INSIDE... Obituaries ........................ 2A Three Arrested in Stanley.. 4A Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 22 • Wednesday, May 28, 2014
75¢
Business .......................... 5A Lady Wildcats Champs! .... 6A School News..................... 7A
2014-15 Budgets City of Mount Holly By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Mount Holly city council sat down last week with city manager Danny Jackson, assistant city manager Jamie Guffey, and several department heads to discuss the FY2014-2015 budget. The talks were on budget proposals and no decisions were made regarding final figures. After council has had time to digest the proposed budget and make any adjustments to it, a public hearing on the budget will be held at the council's June 9 regular monthly meeting.
The overall FY20142015 proposed budget increased 1.3 percent from $15,398,075 last year to this year's figure of $15,595,000- a $196,925 hike. The General Fund had a 2.3 percent decrease- a reduction of $217.175. On the other hand, the Utility Fund went up 7.3 percent$388,700. One bit of good news is that this year, Mount Holly will not be sending a check to the Whitewater Center, as the city has completed its contractual obligations in that regard. Guffey explained that See BUDGETS, 9A
Photo by Alan Hodge
Belmont's Memorial Day event took place at Greenwood Cemetery. Dignitaries saluting the flag included Post 144 member Larry Norwood, Mayor Charlie Martin, Park St. UMC Pastor Gary Richardson, Fred Dixon, and former Belmont mayor Billy Joye.
Remembering their sacrifice By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Belmont held its annual Memorial Day event Sunday at Greenwood Cemetery under sunny skies and in the midst of American flags placed on the graves of veterans there. Many of the crowd that attended wore red, white,
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The City of Belmont has crafted its proposed FY2014-2015 budget. City Manager Barry Webb says it looks like a good one. “Although we are still early into the process with the Council, I think overall things are looking well with no major stumbling blocks at this point,” Webb said. “We are looking to proceed with our riverfront park project this next budget year
as well as taking on some additional capital projects in our utility operations. Operating budgets, are essentially the same as for the current budget. No proposed change in the tax rate.” General Fund revenues are listed with a 4.62 percent increase over FY2013-2014 at $8,823,250. The proposed budget is based on the current tax rate of 47.5 cents per $100 of valuation. Total estimated valuation topped the billion dollar level at $1,141,000,000. There was See BUDGETS, 9A
Contract approved with Freightliner By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Workers at Mount Holly's biggest employer, Freightliner, have approved a new, four year labor contract with Daimler Trucks North America. Over 80 percent of employees voted yes to the deal. The new agreement will become effective once its approved by the Daimler Supervisory Board. The contract, negotiated by the United Auto Workers will include workers at Freightliner facilities in Mount Holly, Gastonia, and
Cleveland, NC. It includes a $7,000 ratification bonus, as well as a three percent pay hike for the first and third years of the contract, a three percent lump-sum bonus in the second and fourth years, a night shift bonus, and an attendance bonus. The contract also takes retirees into account including a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association that was set up by the UAW and Daimler Trucks designed to assure retiree benefits for the future. Current retirees will be allowed to take part in the program and Daimler will chip in additional funding for it. The program is subject to court approval. Daimler has 5,200 workers in the Charlotte Metro area. The truck manufacturer, which is part of Germany-based Daimler AG, is headquartered in Portland, Ore.
Charlie Martin reminded the crowd that “Memorial Day is a a time that brings people into contemplative thought for those who fought for us”. Guest speaker Gary Richardson, pastor at Park St. UMC, referenced Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. “This could have been said about all See MEMORIAL DAY, 8A
Duke Energy ‘Coal ash will be removed’ By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
City of Belmont
and blue. The ceremony was sponsored by American Legion Post 144. Former Belmont mayor Billy Joye spoke and reminded those in attendance that many soldiers had given the ultimate sacrifice so that they could assemble and didn't have to “run to a commissar” to ask permission. Current mayor
The Duke Energy coal ash storage controversy train keeps chugging along with several new developments. Last week, Duke Energy officials met with concerned citizens at Cook's Presbyterian Church near Mt. Holly to discuss what plans the utility has for removing the 4 million tons of coal ash stored at the now-closed Mt. Island Steam Station. During the meeting, citizens were able to voice ideas and concerns over coal ash storage. Duke folks also briefed the attendees on how coal is used to make electricity and how the firm manages the coal ash by-product. “I'm glad people gave their input,” said Duke spokesperson Lisa Hoffman. “We will take their suggestions back to our team.” Earlier in the day, Duke officials gave a presentation at Mt. Island Steam Station where they repeated the company's intent to remove
the coal ash there, but when, by what method, and where it will be taken is still up in the air. “We're going to excavate it one way or another,” Hoffman said at the site. Mt. Island Lake is the source of drinking water for
800,000 people in Mt. Holly, Charlotte, and Gastonia. The coal ash ponds there are near the lake shore. One idea that was briefly floated in early April would have seen the Mt. Island coal ash moved to CharlotteDouglas International Air-
port to be used as landfill. Estimates were that would take 160,000 truckloads on a route down NC16. That idea fizzled a few weeks later when airport officials said “thanks but no thanks”. Since then, a group See DUKE ENERGY, 4A
Riverbend Steam Station near Mount Holly has been closed since April 2013 but coal ash is still stored there near the shore of Mountain Island Lake.
Council considers sites for new parks By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Mount Holly city council's most recent meeting delved into a diverse variety of subjects including conversation on much-needed parks. The parks project parlay looked at two sites dubbed Jack's Place and Glendale Park. The potential Glendale Park property is about 2.5 acres at the corner of W. Glendale Ave. and S. Hawthorne St. The other proposed property called Jack's Place is about 14 acres on the Catawba River near National Gypsum on Drywall Dr. The city had hired Charlotte-based Site Solutions to do a study of the two situations and company rep Derek Williams presented the council with his report. “The planning study for the Glendale site provides a site assessment that
confirms the site could be developed as a neighborhood or mini park,” Williams said. “The concept drawing we developed for the park is not meant to be a park plan, but simply an image showing how some of the recreational activities we discussed could be arranged on the property. The document on Jack’s Place is simply a report of our findings on natural and manmade site features that would impact development. This report will be helpful for any future development of the site; even if the scope of development is very limited based on issues with the railroad crossing.” Regarding the Glendale site, councilman Jason Gowens came up with the interesting suggestion that if it moved forward and the city bought the property, it might be a good location for a park for children with special needs. Making a park at Jack's Place is complicated by railroad tracks at the
property access. The Site Solutions report summed it up like this: “Drywall Drive crosses an active CSX Railroad right-of-way 260’ in width according to the property plat. Currently this crossingis an unsignalized gravel drive crossing. Improvements to the existing railroad crossing will be needed if the City is to use this site as a public park. From conversations with the City Attorney Kemp Michael, no permanent permit or easement has been secured to cross this right of way for recreational purposes. If the City intends to develop Jack’s Place for public recreational purposes, a property agreement and construction right of entry agreement will need to be executed with the railroad prior to any improvements to the park site and for the existing park access drive crossing the rail right of way.” The railroad crossing situation has See PARKS, 4A
Spread Some Natural Beauty. Mulch
Topsoil
Decorative Stone
www.laniermaterialsales.com 105 Hillandale Lane, Mt. Holly NC 28120 • (704)827-7055