The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.net
The three leaders of city and county government and the school system (Dr. Steven Fisher,
left, Mayor Rick Murphrey, and Jason Falls) pronounced the community “excellent” at the
annual “State of Community” breakfast sponsored hy the Cleveland County Chamber last
Wednesday morning.
Photo by ELLIS NOELL
City on track for 2014-15
“The city of Kings
Mountain is proud of a per-
fect audit for 16 years, our
general fund closed at 24% of
last year expenses (the Local
Government Commission re-
quires 8%), and we have
adopted a number of internal
cost programs as we look for-
ward to a new budget year"
said Mayor Rick Murphrey
who presented a PowerPoint
presentation detailing how
departments stayed within
their budgets last year and the
projected budget for 2014-
15.
One of the biggest proj-
ects ever is the $33M water
and sewer expansion project
for which the city borrowed
the money for a 20- year, no
interest state revolving fund
(SRF) for these projects
which include a new 36- inch
water line from Moss Lake to
the city limits.
This year NTE Energy an-
nounced plans to construct,
own and operate the Kings
Mountain Energy Center, a
480MW natural gas electric
generation facility off Dixon
School Road at I-85. When
completed, the plant will sup-
ply electricity to power ap-
proximately 300,000 homes
and represent an investment
of $450M, providing numer-
ous benefits to Kings Moun-
tain.
The mayor also men-
tioned that the city has in-
stalled fiber optics to
municipal buildings and vital
infrastructure and a
$2,000/month in savings. The
city will soon be offering
rack space for local business
to store their information in
an affordable yet secure envi-
ronment. Kings Mountain is
the only city in the south to
fully implement “Smart
Meter” in electric, gas and
water and a Smart Meter Fair
will be held June 11.
Jason Falls, chairman of
the county board of commis-
sioners, presented a Power-
Point presentation which
detailed a county proposed
county budget that has no tax
increase.
He said the county is see-
ing increased health care
costs and is partnering with
Cleveland Community col-
lege in workforce develop-
ment.
The county has completed
phase I of the county/state
Wildlife Commission public
shooting range and will soon
integrate a Human Services
campus which will join DSS
and the Health Department.
This will be a one stop shop
for Cleveland County resi-
dents, he said, adding that the
new county health depart-
ment could be open by the
end of 2014,
The site for the new com-
bined facilities is behind the
* current DSS on South Post
Road in Shelby.
Falls said upgrades to the
animal control program will
be a model for our communi-
ties and the gas chamber will
be eliminated’ at this site,
Property tax revaluation” is.
slated for 2016, he said.
A task force to encourage
more retail business in the
county is hard at work and he
announced plans for remod-
eling Cleveland Mall and to
welcome a new business,
Dunham's Sports. He said the
county expects to end the fis-
cal year with an over 16%
fund balance.
Like Kings Mountain city,
employees of the county will
receive a 2% cost of living
raise in the new year budget
and the tax rates will remain
the same for both Kings
Mountain and Cleveland
County.
Jack Hamrick, chairman
of the county board of educa-
tion, took the occasion to rec-
ognize the retiring Supt. Dr.
Facility inspections
Cleveland County Health Department facility inspections
for the period May 19-23 included: My Grandpa's Country
Store, Bethlehem Rd., 95 and Kings Mountain Care Center,
York Road, 90.
Bruce Boyles and he was
given a round of applause.
Hamrick presented Kings
Mountain native Dr. Stephen
Fisher who will become the
new superintendent July 1.
Hamrick presented a
PowerPoint that featured per-
formance records of Kings
Mountain students. He said
this is the second year that
Cleveland County Schools
has seen an increase in the
graduation rate and there is a
66% decrease in drop outs.
Eighteen percent of teachers
are nationally certified and
35% of the faculty holds ad-
vanced degrees.
He congratulated Kings
Mountain High School Sym-
phonic chorale for 39 years
of top. awards and KMHS
Band for 34 years of superior
ratings in grade IV music. He
congratulated KMHS for
successful implementation of
a Smart Lunch program and
said West Elementary School
is one of only seven schools
in the state recognized as
Blue Ribbon Schools.
“The new field house at
‘KMH is the way of the fu-
ture," he said, heaping con-
gratulations on the
“Touchdown Club sponsor-
ship and the entire commu-
nity that raised funds to build
it.
Improvements have in-
‘cluded a new soccer field, a
new greenhouse, a new soft-
ball field house for high
school and middle school
girls, new stage curtains at
Barnes Auditorium, repaint-
ing at the high school and
more security doors. He also
recognized Shearra Miller,
vice chairman of the school
board who is state president
of the NC School Boards As-
sociation.
. Breakfast sponsors were
Kings Mountain Hospital of
which Alex Bell is Adminis-
trator and vice-president of
Cleveland County Healthcare
System, and Southeastern
Container of which Charles
Roach is General Manager.
Micki Padgett, chairman
of the board of Cleveland
County Chamber, gave the
welcome and invocation.
Doug Sharp, interim Cham-
ber president, introduced of-
ficials and speakers.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Market Minutes
win MIQArgot
Saturday was an-
other gorgeous mar-
ket day at Foothills
Farmers’ Market
Kings Mountain! The
morning looked like
it might be a bit rainy
first thing, but the
clouds opened just Margot Plonk
enough for the sun to Foothills Farmers
Market
periodically peek
through. There was also a cool breeze,
which kept things very comfortable!
Rumor has it that Lineberger’s Maple
Springs Farms will be on hand Saturday
with blackberries. Blackberries just
make you think of summer, don't they?
Both strawberries and blackberries are
extremely high in Ellagic acid, an an-
tioxidant that acts like a scavenger. This
reportedly can make cancer- causing
chemicals inactive. It also helps to re-
duce the genetic damage that can be
caused by air pollution and tobacco
smoke. They also contain other antioxi-
dants that help lower blood pressure
— and are a deterrent to cardiovascular
disease. So, pie and cobbler bakers- get
ready to bake some “health food” for
your families!
Burton Farms had some absolutely
gorgeous produce once again. The pur-
ple and green broccoli made for gor-
geous photographs! | understand yellow
broccoli will be at the market this com-
ing Saturday as well. Although | havent
yet tried it, | understand the alternative
broccoli colors taste the same as the
green, it just add a splash color to your
dinner plate. They also had the first baby
crookneck and straight-neck squash |
have seen at market. Chef Marty from
Inn of the Patriots snapped some of
these up, along with beets and spring
farmers!
onions. The pictures he posted Sunday
on Facebook were frame-worthy.
Do you remember the small cedar
chests that a local furniture store used to
offer and market as “the perfect gradua-
tion gift?” BMC woodworking has mini
cedar chests as well as striking, full
sized ones. Each is well built, of cedar,
and is an absolute work of art! Cedar is
naturally resistant to rot, decay and is
insect resistant, besides being absolutely
beautiful! Among other things, Bennie
also has hand built birdhouses and feed-
ers and is very knowledgeable about
birds. Come meet this interesting gentle-
man- you'll be glad you did!
As more produce starts to come in,
additional vendors will be joining us
every week. You owe it to yourself to
come and check out the variety of goods
and services at Foothills Farmers Market
. Get to know your local artisans and
| promise it will make a positive dif-
ference in your life!
SMART METERS: public invited
to citizen Jar on new technology
7
From page 1A
meters, according to city of-
ficials.
Customers will be able
to access up-to-date infor-
mation about their usage
through the www.city-
‘ofkm.com web site. Infor-
mation about individual
accounts will also be avail-
able on cell phones that are
capable of connecting with
the internet, city officials
said.
“They’re designed to
save the city money and to
help customers to manage
their money,” said Mayor
Rick Murphrey. “A lot of
towns are using smart me-
ters for one utility, maybe
two. We’re the only munic-
ipality to have all three.”
The mayor will join city
council members and staff
members of the city’s En-
ergy Services at a citizen
fair next Wednesday from 3
p.m. to 7 p.m. at Patrick
Senior Center to demon-
strate the new technology
and to answer questions
from customers. Visitors to
the fair will be able to sign
Your Hometown Pharmacies. ,.
THE PRESCRIPTION
For What Ails You
Griffin Drug Center
129 Mountain St. * 704-739-4721
KM Pharmacy
1106 Shelby Rd. * 704-739-1698
Prescriptions Plus Pharmacy
703- 1 E. King St. * 704-739-4519
.., Don't wait 1-2 hours in long lines...
Your hometown
pharmacies can
take care of you now!
To better serve our community
Chestnut Ridge Church
will be offering 2 new worship times!
Beginning June 8 join us each Sunday
for an inspirational service
in a casual environment at
9 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.
Chestnut
Ridge
Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church
618 Chestnut Ridge Church Rd.
Kings Mountain
704.739.4015
up for a raffle at a chance to
win iPads and a flat-screen
television. Officials will
help those interested sign
up for access to the infor-
mation portal at the fair,
which will also offer pop-
corn and cotton candy.
“It’s for people to come
by and ask questions,” Mur-
phrey said. “We’ll have the
energy services staff there
to answer questions.”
The idea behind smart
meters is to give customers
as much current informa-
tion about their usage as
possible. Homeowners and
business owners will be
able to access daily and
even hourly information on
their electrical use. For
water and gas consumption,
they will be able to get in-
formation on a per-day
basis. For electric cus-
tomers, smart meters will
generate a bill projection
based on current usage and
usage patterns.
Smart meters eliminate
the need for monthly visits
from door-to-door meter
readers, city officials said.
They’re also intended to
provide accurate informa-
tion about outages and
restoration times and to in-
crease efficiency — letting
its workers spend less time
on the road reading meters
and hunting down prob-
lems. The city is providing
information about the smart
meters to its customers
through billing inserts. City
leaders say they are proud
of the program and the fact
that they are leading the
country in their implemen-
tation. They're already
fielding interest from other
towns who are considering
adopting smart meters of
their own. Last week, the
mayor, city manager and
other officials of Red
Springs, a small town in
Robeson County, visited to
check out the project and
meet with staff members
from the Energy Services:
Department. Red Springs
provides water and electric-
ity services to its residents
and is considering adopting
smart meters.
The city has hired a third
party -- Utility Partners of
America, of Greenville,
S.C. -- to handle the large
retrofitting and equipment
upgrade job over the sum-
mer.
Workers from that com-
pany will come to every
customer's house, knock on
the door to make sure it’s a
good time to cut the main
power for a few minutes
and get to work. If they can-
not reach anyone but have
no trouble accessing the
equipment, they will carry
out the upgrades at that
time. If there is an impedi-
ment, such as a locked gate
or shrubbery, workers will
leave a door hanger to no-
tify customers that an ap-
pointment can be
scheduled.
To learn more about
smart meters, visit
www.cityofkm.com/por-
tal.asp.
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