Matthews Messenger | June 2021

JUNE — 2021

Volume 3 — Issue 6

Check out all the camps, activities and events coming to Matthews this summer! Visit www.matthewsfun.com for all the info.

In this issue...

3 4 5

Live music in Stumptown Park this summer.

Page 2.

Participate in our Adopt-a-Drain Program.

Learn more on page 4.

Keep These Messages On Your Mind Engage and Connect: Follow the Town of Matthews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, NextDoor and sign up to receive notifications.

Visit www.matthewsnc.gov for more info.

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

Citizen survey results are in. See page 5.

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

www.matthewsnc.gov

Matthews Messenger | JUNE 2021

MANAGER’S MESSAGE School is out. Warm weather is here. It is the start of what promises to be a great summer. With more people vaccinated and many Covid-19 related restrictions lifted, many people are beginning to travel and spend time visiting friends and family.

Our Outdoor Concert Series continues this summer in Stumptown Park. We have a terrific lineup of live music and food trucks that you won’t want to miss. Read more about these events below.

Work continues to finalize the Town’s budget for the coming fiscal year.

The public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, June 14. Read

more about the proposed budget and how you can provide your input. See page 3.

Every two years, the Town conducts a citizen survey.

This year, we partnered with Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute to issue the survey. The results help guide the Town Board and Town staff in the decisionmaking process. The survey also helps us understand citizen satisfaction with Town services. Read more about this on page 5.

Check out the calendar on page 6 of Matthews events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer.

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

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Outdoor Concert Series Continues The Outdoor Concert Series continues this summer with a great lineup of live music and food trucks. Tickets, pods and masks are no longer required for these events.

The concerts are held on Friday evenings in Stumptown Park. Food trucks open at 5:00 pm, live music begins at 6:00 pm.

• • • •

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June 11 – The Entertainers June 25 – Blackwater July 9 – Michael Cosner Band July 23 – Chicago Rewired

Matthews Messenger | JUNE 2021

WORK ON FY 22 BUDGET CONTINUES Last month, Town Manager Hazen Blodgett presented the proposed budget for fiscal year 21-22 to the Town Board. The Board of Commissioners then held two work sessions to review the budget. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 14 at 7:00 pm. Residents are invited to provide their input during the public hearing or at anytime by emailing matthews@ matthewsnc.gov.

The proposed budget includes a 1.5 cent increase in the property tax rate. The majority of the new tax revenue will be used to fund seven needed positions to improve or maintain operational standards in three of our largest departments:

DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF

FOUR POLICE PATROL OFFICERS

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE WORKER

An increase of 1.5-cent to the tax rate would increase the property tax bill on a $300,000 home in Matthews by $45 annually, and raises an additional $762,000 in revenue.

Read about the Manager’s proposed budget.

click here to watch budget presentation

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Matthews Messenger | JUNE 2021

ADOPT-A-DRAIN

PROGRAM Have you heard about the Adopt-A-Drain program?

This is a new volunteer program brought to you

by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services and the Town of Matthews. All storm drains lead to our waterways, so anything that enters them has the potential to become stormwater pollution.

There are thousands of storm drains all over our town, so we need the help of our residents to ensure only rain water goes into them. By participating in this program, you are promising to check your drain once a month and before major rain events to make sure the drain is free of debris and pollution.

Visit StormWater.CharMeck.org and look under the “Volunteer” tab for more information.

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Matthews Messenger | JUNE 2021

Citizen Survey Results Are In In the fall of 2020, the Town of Matthews partnered with Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute to conduct a citizen survey. The survey explored various citizen attitudes about Matthews’ town services, government leadership, and the community.

Below are just some of the results:

98%

95%

agreed/strongly agreed that the Town of Matthews is a good place to live

agreed/strongly agreed that Matthews is a good place to raise children

73%

69%

said Matthews is a good place to retire

feel that Matthews provides a good environment for business

94% agreed/strongly agreed that Matthews is a safe place to live

69%

said that the Town is responsive to the needs of citizens

The largest concerns of respondents involved a need for the Town to focus on “properly managed growth and development” (50%) and maintaining a “small town feeling and identity” (42%). Click here to view the full results of the citizen survey.

Michelle Santucci Named Employee of the Quarter Michelle Santucci is the Office Assistant for

workers were both out on maternity leave. Tasks

the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource

included being in constant contact with parents

Department. She has been named Employee of

and instructors as things were changing due

the Quarter for the first quarter of 2021. Michelle

to shutdowns

is the face of the Matthews Community Center

with Covid-19,

and consistently interacts positively with the

handled payroll,

public, instructors, and other staff. Michelle

and accounts

always has a great attitude and goes above

payables.

and beyond to help others without question.

Congratulations During the months of January and February,

Michelle!

Michelle stepped up to help fill in while two co5

Matthews Messenger | JUNE 2021

June 2021 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us! veterans Advisory Committee mtg

BOC Special Meeting: Budget Workshop at 6:00 pm

Matthews Committee on Education Meeting

Car Seat Checking Station at 8:00 am

Outdoor Concert: The Entertainers

BOC regular Meeting at 7:00 pm

Transportation Advisory Committee mtg

Car Seat Checking Station at 8:00 am

Board of Commissioners regular Meeting at 7:00 pm

Outdoor Concert: Blackwater

Red Cross Blood Drive at 10:00 am

For additional details, please visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar.aspx Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners

Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

Mayor John Higdon mayorhigdon@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner Jeff Miller jmiller@matthewsnc.gov

TOWN HALL

Mayor Pro Tem Renee Garner rgarner@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner John Urban jurban@matthewsnc.gov

PHONE

Commissioner Dave Bland dbland@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner Larry Whitley lwhitley@matthewsnc.gov

E-MAIL

Commissioner Ken McCool kmccool@matthewsnc.gov

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232 Matthews Station St. | Matthews, NC 28105 (704) 847- 4411 matthews@matthewsnc.gov WEB

www.matthewsnc.gov