Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Front Porch Music
By Ron Isbell, Publisher
It takes a village
to build a community
I guess this goes under the ole
“The more things change the
more they stay the same” cate-
gory. x
As both the Mountaineer Part-
nership and the City of Kings
Mountain focus efforts on im-
proving our downtown we hope
the spirit that brought us a wave
of beautification 10 years or so
ago is still alive.
1 know that “improvement”,
like “beauty”, is in the eye of the
beholder. However, when those
improvements to our downtown
bring us a better environment in
which to conduct our business, an
environment that encourages new
business to locate here and exist-
ing businesses to expand, and
more opportunities for us to enjoy
our lives here in Kings Mountain,
I imagine we all see “improve-
ment” as a good thing.
For one thing, we come out of
this process with more
choices. ..in places to shop, places
to eat and services to choose
from. We come out with a larger
tax base that spreads the cost of
providing city and county serv-
ices among more taxpayers, and
our share of that burden should be
lessened. We come out with more
jobs for us and our families.
These improvements almost
always translate into opportuni-
ties. When somebody hands you
$100 it’s easy to see the benefit.
‘When somebody hands you the
opportunity to make $100 it isn’t
always so obvious, but $100 is
$100 either way.
We all need to identify the
good that can come to us individ-
ually from downtown improve-
ment, whether it is opening our
own new business and creating a
future for our family or being able
to buy something right here in
town that we might have had to
drive elsewhere for.
The benefits to improving our
downtown aren’t always obvious
to those that must make the deci-
sions that make it all happen ei-
ther. But the truth is, and has been
borne out in recent history, that
efforts and the costs that go along
with them pay dividends. .
From projects like Patriots
Park and downtown murals to the
YMCA and Patrick Senior Cen-
ter, our lives are richer because
community leaders stood up and
said the cause is worth the price.
Those that made it happen can
proudly claim their due.
Improving our downtown will
be the feather in our community
leaders’ hats. For each small im-
provement they will deserve the
credit due for making it happen.
But just as one person could
not have built the senior center, it
will take many people to bring
about the vision of a strong down-
town Kings Mountain. Each per-
son, each group will contribute
their talents and assistance. That’s
what “community” is all about.
Kings Mountain was facing
the same thing back in 1999, and
former editor Gary Stewart’s
view of the situation still rings
true:
First impressions are lasting
Usually when a governing
board considers spending tax
money on anything other than the
basic services that it owes citi-
zens, it’s going to get some com-
plaints.
That’s good. Elected officials
are supposed to be good stewards
of the public’s money and they
should be held accountable for
the decisions they make.
Sometimes, though, things
that at first seem unnecessary to
some folks may bring big divi-
dends down the road.
We think that could be the
case with the new Kings Moun- -
tain gazebo and the recently ap-
proved mural which will be
painted on the side of the Plonk
building across the street from the
gazebo at Railroad Avenue and
Gold Street.
The cost of the projects -
$24,000 for the gazebo and
$16,000 for the mural — drew
some opposition from citizens at
recent council meetings. The cost
is astronomical for most of our
pocketbooks: but in & multi-mil-
lion dollar city budget it is not
that much money. The benefits
those projects may bring to the
enjoyment of Kings Mountain cit-
izens and economic gain to the
city should be far greater than
$40,000.
Downtown Kings Mountain
has needed a facelift for years.
We believe very strongly that first
impressions are lasting impres-
sions, and if the person driving
through town sees an attractive
city they may be inclined to stop
and eat at our restaurants, shop in
our stores, and if they’re looking
for a home, may even consider lo-
cating here.
The Kings Mountain Herald
Moore to be sworn in today
Through the efforts of the city,
the Kings Mountain Business and
Professional Association, the
Chamber of Commerce, garden
and civic clubs, citizen commit-
tees and many others, the en-
tranceways to the city and
downtown are undergoing some
changes. The median between the
National Guard Armory and West
King was dressed up a couple of
years ago, due largely to the ef-
forts of former Mayor Scott
Neisler. Visitors entering the town
via East King Street are now see-
ing dilapidated old service sta-
tions replaced by impressive
modern businesses such as the
new Eckerd’s Drug Store, and
soon construction will begin on a
$1 million-plus Senior Center.
The gazebo and the mural,
and hopefully some other beauti-
fication projects that will follow,
will show persons entering the
city from Highway 216 South
that Kings Mountain is proud of
its heritage and is proud of its ap-
pearance.
And we think they’ll make a
lasting impression.
For an example of first im-
pressions, read on... :
Here's proof
Shirley Brutko of the Kings
Mountain branch of the Cleve-
land County Chamber of Com-
merce this week passed along a
letter she received from a couple
in eastern North Carolina whose
home was flooded during the re-
cent hurricanes.
The couple was interested in
locating in a more secure area,
and called the chamber seeking
information on Cleveland County.
The family visited Kings
Mountain and Shelby, made con-
tact with local realtors and
bankers, and on Jan. 14 will be
moving into their new home in
Bethlehem Estates.
To make a long story short,
the appearance of Kings Moun-
tain, the friendliness of the people
they met and the helpfulness of
the chamber, realtors and bankers
sold them on Kings Mountain.
Back to 2011. A vibrant down-
town can’t help but lead to more
new residents like this couple. As
employment opportunities shift to
include high-tech and more white
collar jobs (data farms and Duke
Power’s training center) the oppor-
tunities to attract new residents
will grow. These residents will ex-
pect the amenities a vibrant down-
town can offer.
In looking back to 1999 I
think we can all agree that our
community leaders made the right
choices then. I hope our commu-
nity can put the right people in the
right places to make that happen
again as we move forward.
Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland County) will 6s
sworn into office this morning for his fifth term in
the North Carolina House of Representatives. After
taking the oath of office on capitol hill in Raleigh,
Moore will join other legislators in the first official
session of the NC General Assembly which con-
venes at noon.
Lawmakers will soon have to tackle the “ele-
phant in the room”: a $3.7 billion budget deficit that
must be cleared in the upcoming fiscal year. The
“News & Observer” listed Moore as one of six new
“power brokers” - “key Republican lawmakers who
will carry out the vision of GOP leaders” in their
first time taking control of the state House in over
100 years.
Rep. Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) appointed
Moore to the senior chair of the House Rules Com-
mittee. In his new role, co-chairing with Rep.
Stephen LaRoque of Lenoir
County, he may have a
louder voice in addressing
the needs of Cleveland
County. The committee con-
trols the flow of legislation in |
other committees and to the"
floor. Moore will have the
chance to influence which
bills are heard and when they
will be debated or voted on.
Moore has vowed to fight against any new taxes
to help cover the looming deficit. He has also
pledged to fight for jobs, requiring photo IDs for
Page 3A
Tim Moore
voting and inflicting stiffer penalties for driving-
while-impaired repeat offenders.
More committee announcements may follow in
the days to come.
Recycling is catching on in KM
Kings Mountain Mayor Rick
Murphrey said that after eight days
of recycling by citizens that city
garbage trucks have hauled 10 tons *
of recyclable materials to the
county landfill.
“We are excited,” said the
rhayor.
City utility bills went out this
week with the additional $2 cost
added on the monthly residential
$7.60 garbage fee. Some citizens
have called city offices concerning
the $2 fee but the mayer said that if
* more people recycle that everyone
will benefit. He said the city cur-
rently pays over $20,000 a month
for landfill costs and that for every
ton of trash they recycle, the city
will receive a credit of $60 each.
“The county originally told us
the credit would be $33 a ton and
this will help us pay for the over
$300,000 initial startup of the pro-
gram,” he said. The city spent
$216,000 for 4500 blue containers,
$127,000. for a new truck on order
and $60,000 for salaries of two em-
ployees and was recipient of a
$100,000 grant.
The mayor said as the project
progresses that city council will re-
view expenditures and as-more peo-
ple recycle that costs will come
down, both for the city and citizens.
“We always review expenditures at
budget time,” he said. There is not
enough revenue coming in to cover
expenditures because there are
fixed cost and it takes 3-4 years
payback to cover because of the ini-
tial start-up costs.
The city collects household
garbage once a week and recy-
clables every other week based on a
schedule attached to the new blue
cans deposited at residents” homes
recently.
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