July 2019 - Kannapolis Matters

Calendar of Events

JULY 2019

JULY

Kannapolis Farmers Market

Each Thursday | 4-7 p.m. | Vance

Ave. and Dale Earnhardt Blvd.

6 Concert in the Park: Heart Breaker (Heart) and On the Border (Eagles) | 7-10 p.m.

Village Park 11 Children’s Theater: Wizard of Oz | 1-2 p.m. | Veterans Park 11

Kannapolis Fire Chief Ernie Hiers Retires

12 Movies in the Park: Secret Life of Pets | 8:45 p.m. | Village Park

E

very day, Kannapolis Fire Chief Ernie Hiers takes time to walk the floors of Kannapolis City Hall. With a wave of his hands, a big smile and terrible jokes, he checks in on every department in the City. This tradition exemplifies who he is both in his personal and professional life. He cares about people and their wellbeing.

“I have always just wanted to help people,” he says. “For me, this has been the best job in the world. It’s my hope, my goal, that every call for service helps someone when they need it the most.”

THE CITY OF KANNAPOLIS 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 www.kannapolisnc.gov

Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis), Instagram @KannapolisNC, LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/cityofkanapolis), Nextdoor (nextdoor.com/Kannapolisnc.gov), Snapchat @ KannapolisNC and Twitter @Kannapolis for regular updates and more ideas for fun.

Continued on page 2

13

Stories Under the Stars: Professor Whizzpop | 7-8 p.m.

Kannapolis Library

20

Concert in the Park: Morris Day 7-10 p.m. | Village Park

26

Movies in the Park: Hotel Transylvania III | 8:45 p.m.

Village Park

AUGUST

Ernie was just 21 years old when he joined the fire department in Temple Terrace, FL. “I had a friend, Bill, who was a firefighter. Bill showed me the impact firefighters make in their community.”

He worked his way up through the ranks – driver/engineer, shift captain, assistant fire chief, and then fire chief and emergency management coordinator. “I never said I want to be chief someday – it just happened. I enjoyed taking on leadership responsibilities

Thursdays on Main: Band of Oz 6-9 p.m. | Veterans Park

2

Movies in the Park: Bumblebee 8:45 p.m. | Village Park

6

National Night Out | 5 p.m.

Veterans Park

8

Thursdays on Main: The Embers 6-9 p.m. | Veterans Park

10 Concert in the Park: Rick Springfield | 7-10 p.m. | Village

Park | Fireworks

Fire Chief Ernie Hiers

17

RESCHEDULED DATE Strides for Stroke 5K | 8 a.m.

Downtown Kannapolis

17

Stories Under the Stars: Steve Langley Soap Box Circus 7-8 p.m. | Kannapolis Library

24

Kaleidoscope Art Festival & Zombie Walk | 4 p.m.

Downtown Kannapolis More at kannapolisnc.gov

Continued from page 1

such as the budget and new technology and one thing led to another.”

He earned his B.S. in fire and safety engineering technology from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in public administration from City University in Bellevue, WA. Ernie has seen tremendous change in fire service in his 39 years of service. “When I started as a firefighter we did not have 911 – we had a red phone at the department; someone would be there waiting to answer the phone and then we could respond. There were no air packs and only three firefighters on duty at one time.”

While in Florida he implemented a paramedic service, moving the department into a new era of providing emergency medical care and firefighting.

He was also responsible for achieving accreditation for the department.

He retired from the Temple Terrace Department with 27 years of service.

He and his wife, Dora, were ready for a change, but Ernie wasn’t quite ready to leave his firefighting career behind. They had visited North Carolina for the races and the cooler weather, and decided to look for opportunities here.

to an all-paid staff; a sophisticated 911 system; thorough emergency management plans; a reverse 911 system; computers in trucks; upgraded radio communications for the region; and thermal imaging systems – to just name a few.

“We wanted to be somewhere where we had a good quality of life and near the mountains. The position for fire chief was open in Kannapolis, so I applied.” He joined Kannapolis as fire chief and emergency management coordinator in 2007.

The department has received grants for a Knox Box system for the elderly and disabled, and smoke alarms for anyone who requests them; has an outreach program for the hard-of-hearing and other special populations to teach them fire prevention and first aid; and initiated a Fire Explorer program to encourage teenagers who are interested in a firefighting career.

Ernie’s career in Kannapolis has included overseeing a period of growth in the number of firefighters per shift, from 33 firefighters to 84 firefighters; a transition from both paid and volunteer firefighters

Most importantly, Ernie has overseen the planning for the future of Kannapolis’ fire stations and the construction of two new replacement stations – #2 and #3. He has also worked to improve the ISO rating for

the City. When asked what else he is proud of during his tenure as chief, Ernie notes that the department has progressed to be one of the benchmark departments in the state and country.

Urgent Home Repair Funds Available

“Not a week goes by that another department doesn’t call us and want to know how we do things here – whether it is training and professional development or our community programs,” he says. “I am also proud of the relationships our department has with all of our coworkers in the City and our mutual aid relationships with our neighboring fire departments, such as the City of Concord.

The City has received funds for qualifying Kannapolis homeowners who need urgent repairs for their primary residence.

The funds from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency could cover items such as handicap ramps, roof or heating systems. It is anticipated that 10 homes will be rehabilitated with the Urgent Repair Funds.

One of the primary things that has changed during his career is the number of medical calls the department responds to. “The number of fires has not really increased over the years – we have safer buildings, smoke alarms and fire prevention education that helps to keep that number manageable – but the number of medical calls increases along with our population,” Ernie comments.

“The City’s growth means more people, more businesses and more traffic, so naturally that means more medical calls.

A firefighter gets to interact with the community on a daily basis. Whether that’s saving someone from a heart attack, treating a patient with injuries or rescuing entire families from a burning house, we make a positive impact on our community.

It’s the best job in the world.” (In 2007 Kannapolis Fire responded to 3,760 incidents – in 2018 there were 9,091).

Now that he is retiring for the second time, he and his wife plan to travel more, enjoy time with their family and indulge in his hobby of serving as a Kansas City Barbeque Society Master Judge.

Goals The goals of the program are: • To alleviate housing conditions that pose an imminent threat to the life and safety of very low-income homeowners • To provide necessary repairs to prevent eligible, very low-income homeowners from having to relocate.

Eligibility • Household income at least 50 percent or below the area median income AND at least one of the following: - Children in household with an

elevated level of lead in their blood - Elderly household members at least

62 years old - Handicapped/disabled members - Households with five or more persons - Single parents - Veterans.

Applying for the Program To apply, you may call 704-920-4332 or email sgordon@kannapolisnc.gov. Please note that funding is limited and all who apply may not be served.

Kannapolis National Night Out Event is August 6 The City of Kannapolis invites everyone, especially neighborhood associations, community groups and homeowner associations, to join the Kannapolis Police Department, from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, to celebrate National Night Out. The event will be held at Veterans Park, located at 119 N. Main Street, and is free to the community.

We will celebrate with food, children’s games, free school supplies and much more. Our police and fire department staff and other community partners look forward to having this opportunity to meet and interact with everyone.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. The goal of National Night Out is to have policecommunity partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safe and caring places to live.

Kannapolis Police Department Collecting School Supplies The Kannapolis Police Department is spearheading a school supply collection campaign for students who attend Kannapolis City Schools.

We invite you to donate school supplies for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Please drop off your donations at the Kannapolis Police Department located at 401 Laureate Way. Donations will be accepted until August 2.

Continued from page 1

such as the budget and new technology and one thing led to another.”

He earned his B.S. in fire and safety engineering technology from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in public administration from City University in Bellevue, WA. Ernie has seen tremendous change in fire service in his 39 years of service. “When I started as a firefighter we did not have 911 – we had a red phone at the department; someone would be there waiting to answer the phone and then we could respond. There were no air packs and only three firefighters on duty at one time.”

While in Florida he implemented a paramedic service, moving the department into a new era of providing emergency medical care and firefighting.

He was also responsible for achieving accreditation for the department.

He retired from the Temple Terrace Department with 27 years of service.

He and his wife, Dora, were ready for a change, but Ernie wasn’t quite ready to leave his firefighting career behind. They had visited North Carolina for the races and the cooler weather, and decided to look for opportunities here.

to an all-paid staff; a sophisticated 911 system; thorough emergency management plans; a reverse 911 system; computers in trucks; upgraded radio communications for the region; and thermal imaging systems – to just name a few.

“We wanted to be somewhere where we had a good quality of life and near the mountains. The position for fire chief was open in Kannapolis, so I applied.” He joined Kannapolis as fire chief and emergency management coordinator in 2007.

The department has received grants for a Knox Box system for the elderly and disabled, and smoke alarms for anyone who requests them; has an outreach program for the hard-of-hearing and other special populations to teach them fire prevention and first aid; and initiated a Fire Explorer program to encourage teenagers who are interested in a firefighting career.

Ernie’s career in Kannapolis has included overseeing a period of growth in the number of firefighters per shift, from 33 firefighters to 84 firefighters; a transition from both paid and volunteer firefighters

Most importantly, Ernie has overseen the planning for the future of Kannapolis’ fire stations and the construction of two new replacement stations – #2 and #3. He has also worked to improve the ISO rating for

the City. When asked what else he is proud of during his tenure as chief, Ernie notes that the department has progressed to be one of the benchmark departments in the state and country.

Urgent Home Repair Funds Available

“Not a week goes by that another department doesn’t call us and want to know how we do things here – whether it is training and professional development or our community programs,” he says. “I am also proud of the relationships our department has with all of our coworkers in the City and our mutual aid relationships with our neighboring fire departments, such as the City of Concord.

The City has received funds for qualifying Kannapolis homeowners who need urgent repairs for their primary residence.

The funds from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency could cover items such as handicap ramps, roof or heating systems. It is anticipated that 10 homes will be rehabilitated with the Urgent Repair Funds.

One of the primary things that has changed during his career is the number of medical calls the department responds to. “The number of fires has not really increased over the years – we have safer buildings, smoke alarms and fire prevention education that helps to keep that number manageable – but the number of medical calls increases along with our population,” Ernie comments.

“The City’s growth means more people, more businesses and more traffic, so naturally that means more medical calls.

A firefighter gets to interact with the community on a daily basis. Whether that’s saving someone from a heart attack, treating a patient with injuries or rescuing entire families from a burning house, we make a positive impact on our community.

It’s the best job in the world.” (In 2007 Kannapolis Fire responded to 3,760 incidents – in 2018 there were 9,091).

Now that he is retiring for the second time, he and his wife plan to travel more, enjoy time with their family and indulge in his hobby of serving as a Kansas City Barbeque Society Master Judge.

Goals The goals of the program are: • To alleviate housing conditions that pose an imminent threat to the life and safety of very low-income homeowners • To provide necessary repairs to prevent eligible, very low-income homeowners from having to relocate.

Eligibility • Household income at least 50 percent or below the area median income AND at least one of the following: - Children in household with an

elevated level of lead in their blood - Elderly household members at least

62 years old - Handicapped/disabled members - Households with five or more persons - Single parents - Veterans.

Applying for the Program To apply, you may call 704-920-4332 or email sgordon@kannapolisnc.gov. Please note that funding is limited and all who apply may not be served.

Kannapolis National Night Out Event is August 6 The City of Kannapolis invites everyone, especially neighborhood associations, community groups and homeowner associations, to join the Kannapolis Police Department, from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, to celebrate National Night Out. The event will be held at Veterans Park, located at 119 N. Main Street, and is free to the community.

We will celebrate with food, children’s games, free school supplies and much more. Our police and fire department staff and other community partners look forward to having this opportunity to meet and interact with everyone.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. The goal of National Night Out is to have policecommunity partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safe and caring places to live.

Kannapolis Police Department Collecting School Supplies The Kannapolis Police Department is spearheading a school supply collection campaign for students who attend Kannapolis City Schools.

We invite you to donate school supplies for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Please drop off your donations at the Kannapolis Police Department located at 401 Laureate Way. Donations will be accepted until August 2.

Calendar of Events

JULY 2019

JULY

Kannapolis Farmers Market

Each Thursday | 4-7 p.m. | Vance

Ave. and Dale Earnhardt Blvd.

6 Concert in the Park: Heart Breaker (Heart) and On the Border (Eagles) | 7-10 p.m.

Village Park 11 Children’s Theater: Wizard of Oz | 1-2 p.m. | Veterans Park 11

Kannapolis Fire Chief Ernie Hiers Retires

12 Movies in the Park: Secret Life of Pets | 8:45 p.m. | Village Park

E

very day, Kannapolis Fire Chief Ernie Hiers takes time to walk the floors of Kannapolis City Hall. With a wave of his hands, a big smile and terrible jokes, he checks in on every department in the City. This tradition exemplifies who he is both in his personal and professional life. He cares about people and their wellbeing.

“I have always just wanted to help people,” he says. “For me, this has been the best job in the world. It’s my hope, my goal, that every call for service helps someone when they need it the most.”

THE CITY OF KANNAPOLIS 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 www.kannapolisnc.gov

Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis), Instagram @KannapolisNC, LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/cityofkanapolis), Nextdoor (nextdoor.com/Kannapolisnc.gov), Snapchat @ KannapolisNC and Twitter @Kannapolis for regular updates and more ideas for fun.

Continued on page 2

13

Stories Under the Stars: Professor Whizzpop | 7-8 p.m.

Kannapolis Library

20

Concert in the Park: Morris Day 7-10 p.m. | Village Park

26

Movies in the Park: Hotel Transylvania III | 8:45 p.m.

Village Park

AUGUST

Ernie was just 21 years old when he joined the fire department in Temple Terrace, FL. “I had a friend, Bill, who was a firefighter. Bill showed me the impact firefighters make in their community.”

He worked his way up through the ranks – driver/engineer, shift captain, assistant fire chief, and then fire chief and emergency management coordinator. “I never said I want to be chief someday – it just happened. I enjoyed taking on leadership responsibilities

Thursdays on Main: Band of Oz 6-9 p.m. | Veterans Park

2

Movies in the Park: Bumblebee 8:45 p.m. | Village Park

6

National Night Out | 5 p.m.

Veterans Park

8

Thursdays on Main: The Embers 6-9 p.m. | Veterans Park

10 Concert in the Park: Rick Springfield | 7-10 p.m. | Village

Park | Fireworks

Fire Chief Ernie Hiers

17

RESCHEDULED DATE Strides for Stroke 5K | 8 a.m.

Downtown Kannapolis

17

Stories Under the Stars: Steve Langley Soap Box Circus 7-8 p.m. | Kannapolis Library

24

Kaleidoscope Art Festival & Zombie Walk | 4 p.m.

Downtown Kannapolis More at kannapolisnc.gov