288 6A-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Thursday, January 13, 1994 *
Moss Lake improvements approved
Moss Lake Commission ap-
proved Monday seven requests
from citizens wanting to make im-
provements, all subject to compli-
ance with Moss Lake regulations.
The requests were from Ken
Crawley, to remove sand from a
creek; Steve Moffitt for rip-rap;
Ken Cross and Frank Meeker for
seawall construction; ‘Bobby
Stringfellow for a boat cover; Van
D. Durrett, to construct a dock
pier; and Jonas Bridges, to con-
struct a dock.
Secretary Gene White reported
NEWSOME
From Page 1-A
installed by the Presbytery of
Western North Carolina on January
22.
Mrs. Newsome has served in
three Presbyteries in Alabama and
served in Shepphards Lapsley
Presbytery in Hoover as an associ-
ate minister at First Presbyterian
Church in Auburn.
Newsome will earn his
Doctorate in May from Columbia
Seminary. His sister, Rev. Laura
Newsome, is pursuing her doctor-
ate from Vanderbilt.
Burns, lives in Atlanta, Ga.
AUDITOR
. From Page 1-A
Es
{ the period, he has requested mate-
{ rials from various city offices.
{ "You could spend more time on
: selecting an engineer for a small
¢ job than to do the work," said City
! Manager George Wood, explaining
1 the exemption policy the state al-
{ lows. He said the state doesn't re-
i quire that cities go out for bids for
« professional services less than
' $30,000. The city does take bids
i for construction projects less than
$30,000.
"This isn't to say that the city
would never contract with any oth-
er professional services other than
‘the ones we now use but if you hire
‘an engineering firm to do a small
design job for $5,000, for instance,
‘and you aren't exempt from the an-
‘nouncement provision it means
that you would have to advertise
: jand request proposals and Spend
countless hours of staff time and
{Council time in selecting the per-
ison to do the work," said Wood.
{ Keller said he didn't see a signed
icontract for alterations on a gas
fine to Firestone Plant.
{ Wood said that Council ap-
‘proved alternative proposals by
.K. Dickson Company to look at
alternate routes and do a survey
and preliminary design down
anterbury Road to run the gas
ine to the new Firestone Plant for
hich the City of Gastonia paid
00 percent for the project. "This
k additional engineering which
as not a part of the original con-
act."
Mayor Scott Neisler said that
that he will request a noon meeting
with City Manager George Wood
"after January 15 for members to
discuss the possibility of the city
employing a full-time policeman at
the lake to also handle budgeting
and organizational responsibilities.
Presently, D.A.R.E. officer Allen
Hardin is assigned to the lake in a
part-time job and other responsibil-
ities are under the direction of the
city recreation department.
New Recreation Director Bruce
Clark was recognized. Members at-
tending were Chairman Joe Smith,
The new minister likes to jog,
play tennis, read and play basket-
ball. At six feet tall, it's little won-
der that he scores the baskets every
time. Newsome plans to interest
the men of the church in a church
team. z
Newsome's philosophy is built
around a miaistry of service - that
following Christ's model will lower
ourselves in order to serve others
because greatness is giving.
What makes the church special
for Newsome? "I would say it's the
enthusiasm and love of the gospel
reflected in the people of the
church," he says.
What would Newsome do if he
‘Newsome comes to a congrega-
normally in big projects there are
"add ons" or change orders which
the Council routinely approves.
"In the future we will be sure all
contracts are signed," said the may-
or.
Keller also called attention to the
deficit in the utility fund which left
an undesignated $85,000 in the
fund balance. He said the state re-
quires the fund balance be eight
percent of prior year general fund
expenditures.
Keller also pointed out that state
statutes require daily deposits of
city funds and noted that on one
occasion a fill-in clerk at City Hall
had not made a daily deposit.
"Each person who collects money
should have a drawer and no one
shall work out of another drawer,"
he pointed out, in reviewing his au-
diting procedures.
Wood said that fill-in clerks
serve as collection clerks in the
utility department when a worker is
out for lunch and that often that
fill-in clerk does not collect much
money and the deposits are held
for several days. "We will deposit
each clerk's collections every day,
even though it may not be small to
comply with this law," he said.
Responding to question of
Commissioner Norma Bridges,
Finance Officer Maxine Parsons
said that Moss Lake, unlike other
city offices, makes its own bank
deposits and the reports are con-
nected to the city system by com-
puter. The City Hall staff handles
the paperwork and updates a gen-
eral ledger.
Keller praised city workers for
improved inventory controls. Wood
said that the city appreciated the
Jackie D. Barrett, Billy Hawkins
and Murray Pruette Jr.
Smith asked an update of the
procedures for approval of applica-
tions and permits. White said city
Council approved on June 14 that
the lake commission or building in-
spector grant all approvals, subject
to compliance with regulations,
with the exception of special
events which must be approved by
City Council.
Upon motion by Barrett and sec-
onded by Hawkins, it was voted
unanimously to change the regular-
tion of 292 with an average atten-
dance of 135 and from a pastorate
of 880 people. He says his goals
for First Presbyterian are to see it
continue to practice the faith in
light of God's love and to find
fresh, new ways in sharing God's
love for people.
"Christ is The Head of the
Church" was the appropriate ser-
mon for his first day in a new pul-
pit. He used the text from I
Corinthians 12.
Newsome plans to preach on his
favorite Bible verse in future ser-
mons. It comes from Isaiah 40; 30-
31. In part it reads, "But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew
walk and not faint."
recommendations and the work
done by the auditor.
Keller cited two findings of
non-compliance in a Community
Development Block grant program.
Keller said that CDBG funds
must be disbursed within three
days and the city on one occasion
disbursed the funds within nine
days. Keller said the person re-
sponsible for the disbursement was
on vacation and that's why the pay-
ment was held up. The Finance
department said this matter would
be corrected.
The city failed to comply with a
written agreement with Benchmark
to administer the CDBG fund. The
agreement called for payment of
the administrative fee to be based
on the actual percentage of scope
of service completed each month.
The auditor suggested that the city
and Benchmark amend the original
agreement and that the fee be paid
‘in 30 equal monthly payments.
Wood said the agreement would be
amended.
The audit findings said that "the
city complied in all material re-
spects."”
Keller's recommendations in-
volving the internal control struc-
ture were passed on to the respec-
tive department heads for
implementation.
The board, in its special meeting
Tuesday, appointed Roger Goforth
and Lou Ballew to the Board of
Adjustments and John Reavis,
Odus Smith and Jerry Mullinax to
the land use plan committee.
The board granted a final plat
approval for Williams Villas
Subdivision,
ly scheduled meeting to the first
Monday of each month.
White relayed a request from a
citizen to increase the size of game
fish taken from Moss Lake. Barrett
said this request should be pursued
through the North Carolina
Wildlife Commission. Clark was
asked to look into the possibility of
contracting with the restaurant
lessee at the lake to also contract
for the bait shop.
Visitation day
slated at Abbey
Belmont Abbey College will
host a visitation day for high
school juniors and seniors on
Friday, Jan. 28 beginning at 9 a.m.
"Abbey Experience" affords vis-
itors an opportunity to learn more
about North Carolina's only
Catholic college. Visitors will at-
tend classes, tour the campus, in-
cluding the Abbey Church and St.
Leon Hall. College officials will be
available to answer questions about
the college.
For more information call the
Admissiens Office at (704) 825-
6665 or 1-800-523-2355.
EAST
Another sister, Carolyn Newton, could not be a pastor? "I suspect I their strength; they shall mount up From Page 1-A
lives in Shelby with husband, Would be a college or seminary with wings as eagles; they shall run Instruction, said that East will be a
Warren. His identical twin brother, professor," he says. and not be weary, ; and they ghall model school for the program since
East was the first school in Kings
Mountain to use computers.
East Principal Jerry Hoyle rec-
ognized the school board's commit-
ment to funding a pilot program at
East and in placing computers in
grades. 3-6.
"We had to retrain teachers in
grades 3-5 and take on a whole
new philosophy of teaching but it
has paid off in giving kids the indi-
vidual help they need," said Hoyle.
"This is a great night for East
School,” said Hoyle.
Supt. Dr. Bob McRae also cred-
ited Dr. King and former East
Principal John Goforth for their ex-
pertise and leg work in getting
computers to East School.
Computers in the elementary
grades gives students 30 minutes of
individual tutoring each day in
reading and math on the computer.
McRae said the computers have
made a difference in test scores.
In other actions, the board heard
the review changes in the
Performance Based. Accountability
Program. King said that all staff
. members are required to vote on a
differentiated pay plan by March
15 and prior to that the pay plan
must be finalized and teams must
develop goals and milestones for
new indicators.
Pay committees will be meeting
to discuss the pay issue and present
their reports to the board of educa-
tion at 2 p.m. on February 18.
Eight people were appointed to
the Kings Mountain Health
Council. They include Krista
Smith, Janice Queen and Catherine
Mills, two-year terms; and Dianne
Dooley, Audrey Harris, Lynn
Eskridge, Ethel Bumgardner and
Dr.Staley Jackson, one-year terms.
The board change the date of the
February meeting’ from Monday,
February 14, to Tuesday, February
15.
FIREMEN HONORED - Kings Mountain firemen were presented
special awards at a recent Christmas party. Chief Frank Burns, left,
and Volunteer Assistant Chief, Johnnie Caldwell, right, present
plaques to David Ayscue, Rookie of the Year; Jamie Black, Officer of
the Year; and Ernest Camp, Firefi ighier of the Year.
CITATIONS TO FIREMEN - Citations to firemen responding to
the most fires and completing the most training were presented recent-
ly. Back row, from left, Ernest Camp, Jamie Black, Johnnie Caldwell
and John Wright. Seated, David Ayscue and Joe Hamrick. Volunteers
completed 1,698 hours of training and paid members completed 1 ,167
hours of training. Firemen Fesponded to 252 fires.
NEW FURNITURE TO, FIRF, DEPA
of Kings Mountain recently presented §
TMENT - Badcock Furniturp
1,000 worth of living room fur-
niture, including three recliners, to the Kings Mountain Fire
Department. Pictured, left to right, Bob King, Rick Morrow, Chief
Frank Burns, Kathy Gentile of Badcock and Assistant Chief Bud
Ware.
electric fund to the general fund and the Local The board spproved a teaching
ATE INCREASE
rom Page 1-A
ountain," said Johnson. "If you've got good paying
customers, why not give them the business and keep
n trucking with those who pay the bills?"
Wood explained that when municipalities reach 80
recent of their total state allocations they must make
lans for additional treatment capacity and that costs
oney.
"I'm for industry in town but we can't get our backs
gainst the wall," said Mayor Scott Neisler. "We have
leave room for growth potential."
Wood said the matter with Spectrum evolved as a
dgment call from City Council and was not an issue
OW.
"It's behind us,"
With Spectrum.
! Businessman Kelly Bunch suggested that the city
goss a company for the maximum demand for water
e some utilities do. Wood agreed that the city could
k at the reallocation issue and Murphrey suggested
at the top 15 industrial users of city water and sewer
be asked to meet with ‘City Council to get their input
d find a workable plan.
¢ "Users need to"havé some input about these increas-
5," said Murphrey. who Said the city had increased
$e costs to industry a total of 28.7 percent since
January 1, 1991 and made increases to residential
rs of 26 percent in the last three years. "This is as-
tonomical." :
i "We dye yarn four cents cheaper in Belmont than we
id in Kings Mountain," said Johnson. "It concerns me
that City Council finds ways to increase rather than
9 t costs."
& Johnson said that industry finds ways to cut and
City Council should find“ways to cut costs.
i £ "People think industry can get their money back
rn increases in utilities in sales but it's tough," said
Jpnnson.
f Wood said that next year the budget picture could be
righter. The city will realize more money for capital
outlay improvements with the payment of $300,000
ehding major lease purchases.
Keller, in the budget report, said that at year-end the
ufility fund owed the general fund $549,912. He said
said Murphrey, who is associated
the city transferred $2 million dollars from the gas and
Government commission has advised that the city re-
duce its policy of transferable of funds to balance the
budget. He noted that Kings Mountain is one of only
two cities in North Carolina that operates both a gas
and electric system.
Grindstaff speculated that a four cent increase in the
property tax would generate only about $104,000 in
the general fund. Keller said that the bottom line is
that the city has 3/4 of a million dollars in its fund bal-
ance.
Wood said the water and sewer fund continues to be
the major problem in the city's overall budget since us-
age has drastically decreased.
Last fiscal year the city pumped 813.503 million
gallons from July-December. This half year the city
pumped only 795.008 million gallons. Even with a
new plant, Dye-Tech, on line for six months, the totals
have not reached last year's level. Wood said the de-
creased usage has created a shortfall in revenues for
the first six months of the fiscal year and will create a
similar shortfall the last six months unless usage in-
creases or the rates are raised.
Even with an upsurge in the economy, Wood said
that the city can't gamble when the latest six months
usage is down, not up. He said the projected shortage
for the full year would amount to $235,946.
Wood recommended that rates be increased to in-
dustrial customers only since industrial customers rep-
resent about 74 percent of revenues. A 6.7 percent rate
increase would generate the equivalent of a 4.96 per-
cent overall rate increase. A second option would gen-
erate more, using an increase of 7.5 percent on indus-
trial rates, which equals 5.6 percent on overall rates. A
third option would generate enough revenue to close
the gap completely, using an increase of 9 percent.
All three options, Wood told the board, assumes
that usage in the second half year would at least equal
the first half year. They also assume that the late
charges will continue to exceed the budget and the
Crowders Creek payments to Gastonia will come in
the same as the first half. Gastonia is raising its sewer
rate to Kings Mountain and other customers four per-
cent in January and six percent in July.
City council members didn't endorse either of the
rate proposals. The mayor said after the meeting that
the matter would probably come up for discussion and
a vote at the Council's January 25 regular meeting.
contract to Tim Setzer, who re-
places Ronnie Funderburke at
KMHS. Funderburke has resigned
to go into business with his father.
Setzer has a B.S. degree in mathe-
matics from Gardner-Webb
University. ;
Don Ware was hired as a mainte-
nance employee and LeRoy Smith
was hired as a custodian at
Bethware School.
The board approved three substi-
tute teacher positions: Donna
Logan, non-certified; and Sandra
Gregory and Page Wells, certified.
The board accepted resignations
from Dennis Thompson, custodi-
an/bus driver, and Ronnie
Funderburke, math teacher, Kings
Mountain High School.
REPORT
From Page 1-A
ementary students on the writing
tests.
"It's a tribute to the language arts
teachers at the Middle school that
eight graders topped the state aver-
ages," said McRae. The report was
75.4 percent compared to state
wide figures of 58.6.
Thrift said the North Carolina
writing tests would be given to
fourth graders again February 1.
She said that staff development
courses currently underway, hope-
fully, will help bring up the test
scores. A new end-of-grade test
will be given to social studies stu-
dents that matches the new curricu-
lum.
Thrift said the tests given to
math and reading students in
grades 3-8 were multiple choice
tests.
FIREMEN UNPACK NEW FURNITURE - City firemen Bobby
King, left, and Shad Johnson unpack new furniture donated to the
Kings Mountain Fire Department from Badcock Furniture.
Education program set on cable
Jones Intercable will cablecast a
discussion on how schools and
communities can involve the arts in
education reform on Saturday, Jan.
22 from 7-8 p.m. The Goals 2000
program will be carried on cable
channel 3 via Mind Extension
University: The Education
Network.
"Our viewers are very concerned
about what is happening in the
field of education and how these
development affect us locally,"
stated Rob Bridges, General
Manager. "The rebroadcasts of
these monthly satellite town meet-
ings puts them in touch with na-
tional and community leaders who
are shaping the future of education
in our society."
Each = month, Education
Secretary Richard Riley and
Deputy Education. Secretary
madeleine Kunin host panels repre-
senting national, state and commu-
nity organizations who discuss the
National Education Goals with
more than 2,000 community
groups participating in he telecon-
ference. These satellite town meet-
ings will be rebroadcast by ME/U:
The Education Network on channel
3 to assist the Education
Department in its efforts to widen
public awareness about the goals
and policies and initiatives de-
signed to meet them.
Mind Extension University: The
Education Network, a subsidiary of
Jones Education Networks, Inc., is
the only basic cable television net-
work devoted to education. ME/U
reaches more than 25.5 million,
households in approximately 8,500
communities. Among other things
viewers learn about computers,
languages, career development and
can participate in classes which
lead to a college degree. For more
information on Goals 2000, area
residents may contact the Goals
2000 office (1-800-USA-Learn).
Jones Intercable services ap-
proximately 20,000 households in
Gaston, Cleveland and York coun-
ties.
Lopez to speak
Dr. Fred Loper, national mis-
sionary for the Home Mission
Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention, will speak at Gardner-
Webb University in Boiling
Springs Monday at 9:30 a.m. on
"The Christian's Response to
AIDS."
Loper is a Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma physician who special-
izes in health care missions, educa-
tional workshops and utilizing vol-
unteers in medical and dental
mission work.
Lopet will respond to questions
about HIV/AIDS after the presen-
tation; == om