Elementary
schools give
awards
Freddy Smith wins $100,000
irs prize n Ohio race
VOL. 106 NO. 23
Thursday, June 9, 1994
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Kings Mountain businessman
Claude Suber say he isn't certain a
buried water meter found on his
property by the city last week was
a coincidence.
The President of Kings
Mountain Knit Fabrics says the
city's hunt for a meter on his prop-
erty may have been motivated by
his visit to City Council last
Tuesday with gripes about city fi-
nances, city management and in-
dustrial concerns. ;
But city officials said Suber is
g
not the only person in town on
whose property buried meters
have been found and won't be the
last.
Interim City Manager Maxine
Parsons said that the city is audit-
ing all its meters and has uncovy-
ered several buried meters. She
said that a meter clerk in her office
has discovered a number of dis-
crepancies in meters. Walt Ollis,
water superintendent, and Jimmy
Maney, utility superintendent, are
working to correct the problems.
"The City Council approved a
policy two years ago that called for
for remarks
a close scrutiny of utility meters
and we have begun that in earnest,"
said Parsons.
After Suber had questioned the
Council on a number of issues last
Tuesday and asked about a "hit
list” supposedly targeting city em-
termination,
Councilman Ralph Grindstaff
asked Suber about Kings Mountain
Knit Fabric's utilities’ billing and
whether he had water meters at the
ployees for
plant that weren't working.
Suber said he had an arrange-
See Meter, 10-A
City Manager
list to two
City Council has narrowed its
field of candidates to two for the
position of City Manager.
Mayor Scott Neisler said that
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Where Claude Suber goes this
week he says trouble follows.
"I hope this sends a message," he
said, referring to his recent appear-
ance before City Council to com-
plain about city problems.
Now the President of Kings
Mountain Knit Fabrics says he is
being presented with bills he never
knew he owed.
"I get support from some people
and I'm blasted by others," said
Suber, who acknowledges that he
owes in excess of $11,000 in 1993
city taxes, $890.24 in landfill
charges that go back to 1991, and
for city water for a still-to-be deter-
mined amount of time.
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“But the city never billed me for
anything," said Suber.
Suber said he assumed he was
getting commercial garbage pick-
up free but was presented with a
bill this week from ' the City of
Kings Mountain. He said he had
previously received a tax bill from
the county. Since his electrical bill
comes from Duke Power, he never
got a utility bill from Kings
Mountain which would have
included charges for any usage of
water, sewer, and commercial
garbage service.
Suber says his dealings with
City Hall this week haven't been
limited to the utility department.
Contrary to rumors circulating in
town, Suber says that he has never
City billing Suber for ‘unknown’ bills
Suber says city retaliatin
locked his doors to the fire depart-
ment and would welcome an in-
spection of his plant, which ac-
cording to fire department records,
has never been done. Suber said
that fireman Bill Ware used to in-
spect his plant every month and his
fire insurance carriers inspect regu-
‘larly on a quarterly basis.
Assistant Fire Chief Bud Ware
said that a state law adopted July 1,
1991 makes it mandatory for all
public buildings to be inspected
and comply with state fire codes.
Since local firemen are unfamiliar
with the new fire codes. they have
been going to school and are now
just beginning to do the inspec-
tions.
See Suber, 10-A
$18.7 million
five men came to Kings Mountain
last weekend for interviews with
him and the seven-member
Council and from the five, all from
North Carolina, two finalists were
picked.
Neisler said that Personnel
Director Winston Bagley is work-
ing with the finalists to set up ap-
pointments for them to return t
budget sought
Kings Mountain's proposed city
budget for 1994-95 is $18.7 mil-
lion, down $282,187 from fiscal
year 1993-94.
If City Council approves the
projections of Interim City
Manager Maxine Parsons after
public hearing Tuesday at 7:30
»» Specific significant recom:
Only three people will lose their
jobs, two from the closing of the
engineering department and one
who has retired from the w-
ater/sewer department. The other
19 positions are unfilled positions
that department heads had request-
ed in their budget proposals pre-
sented in the Spring retrea . Pa
time anc
unch g
i i ay
00 percent ployee insurance
coverage but will reduce by five
percent its dependent coverage.
The new plan will mean that em-
ue t
cent increase across
sers of city water
and sewer.
No merit or cost-of-living pay
increases to the city's 150 full-time
| Lone of the two finalists that it's pos- SERVICE AWARD - Bill
1d be on Sherwood, manager of McDonald's in Kings Mountain and Shelby,
sible the new manager could be
receives
duty possibly in early August.
GROVER - A 27 cent increase
in water rates to customers using
more than 2,000 gallons of water
and a four percent raise to the city's
three full-time employees are pro-
posed in the city's 1994-95 budget
which went on the table for public
review Monday.
If the budget is formally adopted
following a public hearing June 27
the water rate will rise from $1.35
to $1.62 per 1,000 gallons for cus-
tomers using over 2,000 gallons of
water.
No objections were raised and
the action by Council was unani-
mous.
Kings Mountain
the Kings Mountain Rotary Club 1994 Vocational Service Award from President Darrell Keller at
Thursday's meeting at the Holiday Inn. Looki
Water increase in pro
Mayor Ronald Queen said the
proposed budget of $238,967.81 is
$11,000 less than the 1993-94 bud-
get and includes a cut of $50,000
in expenses in the police depart-
ment.
Council is recommending cost-
of-living raises for Town Clerk
Lynn Davis, Police Chief Paul
Cash, and maintenance employee
Dean Causby.
The town's 29 cent tax rate per
$100 valuation will remain the
same.
Kay Saltz asked that the board
consider a second police officer in
People
REV. RICHAR
Pim,
2
iii
Wy 777
DPLYLER
the budget after questions were
raised about vandalism at the
Grover Park and increased speed-
ing by trucks and local traffic on
city streets but Queen said there
were no funds for more police per-
sonnel.
"We've cut to the bare bone,"
said Queen.
Councilman Tim Rowland made
the motion that Chief Cash concen-
trate his efforts on cleaning up the
vandalism problem in the park.
The general fund revenues will
include $46,756.38 for office oper-
ations; $36,050 for Town Hall op-
erations; $67,160.69 for mainte-
Popular minister
After 40 years in the ministry,
Rev. Richard Plyler's roots are
deep in the Patterson Grove
Community.
His congregation of 260 people
lost their familiar preacher of 31
years when he took early retire-
ment recently due to a health prob-
lem but they didn't lose their best
friend.
"I won't be in the pulpit but my
wife, Mary Elizabeth, and I will be
here for them," said Plyler, who
has endeared many from both in-
side and outside his congregation
to him because of his ability to ad-
vise but most of all (o listen,
He has developed a rapport that
is essential to his calling of God.
He calls that quality "a matter of
trust.”
“I people can't trust you, it's: dif=
ficult to help and my Patterson
Girove people and 1 have that trust
and we have written many chapters
here of service in this community.”
Nearly 13 years ago the Plylers
be AIC a new home OWnNet alter
Previously
they had bived mm Patterson Grove
$7 years of marniaee
at the chinech mumse and before tha
ng on at left is Wilson Griffin.
posed Grover budget
nance operations; $37,433.06 for
police operations; $11,167.68 for
the fire department operations:
$17,300 for streets and sidewalks;
$8100 for sanitation, landfill and
cemetery expenses; $10,000 for
beautification; and $5,000 for capi-
tal outlay.
Powell Bill funds if the budbet
account for $7,585.65 plus unused
funds from the previous year of
$21,496.
Water and sewer revenue is ex-
pected to be $155,900. Water and
sewer expenses are expected to be
$88,093.
employees.
A focus on building up the re-
serves in all fund balances includ-
ing budgeting of $221,076 in re-
serves for the water/sewer fund;
$136,406 in reserves in the electric
fund; and $125,545 in reserves in
the gas fund.
"Reducing the revenue signifi-
cantly will build up the reserves in
all utility funds and is a very posi-
tive step to get our financial condi-
tion in shape as the Local
Government Commission has sug-
gested," said Parsons.
Elimination of the city engi-
neering department which includes
the positions of Director of
Community Services and his ad-
ministrative assistant,
Cutting 22 positions in the bud-
get.
Twon't be in the pulpit but ...
I will be here for them."
at parsonages in Wise, Va. and at
Mt. Beulah Church on Dallas-
Cherryville Highway. Ordained in
August 1955 by Temple Baptist
Church of Gastonia, Plyler and his
wife moved to Kings Mountain in
March 1963. They left their pis-
torate here on March 31, 1994,
Plyler said he had probably con-
ducted, assisted or attended 800 fu-
nerals over the years. presided at
over 150 weddings, preached nu-
merous revivals and been on call
24 hours a day for 40 years.
His parishioners have shared tie
secrets of their hearts and their
lives and Plyler never betrayed
their confidences. He counseled
people in crisis and in good times
and eke ie a gift that people opened
up to him in trust
Patterson Grove people have
been supportive of the family over
the vears, allowing Plyler to return
to senunary to araduate, furmishine
-Rev. Richard Plyler
them with a 1970 VW Super
Beatle in 1970 and sending them
on trips to the Holy Land in 1976.
to visit a missionary family in the
Dominican Republic in 1980, and
to Disney World on their 30th wed-
ding anniversary. On their 15th
wedding anniversary clockmaker
Tilman Pridmore gave them a
beautiful. tall walnut clock he hand
carved for the living room of their
home which is located on Putnam
Lake Road a short distance from
the church.
For 31 years Plyler said he never
heard a complaint at deacon's
meetings, which he said must be a
record, and none of his church
meetmes were ever unpleasant, he
said
“This says alot about the people
have served.” said Plyler, who ad
mis there are advantaees ol stn
mg mn the same place a lone tin
and also disadyvantaeces There are
ployees will pay 60 percent of cov-
erage for their dependents.
Eighty-five percent of the new
budget is earmarked for utilities.
Purchase of electricity will cost
$4.7 million; purchase of gas will
account for $3.7 million in the bud-
get for a total of nearly $8.5 mil-
lion.
Seventy-three percent of the
general fund will be spent for
salaries,
Total salaries and fringe benefits
for employees in the new budget
account for $4.1 million,
The budget worksheet on rev-
enue gives the actual revenue in
1992-93 at $19,982,366, the 1993-
94 budget at $21,109,686. the esti-
mate for the entire year at
$20,745,622 and the estimated rey-
enue in 1994-95 at $20,734,575.
ichard Plyler retires
monetary reasons that most preach-
ers move on but he said the advan-
tages of staying in the same place
far outweigh them,
"Churches can't be like cookie
cutters because none of us are alike
and that's good.” said Plyler, Each
church has its own personality,
Now that he has no agenda and
no schedule. Plyler expects to rise
at 7 a.m, cach morning and begin
the day with praver, w riting and
reading. He and his wife plan a (rip
soon to eelebrate her summer vaca.
tion from Bethware School and his
rearement. They still attend
Patterson Grove Church w here
Mrs, Plyler is active in the Sunday
School,
Che adjustment from (he pulp
to the pew isn't Casy 101 a man wh
has preached all his life but Ply leq
says he is enjoying (he Visiting
preachers and savs his coneicen
non has an acne
a
search commit
ee
Paul's 1 enter othe Phlliprans as
his Lavorie book be duse the
church Phillipe was the heal thios
ol the New lesan m ch hos
See Plyler, 124