#ThrowbackThursday: May 25, 2006 Town Manager Proposes New Budget

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews Record (also called The Matthews News & Record and The Matthews News) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published May 25, 2006 and was written by Jessica Otto and Janet Denk.

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Last week we published the top article on this page, now let’s look at the town budget 13 years ago.

Town Manager Proposes New Budget for ‘06 - ‘07

Sparsely populated for a public gathering, Monday’s Town Board meeting included, among other things, the Town Manager’s Budget Recommendations for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Town Manager Hazen Blodgett, along with Assistant Manager Kay Plyler, Management Assistant Stuart Turille and Finance Director Christine Surratt, showed members of the Board that Matthews is in very good fiscal shape.

“This is a status quo budget,” Blodgett reported. “The Town has a healthy fund balance and there’s money in the bank.”

With a budget just over $16 million, balancing all the elements can be a bit harrowing. But, as Board members emphasized at the meeting, the proposals are well thought out and constructed and they have great faith in Blodgett’s expertise. The budget will be officially adopted on June 12.

Two new elements this year include a Town Vision Plan which was adopted last year and a Performance Measurement program which helps with financial accountability and effectiveness within each department. Thus far, the elements have enhanced the process.

The budget accounts for all the services the Town provides to its citizens. Property taxes are levied on land, buildings, and income-producing personal property. The amount of tax is based on the assessed value of the property and the tax rate. Residents of Matthews continue to enjoy a current rate of 30.75 cents per $100 valuation.

Town Council meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station Street.

Projected Expenditures:

39% Public Safety
27% General Government
16% Transportation and Public Works
12% Environment, Health, Sanitation
6% Cultural & Recreation

#ThrowbackThursday: May 25, 2006

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews Record (also called The Matthews News & Record and The Matthews News) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published May 25, 2006 and was written by Jessica Otto and Janet Denk.

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Remembering Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day: Movement began nearly one hundred years ago as a tribute to those who died in battle

The yellow “Live Strong” bracelet and pink breast cancer awareness ribbon both owe a debt of gratitude for their marketing genius to a movement that began nearly one hundred years ago as a Memorial Day tribute to fallen heroes.

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Then, the idea came to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during the war. She sold poppies to her friends and coworkers, with the money going to benefit the servicemen in need. The movement spread, and soon real and artificial poppies were being worn all over the world.

“Decoration Day” was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Twenty years later, the name was changed to Memorial day.

President Richard Nixon declared it a federal holiday in 1971, and Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday in May. Over time it has become an occasion to honor the men and women who died in all wars.

To see the monument built to honor those who served in WWII, the only 20th century event commemorated on the Washington, DC National Mall’s central axis, visit www.wwiimemorial.com.

#ThrowbackThursday: Building Blocks (circa 2009)

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews Record (also called Matthews News and Record and The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published January 29, 2009 and was written by Janet Denk.

Participants of the public workshop on future development and zoning in Matthews used colored blocks to build their ideal street, neighborhood and town last Thursday at Town Hall. The hands-on workshop was the second in a series of public meetings that will help shape the future of our town. Over fifty people have participated in each session so far. The next meeting will discuss the findings in their fist two workshops. The meetings will begin at 7 pm and end around 8:30.

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#ThrowbackThursday: Greenway moves forward

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews News and Record (also called The Record and The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published June 25, 2009.

The Matthews Board voted Monday night to fund the Four-Mile Creek Greenway project that has been stalled due to county budget cutbacks.

On July 7 the Mecklenburg County Board will vote on the amended contract which would allow Matthews to pay for the project and be reimbursed when the voter approved Parks Bonds are sold.

Construction could begin as soon as September.

“September is the goal for construction to begin,” said an excited Julie Clark, County Greenway Planner.

“We’re thrilled that the Town of Matthews has stepped forward with the funding arrangement.”

The success of the Four Mile Creek Greenway comes from a variety of sources, making it a true community effort. Approved back in 2005, the linear park will add green space, connectivity and walking opportunities to an area increasingly besieged by vehicular growth and rapid development. Several hurdles including personal property concerns by adjacent land owners; county budget cuts, and conflicting approaches to the design stalled the project.

But it’s back on the beam, due to a financing option by RBC bank, which helped the town take advantage of lower construction costs in the current economy.

Town officials have been marking all the neighborhood pathways with signs.

The parkway will run from East John Street to Benham Lane and from the confluence of Four Mile Creek north to the old Public Works building near Matthews Elementary School.

The County is responsible for the section from East John Street to Brenham Lane which will include a boardwalk, paved trail, neighborhood entrances, and three pedestrian bridges.

The Town is responsible for the linear park from the old Public Works building north to South Trade Street, including a connection to the school.

Throwback Thursday: A Living Legacy (circa 2009)

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews News and Record (also called The Record and The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published June 11, 2009.

A Living Legacy by Janet Denk

The Town of Matthews Appearance and Tree Commission is a program to enhance and protect our town’s tree canopy, and in doing so the town is looking for detailed information about the town’s big trees.

The committee is asking citizens of Matthews to participate in nominating, inventorying, and mapping trees for the Living Legacy Tree Program. This will allow the town to identify and recognize the largest, rarest, oldest and prettiest of trees of various species in Matthews.

All you have to do to nominate a tree for the Living Legacy Tree Program is Pick up a form and fill out the information listed. You will also need to measure the circumference of the tree at 4 1/2 feet up from the ground with a flexible tape measure.

Once your nomination is received, you will be contacted by someone who will come to your location and measure the tree’s girth, height and crown spread. This information will then be recorded in an inventory with other trees nominated. This inventory will supplement the inventory the town currently has of public trees within the Town limits.