JANUARY — 2020
Volume 2 — Issue 1
What’ s g o i ng on i n matthew s
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In this issue...
Matthews Police Department hires a new crime analyst Get to know your elected Town leaders sworn in on December 9th, 2019 View a full month of Matthews events happening in January
Keep These Messages
On Your Mind
Engage and Connect: Join us for the next Town Board meeting with the newly elected Board of Commissioners. Meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of every month at 7 p.m. at Matthews Town Hall.
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Matthews Messenger | January 2020
MANAGER’S MESSAGE Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a restful holiday with their families. This winter, we have been planning for the year ahead, preparing for our new Cool Vibes concert series, and so much more. The Town’s Police Department recently hired a crime analyst, Amanda Bruner. This new position will enable the Police Department to use data driven policing methods to fight crime and reduce traffic incidents. Read more about the woman behind the crime analyst desk below. Three new Commissioners were sworn into office on December 9th, 2019. Matthews is governed by a Mayor and a six-member Board of Commissioners. A nonpartisan election for Mayor is held every two years. Commissioner elections are
also nonpartisan, and all seats are atlarge. Commissioners are elected for two-year terms. Currently serving on the Matthews Board of Commissioners are Mayor John Higdon, Mayor ProTem Renee Garner, Commissioners Dave Bland, Barbara Dement, Jeff Miller, John Urban, and Rev. Larry Whitley. More information about the Board of Commissioners is on pages 3-5. There’s a full 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. We hope you have a great start to your new year!
Hazen Blodgett HAZEN BLODGETT MATTHEWS TOWN MANAGER HBLODGETT@MATTHEWSNC.GOV
BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV
Meet matthews crime analyst amanda bruner Amanda Bruner is the new Crime Analyst at Matthews Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division. As the first Crime Analyst for the Town of Matthews, Bruner actively uses analyticalsoftware to assess crime patterns and develop criminal reports for the Criminal Investigations and Patrol Divisions.
As an undergraduate at Michigan State University, she assisted numerous law enforcement agencies, including those in Pineville, NC, East Lansing, MI and Lansing, MI, as well as the DEA office in Charlotte, NC. “Analysis is exciting, and it allows the department to take a more proactive approach toward crime fighting,” said Bruner.
Chief of Police Clark Pennington said, “The addition of Amanda to our team provides us a level of expertise required to perform at the highest level possible. Amanda’s knowledge, abilities, and experience are a welcomed addition to our organization. In just the short time she has been with the Matthews Police Department she has proven her effectiveness by assisting in the location of two suspects responsible for multiple car break-ins and the recovery of at least one stolen handgun.”
In addition to her full-time position, Bruner is currently completing her graduate degree in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis from Michigan State University.
Since joining the Matthews Police Department in December, she is participating in intelligence-sharing meetings with analysts from other agencies and learning more about the unique needs of the Town. In 2020, she will be working as a dedicated team member to develop an analytical unit from the ground floor. “I am eager to see how the department’s analytical capabilities evolve over the next year with the help of the Bureau of Justice Assistance,” Bruner said of her new role.
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“We are excited about the future of our agency and I am extremely happy to welcome Amanda to our family!” said Chief Pennington.
Matthews Messenger | January 2020
MATTHEWS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2019-2021 Get to know your elected Town leaders!
The new Matthews Board of Commissioners were sworn into office on Monday, December 9, 2019. Below they are pictured from left to right: Mayor Pro-Tem Renee Garner, Commissioner Rev. Larry Whitley, Mayor John Higdon, Commissioners Dave Bland, John Urban, Jeff Miller and Barbara Dement. This Board will serve through December 2021. The mission of the Board is to represent the public interest, promote quick, courteous response to residents’ problems, provide leadership and direction to the Town’s future and ensure the present and future fiscal integrity of the municipal government. To read more about each Commissioner, please read below or visit the Board of Commissioners section of our website
MATTHEWS FAST FACTS 2
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Number of years
Number of concerts in
Number of incumbent
Number of
each Matthews
the Cool Vibes Series
commissioners on the
members on the
Commissioner serves
this winter
2019-2021 Town Board
Matthews Board of
per term
Commissioners
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Matthews Messenger | January 2020
NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN ONof DECEMBER 9 Matthews Board
Commissioners 2019-2021 Mayor John Higdon
Mayor John Higdon is beginning his first term as Mayor having previously served three terms as Commissioner, including two as Mayor Pro-Tem. John is a partner in Supply Source Products, a valve and fitting distribution company, and currently serves as Chief Engineering Officer. John and his wife, Penny, have two grown children, Summer and Jed. John currently serves on the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) and Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO). Email: mayorhigdon@matthewsnc.gov
Mayor Pro-Tem Renee Garner Mayor Pro-Tem Renee Garner is serving her first term on the Board of Commissioners. As a third-generation Matthews resident, Renee and her husband, Charlie, are raising their two children, Mabel and Fox, in the home her grandfather built. Renee’s town involvement began when she organized neighbors and other interested citizens who opposed NCDOT’s plans to widen E. John Street into a group called Preserve Matthews. The citizen-led group continues to advocate for effective transportation choices for Matthews. Renee is cofounder and co-owner of The Matthews Beacon, a local news website. Email: rgarner@matthewsnc.gov
Commissioner Dave Bland Commissioner Dave Bland is serving his fifth term as a Matthews Town Commissioner. He served four terms from 1983-1993. Dave is one of the three founding partners of the Matthews law firm of Weaver Bennett & Bland P.A. Dave has been engaged in an active civil trial practice for over 40 years. In addition to his law practice, Dave was a co-founder and is an officer in ValuePest. com of America, Inc. and was the founder, and member manager of Sustainable Energy Community Development Company, LLC. Email: dbland@matthewsnc.gov
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Matthews Messenger | January 2020
NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN ON DECEMBER 9 Commissioner Barbara Dement Commissioner Barbara Dement is serving her second term as Commissioner. She was previously on the Town’s Planning Board for four years. Barbara has served the community in various ways since moving to Matthews over a decade ago, including the role of CoDirector of Matthews Sister Cities. Prior to her current career as a Life Care Consultant at Plantation Estates, she worked for 32 years at AXAEquitable, and served as Assistant Vice President in the New Business Division at the National Operations Center. Email: bdement@matthewsnc.gov
Commissioner Jeff Miller Commissioner Jeff Miller is currently serving his seventh term on Town Council. He is the owner of Miller Time Property Management. He married Peggy in 2017 and combined, they have five grown children. Prior to being elected to the Board of Commissioners, he was Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and instrumental in getting the Four-Mile Creek Greenway approved. Jeff is proud of the fact that Matthews has become a popular destination. Jeff is committed to work with the Mayor and other Commissioners to seek solutions to the challenges ahead of us, protect our quality of life, and remain fiscally responsible. Email: jmiller@matthewsnc.gov
Commissioner John Urban Commissioner John Urban, AIA, is serving his fifth term on the Board of Commissioners, having served from 2009-2013, and 2015-present. John has been a Matthews resident for over 20 years and works as a licensed architect and owner of Urban Architectural Group PA in Matthews. He is also active in the community serving currently on the boards of The Matthews Free Medical Clinic, The Matthews Historical Foundation, EDAC- Economic Development Advisory Committee, and the QUAD. He also co-chairs The Red Brick Partnership, a downtown merchant’s association. John and his wife, Terry, have four daughters and two grandchildren. Email: jurban@matthewsnc.gov
Commissioner Rev. Larry Whitley Reverend Dr. Larry W. Whitley is serving his second term on the Board of Commissioners, having served from 2015-2017. Pastor Whitley was employed with the N.C. Highway Patrol Department for 30 years, retiring as a Captain in 2003. He has been the Pastor of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church for the past 22 years. He has been married to Rev. Chris Latham Whitley for over 47 years. They have two daughters, Kashonda and Kristy, and five granddaughters. Email: lwhitley@matthewsnc.gov 5
Matthews Messenger | January 2020
January 2020 Events Calendar Any questions? Contact us! cREWS FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT 6PM Crews Rec Center
Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM Matthews Police Dept.
Date Night Drop Off from 5-9 PM Crews Rec Center Cool vibes concert, 5:30-9:30 PM @ Matthews Community Center
Board of Commissioners special Meeting Town Hall
Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall
Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM Matthews Police Dept.
Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall
Matthews TreeStore, 9-11AM Matthews United Methodist Church
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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