Matthews Messenger | July 2020 by matthewsnc

JULY — 2020

Volume 2 — Issue 6

In this issue...

3 4 5

Pedestrian safety improvements coming to downtown intersection Find out the latest COVID-19 updates for Matthews Matthews Police Chief reports on department policies

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.

Local artist Muriel Epling created a beautiful mural It’s located on McDowell Street between the Community Center and the McDowell Arts Center. But it doesn’t just look good - this art also helps the road hump/crosswalk stand out and slow cars down.

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Matthews Messenger | JULY 2020

MANAGER’S MESSAGE Summer is well underway and things are busy here in the Town of Matthews. In June, the Board of Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2021 budget. The budget seeks to absorb increased costs and revenue losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, while continuing to provide high quality services to the residents of Matthews – with no tax increase. More information on the budget is available here: https://www. matthewsnc.gov/newsview. aspx?nid=6448 We are continuing to work closely with Mecklenburg County and monitor the situation with COVID-19. You can read more about the latest on COVID-19 on page 4. Summer camp registration continues, and our Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department has a great lineup of summer camps for children to enjoy. Camps resume

on Monday, July 6 with safety precautions in place for all programs. This includes daily health screenings, constant cleaning throughout the day, and all staff are required to wear a face covering. Campers 11 years and older will need to wear a face covering when they are within 6 feet of another person. Expect a health screening when you enter the facilities for programs or camps. Visit http://www.matthewsnc.gov/ Matthewsfun20 for more information. The Town’s annual celebration of Independence Day (Fun Family 4th of July & Concert) will not take place this year. We will miss seeing the decorated bikes and scooters in the People’s Parade – a wonderful tradition that we look forward to returning next year. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July celebration with your family.

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

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Report a Street Light Outage Notice a street light out in your neighborhood? It’s easy to report the outage and have it repaired. Citizens who use Duke Energy can report the street light outage at https://www.duke-energy. com/customer-service/request-light-repair or contact Duke Energy at 1-800-769-3766. If you use Union Power, you may report the street light outage at Union Power street light outage (https://union-power.com/light-repair/) or contact Union Power at 704-289-3145.

Matthews Messenger | JULY 2020

Pedestrian Safety Improvements Coming to Downtown Intersection Changes are coming to a highly traveled intersection in downtown Matthews. The intersection of N. Trade Street and Matthews Station Street will be undergoing construction to improve pedestrian safety. The project will raise the intersection, extend the curb, and create hi-visibility crosswalks. Lighting improvements have recently been installed at this intersection. Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 22, and end on August 14 (weather dependent). There will be temporary vehicle lane reductions in the 200 block of N. Trade Street but the road is expected to stay open with a few brief exceptions for the duration of construction. Walking traffic will also be rerouted during construction. The Town of Matthews is reaching out to business owners in the area to lessen the impact on access to their businesses. Survey results from the Downtown Mobility Study conducted by the Town in 2019 showed that citizens overwhelmingly reported this intersection is in need of pedestrian safety improvements.

This is a rendering of what the intersection will look like once the project is complete.

Matthews Fast Facts 6 Date in July when summer camps resume in Matthews

8 3 Wâ€™s to remember: Wear a mask, Wait six feet apart, Wash your hands

.28 is the current tax rate in Matthews (cents per $100 of taxable value)

Date in June when the Town Board passed the budget for fiscal year 2021

Matthews Messenger | JULY 2020

Update on COVID-19 North Carolina remains in Phase 2 of Governor Cooperâ€™s Three Phase Reopening Plan. Unfortunately, the number of COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County continue to rise. This increase is partly due to additional testing, however, the percentage of positive tests out of the total number tested is also increasing.

Face Coverings Required in NC

Effective June 26, face coverings are now required to be worn in public spaces, whether inside or outside, where physical distancing of six feet is not possible. More information is available here.

Interactive Testing Center Map

To assist the public in finding COVID-19 testing sites in Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has developed a testing site locator dashboard. Residents can enter their address and/ or zip code to find the nearest testing sites as well as additional information about the site. Mecklenburg Countyâ€™s interactive map to find a testing center near you: https://cobra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index. html?id=d52690813f4d4855829d286a1e4ee1e5

Additional Outdoor Dining Areas Permitted in Matthews In response the limited seating capacity for restaurants in Phase 2, the Town of Matthews has implemented temporary measures to allow for additional outdoor seating areas for food and beverage establishments. Businesses must adhere to all current social distancing protocols, CDC recommendations and health department requirements. Visible social distancing guidance shall be displayed both indoors and outdoors. The guidelines and application are available here: https://www. matthewsnc.gov/files/documents/Tempoutdoorseating1318095249061020AM.pdf

Matthews Messenger | JULY 2020

Matthews Police Chief Responds to Questions about Department Policies Matthews Police Chief Clark Pennington recently released a detailed report on the Matthews Police Department’s (MPD) policies and directives, including how they relate to the use of force initiative known as “8 Can’t Wait.” In his statement, Chief Pennington discusses his long-standing commitment to following best practices, being open to new ideas and tough conversations, and ensuring safety and equitable treatment for all members of our community and police officers alike.

Read Chief Pennington’s message:

https://www.matthewsnc.gov/files/documents/AMessagefromtheChief061020201334025821061020PM.pdf

Read Chief Pennington’s Statement on the Death of George Floyd Chief Pennington also released a statement regarding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis: https://www. matthewsnc.gov/newsview.aspx?nid=6451

Matthews Messenger | JULY 2020

July 2020 Events Calendar Any questions? Contact us!

Fun Family 4th of July

Board of Commissioners Meeting via ZOOM. Please visit www.matthewsnc.gov for more details.

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