#FiveForFriday: A Morning Minute News Round Up

This #FiveForFriday Morning Minute News Round Up is for the week of May 13 through May 17, 2019.

News About Town: We’ve already mentioned the Budget Presentation and the Town’s motion to rezone several properties. The evening will be action-packed (read: long) at the Board of Commissioner’s meeting. There’s a public hearing for rezoning property adjacent to Butler High School, an update from the Planning Board followed by council members voting on (or deferring) a few rezonings, technology reimbursements, and discussion of a hairy issue about the Town taking over a private street at the residents’ request.

News About Town: Wednesday, May 15, is Peace Officers Memorial Day. Sponsored by the National Fraternal Order of Police, Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. John F. Kennedy signed the proclamation into law in 1962, and it has been observed nationally ever since.

News About Town: Last night the Board of Commissioners had two Public Hearings for rezonings. With Zoning Application 2019-697/Harkey the Board unanimously voted to continue the public hearing at the June 10 meeting. For the town-initiated Rezoning Motion 2019-2 (downzoning three separate parcels), the Board talked heavily about finding a compromise. Lawyers representing two of the parcels spoke and requested the town cease the motion and work with the owners for a solution.

News About Town: The Town Manager's Recommended Budget is available online. Of note is the addition four new positions in the police department, 24 firefighter positions as part of the 24-hour staffing model, and $20,000 funding for Red Brick Partnership (as of today they are not recognized in an IRS search). The public hearing for the budget will be Tuesday, May 28 at the Board of Commissioners meeting.

News Around Town: Yesterday, during their regular Thursday meeting, the Matthews Kiwanis Club presented their first-ever Community Partners in Service Grants. As one member joked, the club gave away $10,000 in 45 minutes. In truth, the club worked for several years to raise money for their foundation, which was, in turn, presented to seven local nonprofits that "serve the children & youth of our community." Club leaders also recognized the work Mark Jones and Eran Weaver put into organizing and administering the grant process. Representatives from each group were present to accept the grant and explain how the monies will benefit their organizations. The recipients are: Bright Blessings, BSA Troop 118, COS Kids, Matthews Playhouse, Sur de Charlotte, Turning Point, Inc., and ZABS Place.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 18, 2019

News About Town: News About Town: It's a big week for meetings in Matthews government. Tonight from 6:00pm until 9:00pm the BOC will hold a special meeting to interview candidates for the Matthews Committee on Education. The Tree & Appearance Committee will also meet this evening, at 7:00pm at the Community Center. Early Thursday morning the Economic Development Advisory Committee will meet at Town Hall to discuss opportunities related to the 2020 RNC, hear 2019 business summit updates, and consider wireless broadband proposals. Thursday evening the Transportation Advisory Council will meet at 7:00pm at Public Works, 1600 Tank Town Road. All meetings of advisory boards and committees are open to the public.

While many were busy celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day, we were focused on Saint Gertrude, the Patron Saint of Cats.

News Around Town: An investigation is underway for the repeated vandalizing of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. The church, behind Town Hall, has had several instances of graffiti painted on the building. Investigators are looking into the vandalism further, Matthews Police have increased surveillance in the neighborhood, and the church has installed additional surveillance cameras.

One Good Thing: Stop by Stumptown Park March 30 (after Kiwanis Pancakes, of course) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 2nd annual Charlie’s Carnival, hosted by Charlie’s Heart Foundation. Started in April 2018, Charlie’s Carnival raised over $15k in donations to fund their first project: A Glimmer of Hope — Charlie’s Watering Hole. The carnival, in celebration of the life of Charlie Holt, will have games, crafts, activities for all ages, a silent auction, and local food trucks. Proceeds will benefit the foundation and its mission "to enhance the lives of children and families in areas of need through sustainable living, financial and health education."

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 14, 2019

News About Town: During the NCDOT updates at the Monday Council meeting, some conversation centered on the John St. Widening. Even the Town has been formulating their own approach, NCDOT has continued moving forward with design from Matthews to Monroe. According to Mayor Bailey, NCDOT and the Town are on the same page to delay construction on the portion from I-485 to Trade. The part of John St from I-485 eastward will continue with design and ROW acquisition. Now the Town must present this preference to the CRTPO (the municipal governing body for Charlotte area transportation) to amend the official STIP (a scheduled list of funded transportation projects). It’s a bureaucratic process to change the NCDOT budget in order to delay the downtown Matthews section.

News Around Town: This Saturday (March 16) the Matthews Masonic Lodge, Post 235 will celebrate the 100th birthday of the American Legion (and 75th birthday of the Matthews post) by officially renaming the local chapter as the Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235, Matthews NC. Pvt Grady Bost Hooks and Pvt Joseph Lee Orr, the namesakes, were two local soldiers killed in action in France in 1918. Join the Legion for cake and coffee after the ceremony. Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m.

One Good Thing: Navigating life as a teenager is tough. Our sponsor, PranaTeen, is a 10-week workshop developed to empower middle school-age girls so they can confidently navigate the those tough times using the tools of yoga, meditation, and deep discussion. Starting this evening at the Community Center, life coach and yoga instructor Elinor Miller will teach the girls to love, accept, and appreciate themselves in order to raise their self esteem and level of awareness of their inner and outer world. Not sure it’s right for your daughter? Drop in and try it out for $20, pay at the Community Center desk. Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell Street East Room 204.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 13, 2019

News About Town: According to the Town website, the Trade Street widening at the culvert (where Trade forks off to Weddington and Pleasant Plains) is supposed to be complete this spring. At Monday night’s Council meeting, NCDOT representative Stuart Basham provided updates and a revised completion date. Currently, the contractor, Blythe Construction, has increased the size of the crew but is incurring liquidated damages of $1,000 per day. According to Stuart, the project is expected to be completed by Labor Day.

News Around Town:  In January of this year, the Affordable Housing Committee presented the Board and the Town of Matthews a glimpse into the need for affordable housing in Matthews. According to the report, a resident’s income should be above $76,007  where $22,802.10 is dedicated to housing and housing-related expenses in order to not be housing burdened. A cursory glimpse at 2-bedroom apartments in Matthews apartments shows a range of rent from $968 (Colonial Village) to $2,440 (Colonial Grand).  According to real estate data site RealPage, Matthews apartment dwellers will likely see a 5.10%increase in rent in the coming year.

One Good Thing: Carolina Crush Lacrosse is hosting a free team evaluation day and open house on March 31 at the Matthews Sportsplex on Field 5. The event is a way to meet the coaches and players and learn more about Crush. For those interested in playing, Crush leaders will help evaluate whether a summer rec program or travel program will best suit their needs. Athletes should be graduating between 2020 and 2024 to join the league. Evaluations for female athletes will run from 1-2 p.m. and for males from 2-3 p.m.

Morning Minute: Friday, March 8, 2019

News About Town: As we indicated yesterday morning, the Monday (March 11) night Board of Commissioner’s meeting agenda is available online.  Items of note include allocating funds for Conceptual Downtown Streetscape Design Work (approved at the last meeting for the amount of $41,250.00), as well as the formal initiation of Zoning Motion 2019-2 to rezone the Stronghaven warehouse property on John Street and Brigman property in the ENT District. There will also be updates on NCDOT projects, Red Brick Partnership, and Republic Services (the Town’s solid waste provider).

News Around Town: The North Carolina Education Lottery's NC School Heroes contest is live for voting. Celebrate our public school teachers by voting for them (once per day). The 10 educators with the most votes will win $10,000 each, as well as $10,000 for their school. The person who nominated them will win $1,000.  The contest runs through the end of March, and heroes will be announced May 6, 2019 There are plenty of Matthews schools in the running. Vote here.

One Good Thing: Head over to Jonathan’s Restaurant (10630 Independence Pointe Pkwy) tomorrow, March 9, at noon for an unexpected delight. Join the Carolinas Accordion Group at Jonathan’s for a rousing round of Irish tunes. If you don’t play the accordion you’re welcome to bring another instrument and play along or simply listen and enjoy. The group will play from noon until 4 p.m., plan accordionly.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 7, 2019

News About Town: At Monday’s Town Council Meeting, the Council will have a Public Hearing regarding a change to the Unified Development Ordinance. This change is to the  Approved Tree List and Shrub List (Zoning Motion 2019-1). Changes to the list include the addition of several native species of trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers and the exclusion of the most invasive species, such as Chanticleer pears, a cousin to the shallow-rooted, ornamental Bradford pears commonly planted throughout subdivisions of the 70s and 80s.

News Around Town: Novant Health, Elevation Church, and Butler High School recently partnered to bring ‘Stop the Bleed' to Butler High. Stop the Bleed is an initiative to provide schools with the tools to stop traumatic blood loss. Butler's Academy of Health and Science students and teachers filled 150 ziplock bags with emergency supplies, such as hemostatic bandages and tourniquets, to have readily available for worst case scenarios. Students and staff were also trained for the use of the products. Each classroom will have one on hand. 

One Good Thing: One Good Thing: Go ahead and wrap your brain around it: we’re springing forward this Sunday. What started as a way to conserve energy during World War I is now the instigator of many heated discussions semiannually. Why are we changing our clocks? (That’s rhetorical.) Don’t forget to move your clocks forward an hour this Sunday. Daylight Saving begins officially at 2 a.m.

#FiveForFriday: A Morning Minute News Round Up

This #FiveForFriday Morning Minute News Round Up is for the week of January 27 through February 1, 2019.

News About Town: Tonight at 5:30 there is an additional Board of Commissioners meeting prior to the regular meeting at 7. Of note at the early meeting is a presentation on affordable housing in Matthews. The regular 7 PM meeting doesn’t have much on the agenda, so citizens with general topics to speak on may want to take this opportunity to have the Board’s undivided attention. Proposed Planning Conference items will be discussed and provide insight into Board concerns. Some of these items include implementation of four-year staggered terms (following public input), the use of 27 acres at McKee Road and Pleasant Plains, rezoning “by-right” properties in town, visual plans for the future Entertainment District, and an invitation to charter schools to explain their business model. The draft Vision Statements are also worthy of a read.

We asked our intern, Sterling, to summarize Monday’s Town Council meeting from a student’s perspective. This morning’s News About Town is her view of small-town government in Matthews (Or BOC meeting):

I walked into a room with a large crest of Matthews, NC at the head with flags adorning each side. The mayor, Paul Bailey, was seated in the middle of a large dais with the board of commissioners circling around; I never knew that all of this was right above the Matthews library, where I had been going my whole life. The crowd included everyone from firefighters who were there in support of Kerry Ernsberger, Matthew’s Employee of the Year, to a boy scout troop, who were working on their communications badge. I was surprised that the atmosphere of the meeting was both formal and casual being that it followed an ordered agenda but with the occasional joke from one of the commissioners. It was thought-provoking to see what topics were being discussed, even if most were passed unanimously; it ranged from the general issue of the effects of traffic on Matthews to the more abstract approval of Matthew’s new “vision statement” for the future. From the concerns raised here in Matthews, I could make a connection to environmental, safety, and political concerns locally as well as nationally, despite it only being considered a small town government. At the end, I shook hands with the mayor and the assistant town manager, which is something I never envisioned myself doing as a high school student.

News About Town: At the Council meeting this past Monday, Chief Clark Pennington asked the Board of Commissioners to approve the Police Department’s pursuit of additional funding through the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) grant program. In recent years the growth of the department hasn’t kept up with the growth of the town, and valuable police resources are being allocated to crash response rather than crime prevention. Currently, the department has 61 full-time police officers and two reserve officers (one school resource officer serves full-time at Carmel Christian School that is budget neutral). The grant would provide significant budget relief for the addition of three patrol officers and one corporal. The Board of Commissioners approved applying for the GHSP Grant.

News Around Town: Property tax valuations are a hot topic all over the county. If you’re still in sticker shock, you’re in good company: the median rate increase for residential property is 43 percent while commercial property owners saw a median increase of 77 percent. Yesterday Norah explained the who, what, and when of the new numbers. County Manager Dena Diorio posted a video to explain what the new values mean.

News Around Town:The Environmental Advisory Board presented at Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting. EAB Board Chair Gordon Miller provided several updates to Commissioners, including the introduction of an EAB created a pamphlet for builders and landowners with suggestions for more environmentally friendly development. Some examples include strategically planted trees, re-use of rainwater, and on-site composting.

Morning Minute: Friday, January 4, 2018

News About Town: If you’re not familiar with Town Advisory Boards, these boards provide an opportunity for community members to play a role in the creation of town-wide policy. Advisory Boards discuss relevant topics and provide a consensus opinion to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners takes the consensus under consideration for their decision-making. Applications for the following Boards are being accepted through January 30, 2019:

Appearance and Tree Board promotes activities and programs which enhance the visual characteristics of Matthews  in order to make Matthews a cleaner, greener, and more aesthetically pleasing community. 

Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board that interprets town ordinances and policies for unique situations or special cases related to the town Zoning Ordinance. 

Committee on Education the most recently formed Advisory Board, acts in an advisory capacity to the Town Board on matters of interest and importance to students and parents.

Cultural Diversity Council (CDC) fosters a climate of mutual respect, greater communication, and  among the many diverse groups and communities in Matthews in order to create a more culturally competent community.

Economic Development Advisory Committee  markets the Town to assist economic development through the retention, expansion, and attraction of businesses for a robust economic base in Matthews.  Planning Board* makes recommendations on land development plans and regulations from a citizen standpoint. 

Transportation Advisory Committee assists in the development of a master transportation system plan which includes transit, road location, pedestrian and bike paths, traffic calming measures, and more.

Veterans Advisory Committee  (MVAC) promotes a strong, inclusive, and cooperative relationship between the Town of Matthews and service members, veterans and their families. 

News Around Town:  Save the date for the Third Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Peaceful March & Commemorative Worship. Sunday, January 20, meet at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Road, at 2:00 p.m. for a brief program about civil rights. From there, the group will walk to Town Hall. Monday, January 21, Mt. Moriah will host a community fellowship at 8:00 a.m. followed by a commemorative service at 10:00.

One Fun Thing: This one’s for the kids! Charlotte Allstars and Gymnastics, 11011 Monroe Road, is hosting their first Friday Night Open Jump of the year. Drop off your kids from 6:00 til 9:00 p.m. for a well-supervised evening of bouncing and tumbling while you go enjoy some grown up time. 

The People of Matthews: Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon

We asked a few people who work for the community of Matthews to share their thoughts and hopes for 2019. Here’s what Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon told us:

Photo from MatthewsNC.gov

Do you have a New Year's resolution? Here is a clichéd response, but one I really hope I can follow through on - I want to take better care of my health through a concerted effort to exercise more in 2019.  My hectic schedule makes that difficult sometimes. 

What do you hope for in the new year? Less dissension.  I don't think I have seen America more divided in my lifetime, and the vitriol is particularly nasty from just about every political viewpoint.  I would like to see us listen to each other more instead of shouting one another down, and really try to find some common ground.  

What do you want to leave behind in the old year? The stalemate the town has with CMS.  We need to expand our schools or build new ones, and I favor a CMS solution rather than other options.  We have started meeting and communicating respectfully with one another.  That is a good first step. 

What do you see foresee for Matthews in the coming year? Through decades of careful planning we have built a wonderful town and now it seems everyone wants to live here.  We need to very carefully manage future growth in our few remaining large tracts of land and infill projects.  Making sure our infrastructure keeps pace with other growth will be a continuing challenge.  This past year we have witnessed lots of input from the public.  I feel confident that will continue in 2019, and that is a good thing.

Morning Minute: October 22, 2018

News About Town:  News About Town: The Matthews Board of Commissioners meets tonight at 7 PM for their second session this month. Topics to be covered include the design of the North Trade and Matthews Station Street intersection, the plans for the I-485 interchange at Weddington Road, and the formation of the Matthews Committee on Education. Sign up for Public Comment outside the Hood Room prior to the meeting if you wish to speak on any town issue

Photo by Norah Burke

News Around Town: Looks like things are getting spooky in Matthews! There are lots of events to get you in the Halloween spirit this week, including a Costume and Candy Crawl on Thursday at the Matthews Township Shopping Center (formerly Matthews Festival, 1811 Matthews Township Parkway). The event is free for children 12 and under. There will be face painting, balloon artists, a costume contest, and – of course – candy. The event runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Image courtesy Matthews Township Shopping Center

One Fun Thing: Weird holiday alert! October 22 is National Eat a Pretzel Day, International Caps Lock Day, National Color Day, and National Nut Day! CELEBRATE THEM ALL BY EATING A MULTICOLORED PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL.