NEW PLANNING BOARD MEETS

July 18th saw the new planning board get together since myself and two others replaced long time sitting members. Judging from what I experienced last night it promises to be an interesting board. The old and new members seem to have a good mix of knowledge and experience to rely on and of course the planning staff is still there to make sure we don't get out of line. The new Chairman and Vice Chair were named last night and the planning board members are listed below. The planning board meets every 3rd tuesday of the month at 7pm and the citizens are encouraged to attend.

Russell Whitehurst- Chairman
Dave Anderson - Vice Chairman
Gary Vaughn (new member)
Roy Lewis (new member)
Lee Godwin (new member)
Richard Harper
Patricia Cowan
William Medlin (alternate)
Brenda Evans (alternate)
John Quinn (new member and alternate)

ARE ALL RELIGIONS CREATED EQUAL?

Since the liquor by the drink issue came up briefly at the council meeting the other night it led me to wonder about the religions on the board. My guess that we have 3 Baptists (4 if you count the mayor) and 2 other (Catholic) I believe...
Of the Baptists, 2 indicated they were against LBTD no matter what. 1 Non Baptist stated the same. The other non Baptist and 2 other Baptist stated they would like more information. Which leads me to the question: Are all Baptists factions created equal? How is that 2 members of the council believe so staunchly about LBTD when 2 others don't feel the same? Is there different teachings in the Baptist church? Don't they all use the same type of bible? I just thought I would ask the questions.

JUST CURIOUS ABOUT MONEY???

So at the July 11th Council meeting the town presented the Sheriff with I believe the amount was $11,600.00 to help pay/or pay for 8 defibrilators for the deputies cars in IT. The money was given to the town by Walmart, the amount I believe was $26,000.00. I was just wondering what did the town do with the remaining money? What do they have planned for the remainder $14,400.00 if my math is correct.
Please in no way think I am complaining about the purchase of the defibrilators. That was a purchase with town money all of us should support. Lets hope the rest of it is spent in such a great way.

INDIAN TRAIL: To Drink or NOT?

July 11, 2006...saw a lot of people show up for the council meeting. The headliner for the evening was the planning boards request for the council to explore putting the item of liquor by the drink on an eventual reforendum. Everyone that spoke on the subject during the evening all had very valid points for and against the issue. A lot was made about the Morality vs Economic issue. I believe it to be more of an economic issue than about morality. If an area has liquor by the drink...you morals guide you whether you should drink or not. If you drink, you are by no means an immoral person. Their are temptations all around us everyday...you have the choice and should have. Same goes for liquor by the drink....the people of a community should be given a chance to voice their opinions. Not just 5 people that were elected. Each person above the age of 18 has the ability to decide for themselves.
It is an economic issue, but only if you discuss the tax dollars if they leave Union County. Other communities in the area have liquor by the drink, those tax dollars come to the ones that don't the same way if the establishments were in the particular town. Restaurants like Chilis, Applebees, a fine steakhouse or any big box type restaurant won't come to a community without LBTD>. Just won't happen, they make too much profit on the drinks and the bottom line is made on alcohol sales. This will affect the downtown project as well, considering they are looking for a restaurant or two, to anchor their project. Though you will build your tax base also, the cost associated with LBTD has to be looked at also. There would have to be an increase in police protection which negates any ad valorem tax brought in by the restaurant. In the end 3 councilmembers ( Cass, Killough, Schallenkamp) voted to not explore the request for liquor by the drink.
The other highlight had to be the town giving Sheriff Cathey $11,600 dollars to put towards defibrilators for the cars that patrol IT. Very good use of the money..you don't ever what to have to use them, but if you need it and the sheriffs deputies arrive with them your chances of survival go up.
Three presentations were heard for the update to the ordinances. Five total were heard and a contract award should be forthcoming.
Extreme Ice told the council the Checkers would be utilizing their facilities for the next 5 years. The grand opening elebration would be in the September time frame for the facility though they would open in the August time frame.
I am sorry I had to leave early and have nothing else to report at this moment.

A FINE MESS WE HAVE IN STALLINGS

Since the election in November, attitudes have apparently gone into the dumpster between the Mayor and the Town Council. In the last couple of weeks though it has truly hit new lows. The last volley was an ordinance passed by the council to basically outline the duties and responsibilities of the mayor. Some actions since her election have supposedly upset members of the council as well as employees of the town. Both sides firing shots at each other as if in an old time ship battle. Unfortunately, the ordinance really had no need to be passed. The town of Stallings has operated under a Manager/Council form of government for years. The mayor in that type of setup has only a few official duties such as presiding over the meeting, voting in case of a tie, ceremonial head of the town. Under NO circumstance does her power authorize the mayor to authorize money to be spent, contracts to be signed, employees to be hired or fired or in that matter reprimanded. That is a duty designated to the Manager for day to day operations of the town by the Council. The mayors duties and responsibilities are clearly explained in the state statutes thus the ordinance was never really needed. That however is only one part of the story and had either side or both, backed off a little and communicated better with one another the councils actions may not have come to this. The mayor coming into office made a lot of statements about eliminating costs with staff, police, and the likes. She never had such power but made the statements. There was talk of a tax cut...again, a nice idea but hardly something she could really follow through on. Letters to Mr. Black praising him when he took $6 million of our repair fund and designated it to Mint Hill. I could go on but why? The council is not completely innocent either. For their part, they could have drafted a letter expressing the understanding that the Mayor was overstepping her boundries and outlined the statutes for her. Especially before all of this mess escalated. The people of Stallings deserve better than a power struggle between the elected officials. Everyone should know and understand their own duties and responsiblities and at the same time understand conflict of interest, eithical standards, and the open meeting laws. You all are adults and should act like it. Not everything in Stallings need to be a media event. You all have to learn to compromise and work together in order to get anything accomplished in the next couple of years.