Summer 2012

Golf for Less

Page 4

SUMMER 2012 Information You Can Use

Painting the future in Gibson Village Pages 8-9

Now known as ClearWater Artist Studios, former City facilities will establish a community of creative social energy to transform the Gibson Village neighborhood.

Enhanced Service

Reliable Public Power

Blackboard Connect

Efficiency Rebate Program

New Customer Service Team

National Recognition

Page 5

Page 10

Page 6

Page 7

City Council

David W. Phillips District 1

Ella Mae Small District 3 Mayor Pro-Tem

Did cankerworms have you in a bind this spring?

James E. Ramseur District 2

Last fall, the City Circular featured tips for protecting your trees from cankerworms.

We’re working with Cabarrus County and the NC Cooperative Extension to bring you new informational resources this fall, as steps must be taken then to reduce infestation in the spring.

Alfred M. Brown, Jr. District 4

Be sure to watch for the next issue coming in September for more details.

W. Lamar Barrier District 5

Hector H. Henry II District 6

Stay connected with Concord through facebook! Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to facebook.com/concordnc.

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

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

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.

Designed by Granite Sky Design, Inc.

Rocky River Golf Club Greens Renovation . . . .4

Summer 2012 Historic Downtown Concord Calendar of Events

Blackboard Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The 4th Saturday of each month during regular business hours.

Residential Heat Pump Rebate . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Diamond-Worthy Hometown Power . . . . . . . . 7 ClearWater Artist Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Customer Service Milestone . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Concord 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 A New Look on Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Save the Drops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2012-2013 Recycle Calendar . . . . . . . . . back

2 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR FALL SUMMER 20112012 concordnc.gov concordnc.gov

FREE

June 21 July 19 August 16 September 20 6 – 9 PM Outdoor concerts on Means Avenue featuring top regional entertainment.

For information on these and other events go to: concorddowntown.com/events.

From the Mayor

Manager’s Notes

J. Scott Padgett

Brian Hiatt, Concord City Manager

It’s all about you The City Council has adopted the budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13, which begins July 1. The budget once again keeps the tax rate low compared to similar cities while providing the level of services expected by citizens. The City Council and I share a common goal of making each budget decision a decision about you.

While there is no limit to needs and possibilities in our community, we only have a defined amount of money to provide public services each year. The last four years have been difficult for citizens and families. The

City Council and I have focused on providing the absolute best services possible and investing in the future, while being responsible stewards of your tax dollars.

The City has tightened its belt over the last four years and is providing your services in more efficient ways. Many open positions have been frozen or eliminated, with about 25 less full-time equivalent positions now than four years ago. At the same time, the City is more focused than ever on providing excellent customer service to you, the citizen.

A great example of this approach is our fully-automated solid waste collection program, featuring every-other week recycling. Our contract with Waste Pro is saving the City $1.7 million each year of the five-year agreement, for a total savings of $8.5 million over the previous provider’s contract. This is the sort of thinking and leadership our City Council has embraced in order to keep your taxes low. Aside from the savings, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that our solid waste services have never been better!

Most of us have seen a decrease in property value after Cabarrus County completed the revaluation process – on average about 13 percent. Some values may have decreased less or more than that figure, and a few may have even increased in value. Similarly, everyone’s tax bill will change in unique ways next year. The challenge to this equation is that it costs the same amount of money to provide police and fire protection; garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection; street maintenance and snow removal; recreation opportunities; and all the other services funded by your tax dollars now as it did before the revaluation process.

There may be a thaw in the economic freeze In past City Circulars, we have tried to describe the changes the City has made to adjust to reduced revenue while maintaining essential service levels. The unavoidable cuts, just as individuals have made in their homes and businesses, have come at a time when the need for most of our services has either remained the same or even increased. The millions of property tax dollars lost due to the closure of Philip Morris, combined with the impact of the overall recession, certainly led to this challenge.

The good news is a slow but noticeable rebound in our local economy. Cabarrus County is experiencing a gradual decline in the unemployment rate with the March number at 9 percent, down from 9.6 percent in February and still the second lowest rate among counties in the Charlotte region. Of the 89,816 in the labor force, 81,710 were employed and 8,106 were unemployed. While we can agree the number of unemployed is still too high, it is a significant improvement since peaking at 13.5 percent in February 2010.

An important step to continuing job growth is recruiting new business and industry to Cabarrus County.

Cabarrus Economic Development reports 59 active projects looking at our County in April of this year compared to 46 in April 2011. Even more important, companies appear to be serious about investing here as demonstrated through an increase in actual site visits.

Since the beginning of the 2012, the City’s Planning and Neighborhood Development Department has experienced a permit issuance increase of one-third compared with the same time period in 2011. continued on page 14

continued on page 14 concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 3

Save money at Rocky River Golf Club during greens renovation

Rocky River Golf Club features 18 sensational holes carved out of beautiful rolling hills and natural wetlands. The course’s impeccably manicured tees, greens, and fairways add to the overall memorable experience.

During the renovation the driving range and clubhouse will remain open and temporary greens will allow some play to continue. This summer is a perfect time for novice golfers, casual golfers, and others to enjoy the course for special reduced pricing while construction is underway.

[ ]

At Concord’s municipal golf course, Rocky River Golf Club, residents and visitors experience the continuous accessibility of a public course combined with the ambiance and unsurpassed service normally reserved for the exclusive clubs.

Designed by Dan Maples, nationally Mark your calendar for the known for creating some of the Mayor’s Golf Tournament Carolina’s top courses, Rocky River Golf Club is the premier public course The 15th annual Mayor’s Golf in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Tournament will be held on Rocky River Golf Club opened during Concord’s bicentennial celebration in 1996; and, after 16 years, the course’s putting greens are scheduled for an overhaul from mid-June until midAugust. This summer will provide a great opportunity for first-time and casual golfers of all ages to enjoy this first-class facility at a reduced cost.

Friday, September 28, 2012, at Rocky River Golf Club.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit youth programs in our community, and the deadline to enter is September 21, 2012.

Visit rockyrivergolf.com for more information.

Rocky River is joining many other Carolina courses and returning to Bermuda, which was once popular in North Carolina and has made a comeback due to new strains of the grass. The new greens featuring MiniVerde® Bermuda will allow for a better surface for our local climate as well as reduced maintenance.

4 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov

Rocky River Golf Club is expected to fully re-open by August 15, just in time for the Mayor’s Junior Tournament on August 22, the fall golf season, and the fifteenth annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament on September 28.

For tee times, more information, or to sign up for the club email visit rockyrivergolf.com or call 704-455-1200.

2012 Temporary Green Rates for June – August

18 Cart 18 Walk 9 Cart 9 Walk

– friday $25 $15 $16 $10

monday

– sunday $35 $25 $20 $15

saturday

helps Concord inform the public tact cur rent con d d a d n a ify s tay rge d to ver ss Portal to e c c A t c Residents u e n n into Con ssages. infor matio portant me im f o d e m infor

The newly updated Blackboard Connect™ service will provide enhanced communications options to Concord residents and enable community leaders to reach the public more quickly and effectively, helping keep them safe and better informed.

Blackboard Connect enables officials to quickly deliver critical messages, including emergency alerts and important announcements, via phone, text, and email. Concord is holding a community-wide data drive, encouraging residents to verify and register their contact information in the system’s secure Connect Access Portal, where they can also manage their message settings, including their preferred language and mode of contact.

The City of Concord has used Blackboard Connect for several years to notify residents of urgent and routine communications, such as the leaf pick-up program, service schedule changes, and even road closures.

“We can count on Blackboard Connect to help us stay connected by quickly distributing timely, relevant messages to our community,” said Brian Hiatt, City Manager. “With the new portal, now it’s even easier for residents to add their current contact information, including email addresses and mobile phone numbers, and manage their message settings to help ensure they receive relevant messages through their preferred communication channel.”

Publicly available primary residential and business phones in Concord are already included in the system. However, residents are encouraged to explore the new Connect Access Portal and make sure the city has the most up-to-date

contact information by visiting concordnc.gov and clicking on the link that says SIGN UP NOW – SERVICES BY BLACKBOARD CONNECT. Users should also manage their message preferences by indicating their preferred mode of contact and language. Those without internet access, or who need assistance, are encouraged to call 704-920-5210.

Residents with call blocking services should add 704-920-5555 to their approved number list to ensure they receive important notifications from the City.

“Direct communication is the best way to keep residents informed and therefore safe, and the Blackboard Connect service makes it easier than ever for individuals to stay connected and engaged,” said Ed Miller, President of Blackboard Connect. “Blackboard Connect provides leaders with the most efficient, reliable way to send relevant, targeted information to the right people at the right time.”

Blackboard Connect requires no additional hardware and can be accessed through an iPhone application, any computer with internet access, or a telephone, allowing officials to send vital messages from wherever they are located. The system also offers pre-set scenario templates, automatic translation capabilities and enhanced geo-mapping so officials can quickly contact specific groups and geographical locations, sending messages only to the residents within select neighborhoods when needed. * Blackboard Connect Inc. does not sell, lease, share, or rent personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard or its service providers. concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 5

Residential heat pump rebate available to City electric customers A new residential high-efficiency heat pump rebate program was recently launched for customers of the City’s electric system. The goal is to promote the purchase and installation of higher efficiency electric heat pumps, with a minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 14.00, as a new installation or to replace an existing, lower efficiency system.

The program is a way to help lower customers’ cost with an added benefit of helping to lower the City’s peak demand during the summer. In addition, customers switching from gas to an electric HVAC system may qualify for a lower monthly electric utility rate.

Zd Heat pump rebate

Heat pump rebates of $400 per unit are available to qualified customers

The largest use of energy in a typical home is heating and cooling, averaging 44 percent.

Heat pumps are considered a good energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for climates with moderate heating and cooling needs.

6 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov

Heat pump rebates of $400 per unit are available to qualified customers, with no maximum number of units. Dual fuel or mini-split systems do not qualify.

Other standards apply to this rebate.

Interested customers should contact Alex Burris in the Electric Systems Department at 704-920-5335 to begin the application process. After the customer completes the rebate application and has the heat pump installed, staff will verify that the installation matches the information on the rebate form.

Once approved, a check will be issued to the customer.

The rebate program is on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information or to download an application, visit concordnc.gov/Departments/Electric/Heat-Pump-Rebate.

Diamond-worthy hometown power

PHOTOS COURTESY OF APPA/AMERICAN SAFETY UTILITY CORPORATION

Concord stands out at national public power conference for reliability, safety, and a hall of fame inductee.

Photo of Overhead Operations Coordinator Jackie Rushing (2nd from left), Underground Operations Coordinator David Mauldin (center), and Education Specialist Larry Bradley (2nd from right) accepting the RP3 award from APPA representatives in Cleveland, OH.

The City of Concord has been recognized by the American Public Power Association (APPA) for reliable electric service and safe operating practices in 2011. The City’s designation for the Reliable Public Power Diamond Award and first-place in the APPA Safety Awards of Excellence were announced during the association’s annual Engineering and Operations Technical Conference held in Cleveland, Ohio.

The City of Concord’s Electric Systems Department is one of 176 of the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) recognition from the APPA for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Brent McKinney, manager, electric transmission and distribution at City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., and chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel, presented the award on April 16.

“RP3 utilities are serving their customers at the very highest level,” said McKinney, “These utilities have demonstrated that they are providing excellent service now as well as keeping their eyes forward on improvements for the future.”

The RP3 Diamond designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate highest proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent

Photo of Rushing (2nd from left), Mauldin (center), and Bradley (2nd from right) accepting the safety award from APPA representatives in Cleveland, OH.

a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Awards are earned in three levels: Gold Level, scoring 80-89 percent, Platinum Level, scoring 90-99 percent, and Diamond

percent.

Level, scoring a perfect 100

“Receiving the RP3 Diamond Award designation means a lot to us,” said Bob Pate, Concord’s Electric Systems director.

“It’s an honor to be recognized on a national level for the work we are doing here locally in the City of Concord.”

This is the seventh year that RP3 recognition has been offered. Although this is the first time Concord has attained the Diamond Level, the City has twice before received the two-year designation at the Platinum Level. APPA is the national organization representing more than 2,000 not-forprofit, community-, and state- owned electric utilities.

Additionally, the Electric Systems Department earned

first place in the APPA Safety Awards of Excellence in the category for utilities with 116,000 worker-hours of annual worker exposure. Darrell Shaw, chair of the APPA Safety Committee, and safety and technical training specialist at Memphis, Tennessee Light Gas and Water Division presented the award on April 17. continued on page 15 concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 7

ANDY CHRISTY/CITY OF CONCORD

Artist studios help paint the future for Gibson Village The buildings at 223 Crowell Drive, NW (at the corner of Kerr and Crowell Streets) have served the City of Concord for nearly a century. Originally home to the City water works in the 1920s, the site later housed the Board of Light and Water and eventually served as home to the City’s electric operations facility. By the late 1990s, all of the buildings had been vacated and were being used as storage.

Now known as ClearWater Artist Studios, the complex will establish a community of creative social energy to transform the Gibson Village neighborhood. This project is possible through the support of the Mayor and City Council, the SARAH MANN/CLEARWATER ARTISTS COALITION

leadership of the Planning and Neighborhood Development Department, and the enthusiasm of the artists and Gibson Village residents.

The project was a vision of the 2003 Center City Plan, which was adopted by City Council to establish a set of strategies for the future redevelopment and sustainability of the existing fourteen neighborhoods that surround the City’s Downtown.

From 2008 until 2011, the first phases of the project renovated some of the buildings to create studios and gallery space. Additional site improvements were completed this spring, including removing broken asphalt, adding vegetation and greenspace, improving the parking lots, removing the perimeter chain link fencing, implementing signage, and pedestrian enhancements.

Completed phases of the project were funded predominately through federal Community Development Block Grant and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds.

8 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov

New York artist Patrick Glover, a self-described drifter, was the first artist to take residence at ClearWater. He established a studio in the WaterWorks Studio at 152 Kerr Street before the City had funds available to substantially renovate it. For Glover, it offered affordable space where he could simultaneously create art and pursue a new goal of a decorative career. He was largely focused on transforming

the first time. Neighbors, visitors, community leaders, and others all gathered to meet the artists in their studios, enjoy the first art display in the gallery space, and mingle with food and beverages.

Planning and Neighborhood Development staff members will continue working with the artists for several years as more renovations unfold. The master plan calls for a café, a community market space, and a large open green space that can be used for recreation and community events.

Additional studios will also be included in future phases, with over 30 artist studios expected to be filled once the project is complete.

SARAH MANN/CLEARWATER ARTISTS COALITION

his studio into a multi disciplinary performance and collaborative space, and his work aligned well with the City’s grant-funded energy-efficient window and door replacements.

Glover was essential to the project’s success, says Steve Osborne, deputy planning director. “Without Patrick, we would have never had the connection into the local artist community that helped us quickly fill all our completed space. He really helped us build a grassroots reputation in the region that continues today.”

t p e onc

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ANDY CHRISTY/CITY OF CONCORD ANDY CHRISTY/CITY OF CONCORD

For more information about the facility and future phases, contact Andy Christy in the Planning and Neighborhood Development department at christya@concordnc.gov or 704-920-5124. For information on exhibitions, events, and marketing efforts at ClearWater, contact Brandi McKenna, ClearWater Artist Coalition president at bran1973@gmail.com or Sarah Mann, ClearWater Coordinator at sjane722@gmail.com.

You may also visit clearwaterartists.com.

SARAH MANN/CLEARWATER ARTISTS COALITION

Never to be in one spot for too long, Glover has returned to New York, but not before leaving his mark behind. He hand-painted a mural on the Kerr Street side of the building, depicting a glimpse into its history based on a 1940s photograph. His former space in the WaterWorks Studio is now a dance studio. In addition, his brother Sean Glover now works out of the Operations Studios.

With the City’s role transitioning to that of a landlord, the artists are taking ownership and creating their own community. The artists have formed a coalition, led by sculpture and paper mache artist Brandi McKenna as president. In early May, the artists hosted an inaugural open gallery night to officially welcome the public in for concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 9

The City of Concord’s Customer Service team is available to serve you in person, over the phone, or by email.

CHARITY HARRIS/CITY OF CONCORD

City achieves new customer service milestone In January, the City’s two existing Customer Service teams combined in an effort to achieve customer service excellence.

The Customer Care Center staff (who you can reach at 704-920-5555) was relocated from Fire Station 3 to the Municipal Building where the walk-in Customer Service group is located.

“Combining these two teams allows the City to move toward our goal of providing great customer service,” said Pam Hinson, Director of Finance.

“The Care Center team brings a vast amount of knowledge to the group, and we are thrilled to be working with them to improve the City’s customer service delivery to citizens,” she added.

The newly combined team is managed by Tammy Linn, Customer Service Manger. The walk-in coworkers are supervised by Kathy Drye, Georgia Magbie supervises 10 CONCORD CONCORD CITY CITY CIRCULAR CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov 10

coworkers in the Care Center, and David Little supervises customer service technicians working in the field. Together the team coordinates services for citizens throughout various City departments and provides support for a range of City programs.

In addition, the Customer Care Center is now able to better accommodate Spanish-speaking callers with added bilingual representatives. “As we move forward as a newly combined team, embracing change will be a necessity,” said division manager Tammy Linn. “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together becomes success,” she said.

This group of coworkers plays a vital role at the City of Concord, and ensures that citizens and customers receive the best possible service with every contact. Customer Service team members are detail-oriented

[] Customer Service Milestones

January 1, 2001: Customer Care Center established as a division of Fire and Life Safety and staffed with coworkers who had expertise from several departments.

July 1, 2007: City launches organization-wide emphasis on customer service excellence.

January 1, 2012: Customer Care Center combined with Finance Department’s Customer Service Division

and dedicated to meeting the day-to-day challenges of their jobs. The team prides itself in responding promptly to individual customer needs. Their focus is on enhancing customer relationships and exceeding the customers’ expectations.

As the team moves forward—with a genuine focus on customer service excellence—supervisors will empower employees with the tools they need to better serve citizens. Plans for cross-training between the walk-in and phone teams are under way.

Every contact that a team member has with a citizen influences their outlook on the City of Concord and is important. From setting up new utility accounts, to providing information on community assistance for utility bills or working with Cabarrus County to issue Certificates of Occupancy, the team knows that great customer service begins with each coworker.

The Customer Service team is ready to assist you!

Visit us in City Hall at 26 Union Street, S., give us a call at 704-920-5555, or email us at custserv@concordnc.gov.

Learn how your government works in

Concord 101 beginning:

August 28 time: 6 - 8:30 pm day: Tuesday must be:

Concord residents age 18 or older register by: August 3 hurry – limited to: 30 Participants

Applications are being accepted for Concord 101, an annual course designed for Concord citizens to learn about their local government. The free 13-week session begins August 28 and culminates with a graduation ceremony in November.

Residents of Concord age 18 and older are invited to submit an application by August 3. Class size is limited to 30 participants.

City staff members will conduct weekly classes from 6:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. Citizens will get a first hand look at what it takes to run City services such as solid waste, water, police, fire, parks and recreation, and much more.

In addition, several community partners will be on board this year to give a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Concord such a great place to live.

The course was designed to give citizens the opportunity to interact closely with City staff members. In addition to learning about Concord, the City hopes participants will provide input and take a more active role in their neighborhoods and community.

More information, the application, and the class schedule are available on the City’s website, concordnc.gov.

Residents may also call the City Manager’s Office with questions at 704-920-5215. concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 11

A new look and better fuel efficiency on patrol You’ll notice a new look on some of the Concord Police patrol vehicles.

The department received replacement cruisers for 27 of the nearly 200 Police vehicles in the fleet. The new vehicles replace 2000-2003 model vehicles with over 100,000 miles each. Six-cylinder engines now power 87 percent of all patrol vehicles, and half of the remaining 13 percent with eight cylinders are spares. The new Ford Police Interceptor is the only frontwheel drive six-cylinder police cars available.

More information about Fleet Services is available at concordnc.gov/Departments/FleetServices. Visit bit.ly/ConcordPDinterceptors for more photos and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get a new patrol vehicle on the street.

Did you know...

Did you know that Concord has the lowest fleet services cost per Vehicle Equivalent Unit in North Carolina? Concord is one of fifteen municipal fleets participating in the NC Benchmarking Program administered by the UNCChapel Hill School of Government. Various industry standard measures are reported each year that fall within three categories: workload, effectiveness, and efficiency measures. While Concord rates high in many of these categories, Fleet Services has maintained the lowest cost per VEU for the past three years in a row, while maintaining a 98 percent availability rate.

The Police department and other City departments work with the Fleet Services department to replace vehicles each year to maintain the lowest possible life-cycle cost. Fleet Services has been recognized three years in a row as one of the “Top 100” public sector fleet operations in North America.

12 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov

Save the drops!

As summer begins, the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis remind customers of the normal, responsible water use guidelines that were adopted in 2009. These guidelines restrict water use for the municipalities of Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Landis, and Mount Pleasant.

Under normal, responsible water use, lawn irrigation is ONLY allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Those

Normal Responsible Water Use Level 0 Voluntary Water Restrictions Level 1 Mandatory Water Restrictions Level 2 Enhanced Mandatory Level 3 Emergency Mandatory Level 4

who violate the specified lawn irrigation days watering rule will receive written notice of the violation and the appropriate fee will be assessed.

In addition, the following activities are permitted, but customers are encouraged to limit them to help conserve our limited resources:

Concord and Kannapolis are committed to environmentally sustainable water use practices 365 days a year during normal conditions and periods of drought. Irrigation creates the single largest demand for water during spring and summer months.

• T he filling, operation or topping off of ornamental fountains.

•R esidential car washing will be allowed using a hand-held hose or pressure washer, both equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle.

•R esidential use of water for wash down of outside areas using a hand-held hose or pressure washer, both equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle.

•W atering of trees, flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens for plant preservation.

Research shows that properly maintained lawns only need 1 inch of water per week to thrive, and it is best to water during evening and early morning hours.

We thank our customers for reducing their demand and assisting us with extending our limited water supplies. Our businesses and residents continue to demonstrate leadership in water conservation and environmental protection.

•A utomated irrigation services may be installed and activated.

These water use restrictions do not apply to those customers using wells or ponds for irrigation purposes. However, all users are encouraged to remain diligent in their conservation efforts regardless of the water source.

•A ll customers are allowed to use pressure washing devices.

Visit concordnc.gov/savethedrops to learn more. concordnc.gov SUMMER 2012 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR 13

From the Mayor continued from page 3

The City has been aggressive in taking advantage of low interest rates to save money on its limited amount of debt.

Staff recently completed the refunding process for $17.3 million of utilities systems revenue bonds, producing an estimated net present value savings of over 15 percent or $2.682 million.

from the Government Finance Officer’s Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) represent a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

L.J. WESLOWSKI/CITY OF CONCORD

The refunding, which City Council authorized in April, will save the City approximately $260,000 each of the ten remaining years on the life of the bonds.

The revenue bonds were originally issued in 2002 to fund improvements to the City’s electric, water, and wastewater systems. These

savings will help keep utility rates affordable for you, the customer.

We are emerging from a difficult chapter in our nation’s history. However, the City of Concord has maintained great fiscal health and provided an excellent quality of life through the downturn. Financial excellence is a longstanding tradition here, and the City Council includes specific financial objectives each year as part of its goals.

Concord recently earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the tenth consecutive year, and the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the twentythird consecutive year. Both of these awards Manager’s Notes continued from page 3 In fact, new business development and vehicle registrations are also up in Cabarrus County. Concord, after losing more than $2 million annually in taxable sales revenue, has finally seen revenue level off and slowly move in a positive direction.

Housing construction permits, the area of our economy perhaps most impacted by the downturn, are up too, but nowhere near pre-recession levels.

Concord is blessed with wonderful human and natural resources and is located in a very desirable part of our nation. We will continue to invest in our infrastructure and provide quality, basic municipal 14 CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR SUMMER 2012 concordnc.gov

Mayor Scott Padgett presents the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Finance Director Pam Hinson

The Finance team’s commitment carries through each of the City’s departments. All of the City’s 916 coworkers are committed to serving you, and most do it without being noticed or recognized. They are simply proud to do what it takes to serve citizens and customers every day of the week and around the clock, whether on the street or behind the scenes. Their dedication allows the City Council and I to keep our focus on you.

As the City enters a new fiscal year, I am confident that families and businesses will continue to benefit from the services we provide. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

services. There is no doubt the City of Concord will work with our public and private partners and build on these positive trends to work toward a more robust economic future.

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

Electric Systems awards continued from page 7 “Safety should always be priority number one for electric utilities,” said Shaw. “Sending L.J. WESLOWSKI/CITY OF CONCORD

each and every one of our employees home safe to their families every night is what it’s all about.”

More than 275 utilities entered the contest, Overhead Operations Coordinator Jackie Rushing receives the APPA RP3 Diamond which has been held Award from Mayor Padgett annually for the last 52 years. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker hours and judged for the most incident-free records during 2011. The incidence rate, used to judge contest entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2011, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“A lot of work goes into building a strong safety record,” added Pate. “The Electric Systems Department looks forward to continuing to improve its safety practices as it provides reliable service to the community.”

Another recent highlight for the department was

of retired director William A. (Bill) Seamone into the International Lineman’s Museum Hall of Fame in March. The

L.J. WESLOWSKI/CITY OF CONCORD

the induction

Bill Seamone (on right) is inducted into the International Lineman’s Museum Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame was established in 2006, and pays tribute to those linemen who continually exceed in the call of duty and exemplify those qualities that establish the true nature of the brotherhood of electrical lineman.

Seamone began his over forty-year career in Concord as a ground technician in 1968, and remained until he retired in 2009. He commented how fortunate he had been to experience the tremendous change, advancement, and opportunity within the electric transmission and distribution field during his career.

“If the electric transmission and distribution business was a large house, I’ve lived and worked in every room in the house.” His greatest joy, however, was simply the opportunity to work alongside great people while serving people.

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: Main Switchboard Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5200 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 Risk Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5111 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

c o concordnc.gov n c o SUMMER r d2012 n CONCORD c . CITY g CIRCULAR o v 15

P.O. Box 308 Concord, NC 28036

Stay Connected Stay connected with Concord through facebook! Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to facebook.com/ concordnc.

concordnc.gov

Way to go, Concord!

As of press time, Concord’s improved recycling program that began July 2011 resulted in a collection tonnage increase of 53 percent and a customer participation increase of nearly 10 percent (bringing participation to an estimated 68 percent).

Curious what happens to your recyclables after they are collected?

Check out Concord’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/concordnc1 to see the process firsthand at the Sonoco Recycling materials recovery facility in Charlotte.

Please cut out and refer to the appropriate calendar below for the next year. You will receive another copy in the mail. You can also check your collection week and download a calendar at concordnc.gov/whatsmyday, or call the Customer Care Center at 704-920-5555.

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Recycling is collected every-other-week (shown in blue) on your regularly scheduled garbage day.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 All Plastics (no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap. No bottle8 9 10 11 12 13 14 caps) 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 • City holidays 1 2 3 4 5 6 22 7 23 24 25 26 27 5 28 are circled. visit 31 • Rinse allPlastic food, 29 30 Please Wide-Mouth concordnc.gov Containers & Lids drink, or other for the holiday from October collection Rigidresidues Plastic Containers 2 3 4 5 6 & Small Hard Plastic Toys 1 schedule. items 7 8 • Place 9 10carts 11 for 12 13 Milk & Juice Cartons, • Do not bag 14 15 collection 16 17 18 with 19 20 & Juice Boxes recyclables wheels facing 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Shredded Paper your home.

(EXCEPT do (placed in clear bag) 28 29 30 31 bag shredded • Keep carts 2 feet from Aluminum paper)Cans one another January Metal & Lids and • DoFood not Cans place 1 22 feet 3 from 4 5 cars, Glass Bottles & Jars electronics in 6 7 parked 8 9 10 etc.

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Mail

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Empty Aerosol Cans (no paint cans)

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Recycling is collected every-other-week (shown in green) on your regularly scheduled garbage day.

Recycle these items:

Paperback Books Magazines & Phonebooks Spiral Paper Cans (with plastic lids detached)

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For1 more 2 information 3 4 5 6 on recycling, visit: 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 21

concordnc.gov 15 16 17 18 19 704.920.5555 22 23 24 25 26

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• Rinse allPlastic food, Wide-Mouth Containers & Lids drink, or other

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recycle bin, Flattened Boxes: Cardboard, call for Cereal pickup: & Food Boxes 704.920.5555

Magazines & Phonebooks Spiral Paper Cans (with plastic lids detached)