Matthews Messenger | February 2020

FEBRUARY— 2020

Volume 2 — Issue 2

RESIDENTS RECEIVE FREE TREES AT MATTHEWS TREESTORE EVENT PHOTOS COURTESY OF TREESCHARLOTTE

What’ s g oi ng on i n mat t hew s

In this issue...

2

Finance Department receives the Government Finance Officers Association Award

3 4

Matthews TreeStore gives away several hundred trees and educates residents on proper care Work continues for Matthews Transportation projects

Keep These Messages

On Your Mind

Engage and Connect: Summer fun in Matthews! Registration for all of our summer camps is now open. Please visit www.matthewsfun.com for more information and to register.

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Matthews Messenger | FEBRUARY 2020

MANAGER’S MESSAGE We are thankful for a productive January

This month, there are updates to share

in

regarding

the

we

Town

gave

away

TreesCharlotte work

on

of

Matthews. hundreds

and

Matthews

are

In of

February,

transportation

projects

in

trees

with

Matthews, including South Trade Street.

continuing

the

We also encourage you to learn more

projects.

about the Downtown Mobility Plan by

Transportation

attending the Town Board Meeting on The Town of Matthews Finance Department

February 10 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Public

received the Government Finance Officers

comments will be received at the meeting

Association Award for the 21st consecutive

after a presentation on the plan. If you

year. Great job to the Finance Department for

can’t attend in-person, you can access

all their hard work. Read more about this great

the meeting live or at a later date through

achievement on behalf of the Town below.

our

website,

www.matthewsnc.gov.

Complete Mobility Study documents can We recently partnered with TreesCharlotte to

be viewed here: https://www.matthewsnc.

give away hundreds of trees to residents of

gov/pview.aspx?id=20928&catid=567.

Matthews. We had a great turnout at the event.

Read

It was great to see so many residents excited

updates

more

about

transportation

on

pages

4

and

5.

about planting their new, free trees. Thanks to TreesCharlotte and the work of the Matthews

There’s a full calendar on page 6 of

Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee

Matthews’

for their hard work planning the Matthews

of

TreeStore event. Find more information about

can

the Matthews TreeStore event on page 3.

in

robust

Commissioners stay all

that

events

and

meetings

involved Matthews

and has

so

Board you

engaged to

offer.

Hazen Blodgett HAZEN BLODGETT MATTHEWS TOWN MANAGER HBLODGETT@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Town Finance Department Awarded for Excellence The Town of Matthews Finance Department has been awarded the highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting for the 21st consecutive year. Assistant Town Manager Becky Hawke presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) at a recent Town Board meeting.

Pictured from left to right: Finance Director Beth Blair, Senior Finance Specialist Lindsay Wiggs, Finance Specialist Brian Lee, and Assistant Town Manager Becky Hawke

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Matthews Messenger | FEBRUARY 2020

MATTHEWS TREESTORE GIVES AWAY HUNDREDS OF TREES TO RESIDENTS Approximately 150 residents of Matthews lined up last Saturday morning to receive free trees being given away by Matthews TreeStore, a partnership with TreesCharlotte and the Matthews Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee. A variety of species, from small flowering plants to large screening evergreens were given away for planting.

Each Matthews household was eligible to receive up to two free trees, with a variety of species offered. Each tree ranged from 6-10 feet tall and came in a 7-gallon bucket. Before receiving their trees, residents were educated on proper planting and care techniques and then promised to take care of their new trees by signing a Stewardship Pledge. Thank you to everyone who volunteered or participated in this event!

Photos courtesy of TreesCharlotte

MATTHEWS FAST FACTS

6

10

21

150

Minimum size of trees

Date in February to

Number of consecutive

Number of residents

given away at the

learn more about the

years the Finance

who received free

Matthews TreeStore,

Downtown Mobility

Department received

trees as part of

in feet

Study during the Town

the GFOA award

Matthews TreeStore

Board Meeting

3

Matthews Messenger | FEBRUARY 2020

Matthews Transportat

NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN ON DECEMBER 9

Upcoming Changes to U.S. 74 Major changes are coming to U.S. 74 in Matthews. NCDOT plans to add general purpose lanes, interchanges, bridges and an express lane in each direction. NCDOT recently held two public meetings to review the plans. Maps and additional information can be accessed here. Public comments are being accepted through February 29.

South Trade Street Project Continues Work continues on the NCDOT project to expand S. Trade Street to four lanes and lengthen the culvert. After experiencing lengthy delays, the expected completion date is in Spring 2020. Following the completion of the road project, a pedestrian tunnel and greenway connection will be built under S. Trade Street adjacent to the culvert.

Read about this and other transportation projects in Matthews on our website: https://www.matthewsnc.gov/roadprojects

View interactive map at: https://mapmatthews.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=f0ed56979b1842a7b6eeb217d0c5c1d0

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Matthews Messenger | FEBRUARY 2020

ation Project Updates

NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN ON DECEMBER 9

Downtown Mobility Plan Update The Town launched an effort last spring to evaluate ways to improve mobility in downtown Matthews. This includes walking, biking, using public transit, driving, and parking. The goal was to develop a clear vision for the future of traveling to, from, and around downtown. Following a presentation on the plan and its proposed solutions, the Town Board of Commissioners will receive public comments at their February 10 Regular Meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station Street.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.matthewsnc.gov/pview.aspx?id=20928&catid=567

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Matthews Messenger | FEBRUARY 2020

February 2020 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us!

Valentine Dance (SOLD OUT) Crews Recreation Center

Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

Board of Commissioners special Meeting Town Hall

Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM Matthews Police Dept.

Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM Matthews Police Dept.

CREWS Family Fun Night at 6pm Crews Recreation Center

Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

TOWN HALL

232 Matthews Station St. | Matthews, NC 28105 PHONE

(704) 847- 4411 E-MAIL

matthews@matthewsnc.gov WEB

www.matthewsnc.gov

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