have not only learned about the City of Concord and gained valuable leadership skills; they have made significant contributions to the City through their many activities. Great places to live are made up of people who seek to give back to their community, and it is very gratifying to see young people preparing to carry on this tradition in Concord.

I am also grateful for the City coworkers who have acted as advisors to this group. Debbie Littlefield of the Parks and Recreation Department has been with the program since day one and currently coordinates their activities. Detective Ron Ferrell of the Police Department has also been a long time advisor and valuable mentor. The newest advisor is Ryan Jones, who also works in Parks and Recreation. They and other coworkers who served as advisors in the past have taken a special interest in helping young people develop the skills to become leaders.

opening ceremony for the Celgard manufacturing facility at International Business Park was Monday, July 25. At the time of the ceremony, Celgard had already completed two investments in Concord. continued on page 14

The City offers other programs designed to help residents learn about how the City operates. This is important as when citizens understand the functions continued on page 13 concordnc.gov FALL 2011 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 3

Enhancing our Transportation Infrastructure

4 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

A

s Concord has grown to a City with over 60

square miles of land area, nearly 80,000 residents, and a major tourism economy (20 million visitors per year to I-85 exit 49 alone), there is no doubt that our road infrastructure needs major enhancement. Although the majority of Concord’s thoroughfares are maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the City of Concord invests considerable time and resources into ensuring the state’s awareness of our needs. By partnering with NCDOT, City officials and staff are

I-85, Exit 49 Work started the week of July 11, 2011 to improve the Exit 49 area between Concord Mills and Weddington Road. A second left turn lane will be constructed to turn onto Weddington Road Extension heading away from I-85, and an additional through

working to make

lane will be added to cross I-85

sure that the

from Weddington Road to Concord

improvements

Road Improvements:

will serve our community well

is the top tourist attraction in North Carolina. In addition,

I-85: Exit 49, Exit 52, & Exit 55

for years to come. Several

Mills Boulevard. Concord Mills

Project Poplar Tent Road – US 29/601 Intersection

projects are underway or will begin soon that will transform

with the traffic generated by the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the

George W. Liles Parkway Extension

Zmax Dragstrip, the Great Wolf

Derita Road Improvement Project

and associated commercial and

Lodge, Concord Regional Airport, hotel business in the immediate

Concord’s road

area, Exit 49 is one of the busiest

system into the safe, well-planned, and efficient network we need.

I-85 Widening Kicks Off Several Years of Improvements

intersections in the region. Current reports indicate that approximately 20 million visitors come to this area each year.

One of the most important projects anywhere in North Carolina is to widen the remaining four-lane section of I-85, largely through Cabarrus County, to match the rest of the interstate from Durham through Charlotte.

Particularly important to Cabarrus County are the reworking of the interchanges at Poplar Tent Road, NC Highway 73, and related improvements to the area around Exit 49. City Council adopted a Resolution in March of this year to participate with the NCDOT to provide sidewalks and bicycle lanes on NC Highway

I-85, Exit 52

73 and Poplar Tent Road as they cross I-85. A design

The Poplar Tent Road bridge over I-85 and the entire

build contract was awarded to Lane Construction with

interchange is antiquated and will be replaced as

the construction scheduled to begin in August 2011

part of the I-85 project. The replacement will be a

and be completed October 2013. Construction of a

diverging diamond interchange (DDI) design. Related

new interchange at I-85 and I-485 and the final leg of

enhancements are planned for Poplar Tent Road on both

I-485 north of I-85 will occur at the same time as the

sides of I-85, including the realignment of the Pitts School

construction through Concord.

Road intersection and inclusion improvements all the way continued on page 8 concordnc.gov FALL 2011 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 5

25

International Business Park Marks 25 Years of Partnership After 25 years of development, the International Business Park at

time). The Nolim Group voluntarily requested satellite annexation

Concord (IBP) has become a major center of foreign investment

as a component of the development partnership. City planning

in the United States. Located near I-85 exit 55 between Davidson

and engineering staff members worked closely with IBP planners in

Highway and Poplar Tent Road, the park includes four Fortune

the creation of the original IBP design. It is one of the City’s most

500 companies, more than five international companies, has over

successful public-private partnerships in economic development

$200 million of investment, and employs over 3,000 people.

and job creation.

The IBP is a project of The Nolim Group, comprised of an

The high quality business park is separated into three phases.

international group of experienced real estate and business

Phase I was designed for industrial and warehouse uses, and has

investors. For over 50 years, The Nolim Group principals have been

two sites remaining available. Phase II is known as the Commerce

conducting business within the United States and around the world

and Research Center, and is perfect for warehouse, flex space,

with multi-national companies to maximize opportunities for growth

multi-story buildings, corporate headquarters, and medical or

and return on investments made by the Group.

professional services uses. Ten sites remain available in Phase II.

Companies in the park represent a wide range of businesses and

Phase III is completely available and is designed for mixed-

products, including several European and Asian companies (DNP

uses, including a combination of commercial retail, hotels, and

IMS and OILES from Japan, PreGel from Italy, Schubert & Salzer

restaurants.

Inc. from Germany, and Pass Seymour/Legrand from France).

IBP’s genesis resulted from a public-private partnership between the City of Concord and the Nolim Group. The public side of the partnership was a combination of local (City) and federal funds (CDBG) that were used to extend water and sewer infrastructure to the IBP site (which was well outside Concord’s City limits at the

Celgard Celgard

Over the last two years, a major development in the park was Celgard LLC, which recently held its grand opening ceremony. The company is a major supplier of microporous separators used in the lithium-ion battery industry. The event on July 25 heralded its growth in the electric drive vehicle (EDV) market. Celgard also maintains a strong presence in the microporous separator markets that affect digital cameras, laptop computers, and cell phones.

At the grand opening, Celgard announced the third phase of expansion at the facility. Mayor Scott Padgett was joined

by Governor Bev Perdue, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Congressman Larry Kissell, company officials, and local government and business leaders. The facility encompasses more than 150,000 square feet and 20 acres, and Celgard’s presence in the International Business Park is expected to create more than 570 new jobs.

6 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

continued on page 15

5

•P lace your loose leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. the FIRST day of your loose leaf collection schedule.

•C ollection crews are unable to return if you place leaves at the curb after they have worked your street.

• L eaves must be free of tree/shrub limbs or foreign objects and kept away from storm drains, mail boxes, and parked cars.

•B agged leaves are collected WEEKLY on your regular garbage collection day.

Consider bagging your leaves if you cannot wait for the once per month loose leaf collection.

2011-12 Loose Leaf Collection Schedule If your garbage day is:

Your loose leaves will be collected:

Monday

October 31 - November 4 December 12 - December 16 January 23 - January 27

Tuesday

October 31 - November 4 December 5 - December 9 January 17 - January 20

Wednesday

Thursday

October 24 - October 28 November 28 - December 2 January 9 - January 13

Friday

November 7 - November 11 December 19 - December 23 January 30 - February 3

October 24 - October 28 November 14 - November 18 January 3 - January 6

This schedule is subject to change due to weather delays and equipment breakdown. Contact the Customer Care center or check our website for updates.

•B agged leaves MUST be contained in untied, clear plastic or biodegradable paper bags weighing less than 35 pounds each.

• T he City will collect your Christmas trees too! Please leave trees at the curb with your regular household garbage. Remove all stands, lights, and ornaments.

•N o loose leaf collection is scheduled on City-observed holidays, including Thanksgiving (November 24-25), Christmas (December 26-27), New Year’s Day (January 2) and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (January 16).

Second Chance Program You are required to begin bagging all loose leaves placed at the curb after the leaf crew works your street during the third collection cycle. The Second Chance Program is for anyone who missed the last collection and is willing to pay rather than to bag their leaves and avoid the Code Enforcement penalties. For a fee of $75, the City will schedule a special loose leaf collection weekdays between February 6 and February 17. concordnc.gov FALL 2011 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 7

Road Improvements continued from page 5 to Derita Road on the west and Woodhaven Place, NW on

Concord and NCDOT staff have reviewed the 25 percent

the east.

plans and Water Quality (WQ) permitting documents.

Comments have been provided and Stantec is working to

I-85, Exit 55

complete the final design. Once the plans are completed,

The NC 73 bridge over I-85 and the entire interchange

right-of-way acquisition can begin before letting for

will be replaced as part of the I-85 project. The

construction. Construction is scheduled for September

replacement will be a diverging double diamond

2011.

interchange design. Additionally, improvements on NC 73 on both sides of I-85 will be performed from Branson Road

George W. Liles Parkway Extension

to a point beyond Trinity Church Road in Kannapolis.

With the closing of Philip Morris, it is imperative to North Carolina, Cabarrus County, and Concord to replace these jobs and tax base. The extension of the George W. Liles Parkway will connect US Highway 29 and the Philip Morris property and others along the alignment directly to I-85. Based on the promise of donated land from the major property owners, Concord and NCDOT agreed for Concord to up-front the money (in excess of $10 million), which will be reimbursed to the City by NCDOT once those funds are available (as programmed in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)). The project is scheduled to begin April 2012, with construction

Other Thoroughfares in Concord to be Improved

through 2015. Project design plans are 95 percent

The I-85 widening and associated interchange projects

Derita Road Improvement Project

are perhaps the most visible construction projects planned by the City and NCDOT, but there are other key improvements that will make Concord’s transportation system safer and more efficient. Improvements to three key roads are planned over the next four years.

Project Poplar Tent Road – US 29/601 Intersection The City received grant funding to improve the intersection of Poplar Tent Road and US 29/601. The new

complete and right-of-way acquisition is in progress.

Derita Road, another NCDOT facility, is proposed to be a connector between I-85 and I-77 (via I-485). The corridor is a main entryway to the Concord Mills area from northern Mecklenburg, southern Iredell, and western Cabarrus counties. This is a rapidly growing industrial area that includes many NASCAR related businesses, Sprint Cup teams, and the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Derita Road provides the only access to Concord Regional Airport.

Superstreet design will be used for the improvements at this intersection instead of commonly used intersection and signal modifications. This design prohibits left turns at the intersection. Instead, motorists will make protected u-turns beyond the intersections and then a right turn to complete the maneuver. The efficiency is realized

Did you know... that the City of Concord Transportation Department maintains 321 miles of streets, 194 miles of sidewalks,

(approximately 70 percent) due to the elimination of an

16 bridges, and 414 miles of curb and gutter? Visit

eight phase signal and implementation of the two phase

concordnc.gov/transportation for more information

signal system of the superstreet. Concord is providing

about the Transportation Department.

the local match for this project, which equates to almost $400,000, and has awarded the design contract to Stantec.

8 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

continued on page 12

Protect your trees against cankerworms in November The fall cankerworm has become a growing nuisance to trees and property owners in our

BANDING TIPS: Timing for tree banding is key.

community over the last few years. Feeding larvae can defoliate (remove leaves) from many tree species. Usually, willow oaks are targeted, but anything from dogwoods to maples can be affected.

Wait until mid-November (or until all leaves have fallen)

After many years of infesting trees in

before putting up your bands.

Charlotte, cankerworms moved into

Leave the bands in place until April.

You can make your own bands by smearing a sticky product such as Tanglefoot on a tree wrap of sturdy paper, tape, or other material.

You can purchase banding kits such as Bug Barrier, which some experts say are easier for the average homeowner, but squirrels sometimes destroy kits to steal material for their nests.

Banding with a kit costs about $10 for a 12-inch diameter tree.

The Tanglefoot method costs about $3 for the same tree.

Many local hardware stores carry both kits and do-ityourself supplies.

Harrisburg in 2009 and made their way to Concord and Kannapolis last year. In the spring of 2011, cankerworms were found from I-85, along Pitts School Road, to south of Harrisburg near Robinson Church Road; along Irish Buffalo Creek and across US 601 into south Concord; and along Three-Mile Branch into the Beverly Hills subdivision.

The female moths climb trees following the first freeze in the fall to lay eggs. Using a technique called “banding” at that time can help control this growing problem. Eggs hatch in the spring, then defoliate and weaken trees. Banding trees in mid-November and smearing the bands with a sticky substance prevents the female wingless moths from climbing up the trunks to lay eggs in the tops of the trees.

“Banding trees this fall will help homeowners protect trees from defoliation,” said David Goforth with the NC Cooperate Extension’s Cabarrus County Center. “Healthy trees are unlikely to be affected long-term, but defoliation can weaken trees that battle other challenges like drought.” concordnc.gov FALL 2011 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 9

10

Concord Youth Council Ten Years in the Making

Ten years ago, the City of Concord Mayor and City

Thus far, Concord has hosted four state conferences,

Council established the Concord Youth Council as a way

which consist of a weekend of service projects and

to expose high school students living in Cabarrus County

activities with diverse groups of over 100 youth council

and attending a public, private or home school to the

members around the state.

workings of City government, leadership opportunities, and involvement in community events.

Over the years, membership has increased and now stands at seventy-two members. Youth Council members

The first group of Youth Council members included

now meet twice a month (still on Mondays!) during the

forty students. Once a month on a Monday night, these

school year in a training room at the Police department.

pathfinders met in the City Council Chambers and

tirelessly worked to established their mission statement,

Officers for 2011-12 are Cameron Watson, President;

by-laws, membership criteria, goals, policies, and

Harmony Houston, Vice President; Molly Walker,

procedures.

Secretary; Greg Fields, Finance Chair; Alex Johnson, Promotions/Marketing Chair; and

Service projects, City events, and festivals were gradually

Caroline Blackman, Social Chair.

added to their calendar, allowing them the opportunity to be involved in the community and gain leadership skills.

Members are selected through an application process (applications are due

One of the first goals of the Youth Council was to be

in May), and an interview conducted by

chartered into North Carolina State Youth Council, in

the President and other Executive Board

which they succeeded. The North Carolina Department of

members. The Executive Board is looking

Administration’s Youth Involvement and Advocacy Office

for other members who will participate,

oversees four state conferences each year that are hosted

succeed, and be leaders just as they are in

by youth councils around the state.

the Concord Youth Council.

10 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

concordnc.gov concordnc.gov FALL FALL 2011 2011 CONCORD CONCORD CITY CITY CIRCULAR CIRCULAR 11 11

Road Improvements continued from page 8 Traffic congestion is choking this corridor and the City

has been signed by both NCDOT and FHWA. The

of Concord has secured Federal funding to assist the

NCDOT Municipal Bridge Coordinator has sent written

NCDOT in solving this problem. A federal earmark of

authorization to the City to proceed with the final design

1.25 million dollars was received in 2005. Unfortunately,

phase of the project, which is scheduled to be complete

most of the money was allocated as a High Priority

by January 10, 2012. The advertisement for bids is

Project (HPP), making it subject to the state’s equity

scheduled for March 15, 2012, and constructions should

formula. Therefore, Concord had to “trade off” the delay

begin in June 2012.

of much of the widening of Poplar Tent Road through a requested TIP priority change. Even with this change,

US Highway 29 over Rocky River

Concord is required to pick up the total cost of the federal

NCDOT is in the preliminary planning stages for the

match on this NCDOT road. This match is estimated

replacement of both the northbound and southbound

to be approximately 2.1 million dollars. Concord and

bridges on US 29 over Rocky River (near Charlotte

NCDOT have entered into a Municipal Agreement and

Motor Speedway). The City will partner with NCDOT

the design firm (AECOM) has been selected. Planning is

to incorporate a greenway trail under the bridges and

under way with the first public meeting held at Concord

multi-use paths on the outside lanes along US Highway

Regional Airport on July 19. Right-of-way acquisition

29. These enhancements will accommodate the large

is currently scheduled to begin in late 2011 and

volume of pedestrians in the vicinity for events at

construction is projected to begin in August 2013.

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s tracks throughout the

Several Bridge Upgrades Planned

year. According to the TIP,

Bridge Improvements: Cabarrus Avenue over Norfork Southern Railroad Burrage Road Bridge Replacement

Finally, several bridge

US Highway 29 over Rocky River

upgrades around the City of Concord are scheduled for the next five years.

US Highway 29/601 over Norfork Southern Railroad Wilshire Avenue over Irish Buffalo Creek

Cabarrus Avenue over Norfork Southern Railroad NCDOT will replace the existing bridge on Cabarrus Avenue over the railroad. Concord is participating in the project to upgrade the standard bridge with a Texas Classic type railing, decorative lights, and sidewalk improvements. These project enhancements will continue improvements made along the Cabarrus Avenue gateway corridor as described in the Center City Plan. The project is scheduled to begin February 1, 2012.

Burrage Road over Three-Mile Branch The replacement of the Burrage Road Bridge over the Three-Mile Branch is a high priority for the City as this bridge has the lowest rating of all City-maintained bridges. The Planning/ Environmental Document

12 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

right-of-way acquisition is currently scheduled to begin in 2013 and a construction is projected for 2014.

US Highway 29/601 over Norfork Southern Railroad This project will replace the bridges on US Highway 29 over the Norfork Southern

Railway in Concord (near the Perdue Farms plant). The TIP indicates that right-of-way acquisition is currently scheduled for FY 2013 and construction is scheduled for FY 2015. The NCDOT will coordinate this project with the I-85 project timeline to minimize congestion on the detour route(s).

Wilshire Avenue over Irish Buffalo Creek The final project is the replacement of the existing bridge on Wilshire Avenue over Irish Buffalo Creek. A resolution for participation was adopted by City Council for greenway, sidewalk, and bike accommodations to be included in the project. Right-of-way acquisition is scheduled for 2013 and construction is scheduled for 2014. continued on page 13

Manager’s Notes continued from page 3 of their local government, they feel more comfortable in giving us feedback on service delivery and how we can improve. I am pleased to report that our current Concord 101 class is one of the largest ever. Participants learn about their elected officials and City departments and provide us their perspective on services. This class is offered in the fall on an annual basis. The Public Safety Academy, offered in the spring, allows residents to focus specifically on Police, Fire and Public Safety Communications.

its neighborhoods regardless if they participate in this

The benefits include the assignment of a City liaison who will attend neighborhood meetings to listen to comments and concerns from the neighborhood and share information about City services and upcoming City events. For example, our

program or not.

The City also partners with interested principals and

recognized neighborhoods have recently been vital in

teachers to provide information and tours to third-grade

getting accurate information to citizens about changes to

students in elementary schools serving Concord residents.

the solid waste and recycling programs. Also, as part of

This fall we are working with Coltrane-Webb, Beverly

the community policing efforts, the City is divided into

Hills, and Pitts School Road elementary schools. In the

four police districts, each supervised by a captain. Police

spring we will be coordinating with R. Brown McAllister,

officers within each district attend neighborhood meetings

Irvin, and Winecoff schools. We look forward to these

so that residents can get to know who works in their

sessions as the perspective we get from these kids is very

neighborhood.

helpful in planning for the future. The questions and comments are often very entertaining too!

Pepper Bego, in the Planning and Neighborhood Development Department, coordinates this program. More

The Concord 101 class and the Civic Education program

information on these benefits and others are detailed on

for third-graders are coordinated by Peter Franzese in the

the City’s website at concordnc.gov/neighborhoods.

City Manager’s Office.

These programs are keys to our organization’s efforts to The final program I would like to highlight is the

partner within the community. By developing a varied

City’s Partnerships for Stronger Neighborhoods

outreach program, the Mayor and Council has sought to

Program. Currently there are 50 Recognized

provide as many opportunities as possible for interested

Neighborhoods involved in this program, some more

residents to interact with their City government, even if

active than others. The City certainly works with all

they do not have the time to volunteer for a City Board or Commission.

Road Improvements continued from page 12

Stay Informed Successfully upgrading our transportation infrastructure requires planning and cooperation among local, state, and federal government agencies, the private sector, and the traveling public. Our goal is to keep you informed as projects progress, so you can provide feedback as they are

receive the latest information as it is available. You may also contact Joe Wilson, Transportation Director, to discuss any of these

developed.

projects. He may be reached at wilsonj@concordnc.gov or

Subscribe to the CityLink Newsletter and update your information on the Blackboard Connect messaging system to

For more information and a video description of a diverging

704-920-5362.

diamond interchange, go to concordnc.gov/cityhallblog.

concordnc.gov FALL 2011 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 13

of a roll-out cart and appreciate

From the Mayor continued from page 3

the opportunity to recycle Phase one was an investment of $57 million bringing two hundred jobs, and phase two was a $65 million investment with an additional hundred jobs.

The opening ceremony brought a surprise and more good news! Dr. Mitchell Pulwer, president of Celgard, and Governor Bev Perdue announced a third phase with an investment of $105 million and an additional two hundred and fifty jobs. In total, Celgard is making a $227.4 million investment in our community, bringing 573 jobs. The jobs will pay an average salary of $37,912 before benefits, which is higher than the annual average for Cabarrus County ($32,448). The Concord plant is expected to start production in October and be at full production by first quarter of 2012. The number one benefit is the employment provided, with the additional advantage of tax investment in our community. The growth and vitality of this company

so many additional items.

Concord citizens have quickly learned the new system and our staff has worked hard to minimize the adjustment.

Though it may seem a long way into the future, we will be kicking off the holiday season with our annual Christmas tree lighting and fireworks show on Friday, November 18.

This is a popular event for families and is made possible by the City of Concord and our excellent sponsors, Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast and Cabarrus Bank & Trust Company.

continues to amaze me, and this growth is great news for all of us. Something most of us can agree on is that faith, family, and a job to provide for a family is most important.

SAVE THE DATE! Come downtown on

As I have noted before, this project was made possible

Friday, November 18

through cooperation and support of the United States Department of Energy, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, and Concord City Council, coordinated by our local Economic Development Corporation. We must continue to work together to be competitive for much needed jobs.

I would like to commend past Concord elected officials and management for their foresight in helping International Business Park become a reality. In the mid 1980s Concord worked with the Nolim Group to extend water and sewer to what is now the International Business Park. At the time leaders saw a

for an evening of fun and festivities:

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks EVENT SCHEDULE:

5:30 Children’s activities Trolley and carriage rides

6:00 Family entertainment 7:30 Tree lighting and Fireworks!

need to be ready for future economic development and diversify from being completely dependent on textiles.

This foresight paid off as there are now thousands of jobs at the twenty-three plants and businesses at International Business Park.

The new roll-out recycling program has now been in place several months. There has been a very positive response from our citizens, who like the convenience 14 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL 2011 concordnc.gov

Also join us for the Art Walk 6:00-9:00 presented by:

25 Years of Partnership continued from page 6

Future Future Development

Lots 7, 8, and 9 of the International Business Park have now received Certified Site status, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. In order to meet the Certified Site status, the lots had to undergo a rigorous pre-qualification procedure which takes into account the reduction of risk associated with development related to factors such as price, availability, existing utilities, access, environmental concerns and potential site development costs.

Grading is nearing completion at the new 4541 Enterprise Drive facility, a speculative building with the possibility to expand to more than 140,000 square feet. For both international and domestic firms eager to develop a Charlotte-based presence, or expanding businesses that already call this dynamic and diversified region home, 4541 Enterprise Drive is the address that offers a strategic location and superb design flexibility.

The new class “A” industrial building will have more than 88,000 square feet of available space for lease. Companies looking to grow in this thriving region can request build-tosuit office space.

R&D, manufacturing, or distribution companies with shipping needs can lease space with a variety of dock door configurations, and expanded parking facilities are also available. As few as four or as many as sixteen side-loading dock doors are available to companies occupying the space.

For more information about the International Business Park at Concord, visit internationalbusinesspark.com.

Jeffrey Cheatham with Walker Marketing, Inc. contributed to this story.

Visit concordnc.gov to subscribe to the CityLink email newsletter, and receive weekly updates and information about Concord direct to your inbox.

City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911 One number does it all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5555 Call the Customer Call Center for service requests and inquiries about any of the following: • Electric Outages/Services • Water/Sewer Emergencies • Dead Animal Pick-up • Drinking Water Inquiries • Garbage/Bulk Pick-up/Recycling • Utility Bills • Street/Traffic Light Issues • Right-of-Way Issues • Storm Water/Storm Drain/Flooding Problems • Yard Waste/Leaf Collection • Building Material Disposal • Bulk Metal Collection • Old Tire Collection • Vacant Lot Cleaning/Mowing The primary phone numbers for the various City departments are: Accounts Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5217 Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5231 Buildings & Grounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5380 City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5205 City Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5215 Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5580 Concord Regional Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5900 Community Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5143 Electric Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5320 Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5425 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5220 Fire Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5516 Fleet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5430 GIS/Mapping/Addressing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5153 Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-788-1139 Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5100 Meter Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5219 Parks & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704-920-5600 Planning & Neighborhood Development . . . . . . . 704-920-5143 Police (non-emergency) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5000 Public Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5210 Purchasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5440 Rider Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-7433 Rocky River Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-455-1200 Sewer Construction & Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5351 Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5361 Stormwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5360 Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5216 TDD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-735-8262 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5362 Water Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5341 Zoning/Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704-920-5152 Main Switchboard Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5200

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Concord, NC Permit No. 39

P.O. Box 308 Concord, NC 28036

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concordnc.gov The public is invited to come out to an exciting weekend at Concord Regional Airport on October 29-30 for the airport’s inaugural Celebration of Flight open house and fly-in.

search for ‘Celebration of Flight’. Registration is $26 through October 6 and $30 October 7 through race day.

Following the 5k, be

Event Hours:

sure to stop by the fly-in

Saturday – 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

breakfast, which is just $4

Sunday – 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

a person. Proceeds benefiting

Parking is only five dollars,

Rotary International’s Polio Plus

and admission is free.

The fun kicks off Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with a pre-event 5K road race around the airport property (including the air field). To register, go to active.com and

Program.

Both days will include aircraft flybys, static displays, NASCAR show cars and aircraft, kids activities, EAA Young Eagles flights, food and merchandise vendors, and fun for everyone!

Concord Regional Airport is located off Derita Road at 9000 Aviation Boulevard.

For more information visit www.celebrationofflight.aero or call 704-920-5910.