#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: 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: Town Council Contemplates Name for New Main Street (circa 2001)

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 January 10, 2001.

This original article was printed by The Record in 2001.

Town Council Contemplates Name for New Main Street, by Tina Lentz, Ph.D.

At the first Board of Commissioners meeting of the new year, officials discussed possible options for naming the new “main” street that will be created with the development of Matthew Station. Historically important family names have been suggested, including Dr. T.G. Ervin Blvd., Watson Matthews Road and Carpenter’s Grove as well as geographically centered names such as Town Green Circle, CSX Lane and Matthew Station Road. Any name chosen by the Board will be submitted for final approval to the Mecklenburg County Building Standards to ensure that there are no duplications or closely match existing street names.

Approval to the Mecklenburg County building standards to ensure that there are no duplications or closely match existing street names.

Also under consideration is the naming of two alleys currently included in the master plan. Lat Purser and Associates, the developer for Matthew Station, Wednesday I have the first building finished by the end of May. As was dictated by previous official action, the Board expects to finalize the sale of land to Lat Purser and Associates in the appraised amount of $503,000 in very near future. The town has mandated that the original depot Building, which is currently housing the Cactus Rose restaurant, will be salvaged and moved out of his way to eventually be utilized along with the caboose.

Matthews United Methodist Church requested yet another deferral for their variance request (Petition 369) citing the interruption of ongoing progress on the project because of vacations and the like linked to the holiday season.

Mayor Pro-Tem Martha W. Krauss said, “I respectfully suggest that the petitioners wait until March so that yet another deferral won’t be needed.”

The church’s spokesperson in attendance said they remain optimistic that everything will be in order for the February 12 Board meeting and subsequently for the closing schedule for February 15.

Commissioner Paul F. Bailey said, “My feeling is to grant deferral until February. I don’t have a problem with granting a third deferral to March if that’s what’s needed at that time,” after which he made the motion to defer, which was quickly seconded and passed.  

In other business Commissioners:

• Approved Petition 371 amending the text of the Zoning Code regarding CrC District to include single family attached dwellings within the permitted uses.

• Approved the changing of street types in the Downtown area.

• Approved minutes from the December 11, 2000 meeting.

• Adopted a resolution of intent to consider annexation.

• Approved budget ordinance amendment for controlled substance tax revenues.

• Approved Sonitrol contract.

• Released funds for Matthews-Morningstar and Idlewild Volunteer Fire Departments.

• Accepted Zoning Petitions: 372- Sleep Inn, sign revisions, 373- The Crosland Group, text change to add tire installation as permitted in the B-1 district for retail facilities over 145,000 square feet, and 374- Kahn Development Company, Sam Newell and Matthews Township Parkway, from B-1 to B-1 (CD) and R-VS and set public hearings on February 12, 2001.

• Approved street type classifications for public ways.

• Discussed 2001 Planning Conference.

The next Board of Commissioners Meeting will be held on Monday, January 22 at 7 pm. Anyone wishing to address the Board on any subject may do so during the miscellaneous portion by signing up prior to the meeting by calling 847-4477, or by signing the roster at the entrance immediately before commencement of the meeting.

Throwback Thursday: What is your vision for Matthews? (circa 2005)

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews News and Record (more recently named The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published June 16, 2005.

 More than 300 Matthews citizens flocked to city hall last week to express their personal visions for the future of their town. Neighborhoods and housing, cultural arts and historical preservation, schools, parks and recreation, town services, air and water quality - all of these aspects of the quality of life and character of the community were explored during this lively town meeting. 

Glenn Harbeck of Harbeck and Associates, commissioned by the town to help create a "vision" to direct future development, facilitated the session, traveling among the table groupings to discern what were residents' favorite streets, where they liked to walk, and what single issue was of most concern.

At Commissioner James Taylor's table, residents expressed concerns about keeping Matthews a "quaint" town, controlling traffic, offering diverse retail and entertainment options, finishing connector streets, and saving trees. In another group, citizens were heard questioning downtown vacancies, overcrowded housing developments, traffic congestion, remaining part of the county school system, and the loss of ties to the area farming community. 

“residents expressed concerns about keeping Matthews a “quaint” town, controlling traffic, offering diverse retail and entertainment options, finishing connector streets, and saving trees.”

At the end of the evening, Harbeck observed that it didn't matter at what table he sat - the concerns expressed were universal. He noted that every citizen's sentiments will be entered into a database, sorted by category, and posted to the town's website. The information will be analyzed and vision statement drafted to reflection desires and concerns. Later this summer, he said, a proposed vision will be presented to residents.