N.C. Municipalities in the News
10/29/2007 08:16:51 AM -0500
Friday, August 15, 2008
More cities limiting water use
Raleigh News & Observer
"Drought conditions persist, particularly in parched Western North Carolina, but more local governments are conserving water than a year ago, and water supplies are in better shape.
"Of the 660 public water systems in the state, 54 percent had water restrictions in place in July, said Wayne Munden, with the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Public Water Supply Section. Munden addressed a meeting Thursday of the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.
"A year ago, Munden said, 12 percent of the systems had conservation measures in place. The cities of Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill all have water-use restrictions in place.
" 'People are conserving,' Munden said. 'We have extreme problems in the west, but at least the message is getting out.' ..."
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
City staff studies what cities allow neighborhood bars
Greenville Daily Reflector
"Five of seven university cities in North Carolina allow clubs to operate in neighborhoods or let restaurants charge cover fees, Greenville planning staff discovered while researching a request to change rules governing restaurants in the city.
"The information was sent to the Greenville City Council last month in preparation for the 7 p.m. Greenville City Council being held today in City Hall, 200 W. Fifth St.
"Council is scheduled to consider a June 12 request by Jeremy Spengeman, owner of Dr. Unk's Oasis, to lower the percentage of food sales a business must make to qualify as a restaurant. The city's current rules require more than 50 percent of total gross receipts be from food sales; Spengeman wants the amount lowered to 30 percent, which matches state Alcohol Beverage Control rules. ..."
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
300 in west Charlotte come out to meet new chief
Charlotte Observer
"Some of the 300 gathered at a west Charlotte church said they were honored just to shake the new police chief's hand. Others said they wouldn't be satisfied until they saw results – more officers in their neighborhoods, and less crime.
"Tuesday's event at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Beatties Ford Road was the first in a series of meetings with people in each of the city's 13 patrol divisions by Chief Rodney Monroe. He met with people who live in the Metro division, in northern and northwest Charlotte.
"Monroe hammered on many of the talking points he's made since he took the chief's job nearly two months ago --making officers target crime in smaller areas, putting more officers on patrol, and solving problems identified by frontline officers. ..."
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Fayetteville seeks reduction in landfill fee
Fayetteville Observer
"Fayetteville's new recycling program has been so successful that city officials now want Cumberland County to lower the solid waste fee charged to all homeowners.
"And city leaders think they have some bargaining room.
"The city believes that enough recyclable materials will be diverted from the county's Ann Street landfill to justify a reduction in the $48 annual solid waste fee.
"Last month, city management asked Cumberland County to lower the fee by about $5. The county management has yet to act on that request.
"The fee shows up on property tax bills. For Fayetteville homeowners, tax bills will be higher this year: The cost for weekly curbside recycling will be $42 a year, in addition to the $48 solid waste fee.
"While recycling has proven to be popular since it started July 7, the City Council is searching for ways to lower homeowners' tax bills. ..."
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Greenville police a familiar face to area's homeless
Greenville Daily Reflector
"Look out the window when driving to and from work this week. Do you see the homeless? They are among us. We pass them, and the places they live, each day.
"Encounters with most homeless people are rarely perceived by the majority of Greenville's working, housed population, according to local law enforcement experts. Most commuters never see the dozens of homeless sites that exist in the city and in communities around Pitt County.
"A man in ragged clothes holding a cardboard sign that says, 'Homeless and hungry ... God bless you,' might occasionally sit on a traffic island. That is an infrequent sight because it is illegal to 'wave flags,' as Sgt. Carlton Williams of the Greenville Police Department calls the signs.
"Williams knows many of Greenville's homeless, their faces, the names they go by and the stories of their lives. He estimates between 50 and 150 call the city home at any given time.
" 'There are so many unknown and untraceable factors,' Williams said. 'I know of probably 25-30 homeless sites personally, but there are many who keep to themselves and avoid contact with me and others.' ..."
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Appeals court rules for Asheville on two annexations
Asheville Citizen-Times
"The N.C. Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Asheville can proceed with two annexations contested by property owners.
"The proposed annexations -- of Ridgefield Business Park behind Biltmore Square Mall and an area off Airport Road -- date from 2005, when the city decided to take in several hundred acres and about 2,800 new residents.
"Property owners involved in the dispute could still appeal Tuesday's ruling to the state Supreme Court, which recently declined to hear another lawsuit over Asheville annexation. ..."
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Rocky Mount lowers natural gas rates
Rocky Mount Telegram
"For the first time in two months, Rocky Mount natural gas customers will see a decrease in their monthly bills.
"The city's Public Utilities Department announced Tuesday that natural gas rates will drop by 9 percent during the month of August.
"Rocky Mount's natural gas rates for year-round customers will decrease from $1.99 per therm to $1.81 per therm. Heating-only customers will see a decrease from $2.01 per therm to $1.83 per therm.
"City officials said the savings were made possible because of the decrease in demand for natural gas and reserve levels of the utility in the wholesale market. ..."
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If you know of an article that should be linked, please email Matt Lail at mlail@nclm.org .
