Thursday, May 26, 2005
Water line
overrun to
90 before
Council
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
The Kings Mountain City
Council must decide if it
will extend a water line
construction reimbursement
agreement to Kings Row
Apartments by $30,000 to
cover cost overrun.
Utility Committee mem-
bers Rick Moore and
Houston Corn disagreed
during a Tuesday afternoon
meeting.
Eagan Construction,
which is building the apart-
ments, entered into an
agreement last year with
the city that gives the devel-
oper 85 percent of revenues
off the water line until 100
percent of installation cost
is reached or 15 years pass-
es, whichever comes first.
That agreement was set
with the line installation at
$249,000. The overruns
bring the construction price
to $279,000.
Moore wanted to keep
reimbursement at $249,000.
Corn wanted to extend that
by $30,000.
According to a memo
from Planning and
Economic Development
Director Steve Killian, the
pros and cons are: “The
probable pay back period to
the developer from utility
revenues received will like-
ly increase from 12 to 15
years. There are no disin-
centives to the developer to
- keep him from running
over budget if the reim-
bursement agreement is
amended to cover these
additional costs. The City is
not out any money either
way because the developer
has upfronted all the con-
struction cost monies.”
Memorial Day
program slated
- Claude Pearson, former
American Legion Post 155
Commander, and Kings
Mountain Mayor Rick
Murphrey will speak dur-
ing the city’s annual
Memorial Day service.
The Monday morning
service begins at 10 a.m. at
the Veteran's Memorial at
Mountain Rest Cemetery.
The Kings Mountain
Police Department Explorer
Unit will present the colors.
Police Chief Melvin Proctor
will led the Pledge of
Allegiance. City
Councilman Rev. Howard
Shipp will give the invoca-
tion.
The service will conclude
with a wreath-laying cere-
mony at the monument.
Paul Fulton will play
“Taps.” The public is invit-
ed.
Military events
at National Park
Kings Mountain National
Military Park will hold a
unique special event
Memorial Day weekend
when it hosts “Military
Through the Ages” with re-
enactors depicting every
major conflict in the
nation’s history.
~The Battle of Kings
. Mountain involved civilian
soldiers - the militia - and
this weekend the public can
learn about the history of
the American soldier, his
weapons and equipment.
There will be displays of
uniforms, weapons, military
vehicles and more.
Re-enactors will present
talks on the French &
: See Park, 9A
Vol. 117 No. 20
Inside...
: Mounties
whipl Franklin
in 3A playoffs
12A
50 Cents
Budget vote Tuesday
$27.9 million price tag to be considered following public hearing
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain City Council will
vote on a proposed $27.9 million budg-
et Tuesday night. The public may make
comments during a public hearing pre-
ceding the vote.
No new taxes are part of the budget
but there are water, sewer, gas and
garbage rate increases.
A proposed three percent cost-of-liv-
ing increase will replace what is com-
monly known as the “birthday bonus.”
The bonus was created five years ago
to address pay issues. Employees
received a two percent bonus on their
birthdays.
The cost-of-living increase will be
more costly for the city, according to
City Manager Greg McGinnis. Not
only willimore money be paid out, the
raise, unlike the bonus, will increase
workers’ base pay meaning the city
makes a larger state retirement and 401
K contribution, he said.
The utility increases include a five
percent increase in water and sewer
rates for residential customers inside
the city limits. That breaks down to
$1.82 more a month or .6 cent a day for
the average customer, according to
McGinnis.
The proposed hike would mean a 10
percent increase for residential cus-
tomers living outside the city. Inside-
city-businesses would pay four percent
more and those outside the city, eight
percent more. This would generate an
estimated revenue increase of $181,883.
Water and sewer cut-on fees are pro-
posed to go from $10 to $15 for all clas-
sifications which is estimated to bring
in $4,215 more a year. A proposed
increase in tap fees will bring in an
estimated $29,540 more.
Mayor Rick Murphrey said the loss
of textile plants in the early 2000s has
KMHS GRADUATION
morning. Below, Audrey Stark huges fellow classmate Megan Dixon.
251 receive diploma
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
By late Saturday morning Kings
Mountain High School’s seniors .
had marched into Gamble Stadium,
walked across the stage receiving
diplomas and were declared gradu-
ates by Principal John Yarbro.
Friends, parents and other rela-
tives clapped, hooted, called out
names, sounded horns and threw
confetti into the air as their gradu-
ates’ names were called.
Some 251 strong, the Class of
2005 listened as co-valedictorians
Robert Thomas Reid and Bradley
Steven Moffitt made remarks.
SMOKE FREE
Guide helps you choose restaurants that don’t allow smoking
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Don't like to eat where folks are smoking?
The Cleveland County Health Department
has made selecting restaurants easier with
its new Smoke-Free Restaurant Dining
Guide.
The pocket-size guide is ; available at the
health department, participating restaurants
and Kings Mountain and Shelby Chamber
of Commerce offices.
“The majority of people want non-smok-
ing,” said Denese Stallings, health depart-
ment director.
Last week Stallings spoke to a General
From this point, success will no
longer be measured in test scores
and class rank but in terms of per-
sonal satisfaction and happiness,
Moffitt told his classmates.
Community involvement, relation-
ships and taking pleasure in work,
will be other measures, he said.
Moffitt ended his remarks wish-
ing his classmates “good luck” in
several languages.
Reid marveled at the transfor-
mation of the Class of 2005 from
apprehensive freshmen four years
ago to the people sitting in caps
and gowns today. He urged the
class to remain humble and grateful
See Graduation, 7A
Assembly committee on pending legislation
which would outlaw smoking at all restau-
rants statewide.
second-hand smoke,” she said.
See Smoke, 9A
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
Kings Mountain High graduating seniors enter John Gamble Stadium for commencement exercixees Saturday
“It’s the right thing to protect people from
Smoking and second-hand smoke are a
factor in asthma, cancer, lung and cardiovas-
cular diseases, sinus problems and diabetes.
Treating complications of smoking also adds J.
to the Medicare and Medicaid tax burden.
While some in the restaurant industry
argue that banning smoking will hurt prof-
its, Cup and Saucer Tea Room owner Alice
Armstrong disagrees. The popular and suc-
cessful restaurant has been smoke free since
cost the city over $1 million in revenue
making the proposed rate increase
inevitable. Anvil Knit made up 17 per-
cent of the total water and sewer rev-
enue and Dye Masters another eight
percent, according to Murphrey.
A five percent increase in the base
rate on gas is part of the budget. That
translates to $3.16 a month or .11 cents
a day. This is estimated to garner
$90,000. Gas bills are figured using a
two-step formula - a stable base rate
and the current market value of gas
which fluctuates. An increase in the
gas connection fee also was proposed.
Trash pick up is proposed to go from
$5 a month to $6. That would generate
$50,820 a year.
A crack down on businesses violat-
ing an ordinance requiring they use
city garbage services could generate
$48,102. Many businesses are using a
private garbage service, according to
See Budget, 9A
Dear.
diesel.
Lake.
bids are due in
July. If commis-
sioners approve
the project, the
new building
could be com-
plete by this time
next year, according to County
Manager David Dear.
EMS currently leases what was
built as a private residence from
Kings Mountain Hospital. The house
is across the street from KMH. Two
ambulances are parked in an unheat-
ed aluminum building, according to
BUDGET AT
A GLANCE
Total budget - $27.9 mil-
lion.
Raises - three percent
cost-of-living increase for
employees.
Other increases:
-Five percent increase in
- water and sewer rates for
residential customers inside
the city limits.
-Water and sewer cut-on
fees are proposed to go
from $10 to $15 for all clas-
sifications.
-Five percent increase in
the base rate on gas
-Trash pick increase from
$5 a month to $6. :
No increases in taxes.
KM EMS
may get
new base
Proposal to move
from near hospital
to Industrial Park
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Cleveland County EMS paramedics
serving Kings Mountain may get a
new base. The proposed facility
would be located in Cleveland
County ETE
Industrial Park “We need a
on Business 74. more modern
Construction
facility for
EMS.”
Ronnie Hawkins
The new facility would have heated
space for the vehicles which are
“It’s better all around,” he said.
The facility would have room for
two full-time crews and includes two
bedrooms, a small kitchen, day room
and storage. Up-to-date computer
hook ups would be part of the design.
“We need a more modern facility
for EMS,” County Commission
Chairman Ronnie Hawkins said.
Dear said the location near U.S. 74
would be an advantage. The two
Kings Mountain crews serve the city,
Grover and the eastern end of Moss
Cleveland County —————
Smoke-Free Restaurant
entering is smoke free.
This decal on the door will tell you if the restaurant you're
a
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