IS CPA Award
Winning Newspaper
KJ MGS^jy^QUIlTAIN
MinOB-HimD
15
l/OL.
86 NO. 9
"(leveland County's Modern ^lewsweekly"
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27,1975
iecond Public Hearing Tonight
Should The
By GARY STEWART
Staff Writer
’he second public hearing
ing citizens the chance to
ommend how the city will
ind $4,1600,000 in federal
iiiey will be held at 7:30 to-
ht in the city council rooni.
lixty citizens and city offi-
]s jammed the chambers
t Thursday and a number of
•sons submitted ideas.
enators
1^0 Vote No
The city, because of its suc
cess with past federal grants,
already has the money set
aside but one of the require
ments in receiving it is that
the citizens be a part in plan
ning how it wUl be spent.
Mike Gouge, planner for the
state Division of Community
Assistance, was on hand to
discuss the guidelines the city
must follow, and noted those
guidelines are:
C
n
ERA
1) The city must apply for
the funds;
2) Citizens must be in
formed of what the programs
are;
3) A community develop
ment summary must be
made, showing a three year
plan on how the community
will improve itself;
4) A housing assistance plan
must be provided;
5) A budget must be submit
ted.
Kings Mountain will receive
its funds over a five-year
period, receiving $1,040,000 for
each of the first three years,
$693,000 the fourth year and
$347,000 the fifth year.
Gouge said the city must
prepare summaries of its
plans showing how much the
programs will cost and where
they’ll be located.
“And each year,” he said,
“you will have to review your
application, make new pro
posals or amendments, if
necessary, and also justify
that fun^ for programs im
plemented the first year have
been implemented.”
Before citizens gave their
ideas. Mayor John Moss, Re
development Commission
director Gene White, Housing
Authority committee chair
man Tom Harper and recrea-
f ings Mountain’s two state
ators will vote against pas-
|e of the Equal Rights
nendment.
inators OUie Harris and
UyMauney have stated they
i against passage of ERA
fen the issue comes to a vote
lie General Assembly. Sen.
fchall Rauch of Gastonia
a he will not comment on
Island at this time. Rauch
S ported the amendment in
last session.
t’ve made up my mind,”
|ris said. “I’m going to vote
|inst it. I would be in favor
Istate-wide r^erendum bh
Jut my mail has been run-
against it.
think it would do more
ige than good,” Harris
;inued. “For example.
It would you do about
;r children?”
launey said, “I voted
ist it last session, so to be
hstent I guess I’ll vote
mst it again. I believe it
interfere with state laws
; protect women.
A man is required to sup-
this wife and children,” he
[inued. “If that law passes,
3 will just leave their fami-
. 1 believe in the obligation
i man to support his wife
[family. I don’t believe in
|ng him a license to walk
:Ahas been ratified by 34
es. Only four more are re
ed before the amendment
become law.
Schools
To Aid In
I
Recreation
heboardof education at its
Jithly meeting Thursday
pt agreed to lend use of
Sool recreation facilities for
Inty-wide recreation.
Mpt Don Jones, a member
(he Cleveland County As-
Sation of Government Offi-
[s (CAGO), said his group
jfently completed a survey
lossible available facilities
|d they need our coopera
te group’s goal is to obtain
^rnment money to fund a
pity-wide program concen-
on summer activities.
P s a waste to have facili-
^and not get full use out of
commented board
pman George Mauney.
h other action, the board:
^Approved a curriculum
pnsion program for Cental
so its students can see
pthwhile movies” at Jov
fatre.
[Set March 14 as the date
lae^cation ceremcmies at
(J- Barnes Auditorium.
I med down a request by
P-A Mauney estate to sell
p o sacross from Central
r‘to the school system.
I was informed that the
Fls will receive 22 percent
pc federal funds available
through Title 1.
fbywill receive 27 percent
[ ‘he county 51.
[Appointed James Scruggs
L "" Lee and Jim
E “ to a committee to
t Bill next
pman committee
FINALIZING REPIHIT- Dr. Frank Sincox,
chairman of the water rate utility committee,
and his group met for the last time Tuesday
Photo By Tom McIntyre
night to smooth out thdr recommendations on
water fee rates which will be submitted to the
commissioners Mar. 24.
Water Rate Studiers Ready
To Present Recommendations
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
The Mayor’s Water Rate
UtiUty Committee will present
its findings and recommenda
tions to city commissioners
Mon., Mar. 24.
Nine specific recommenda
tions for council consideration
include;
(1) That the special com
mittee approach be applied to
future idifferences of opinion
and that such committees
investigate in depth matters
for the city council.
(2) That the city continue to
realize that industrial growth
and good relations with indus
try are essential for dty
growth and welfare, and that
industry also be aware of this
concern, and of its responsi
bilities to the community in
which it is allowed to prosper.
(3) That budgets in sewage
treatment and water produc
tion-distribution departments
be separated. Recommenda
tion applies only to accounting
procedures and not to ad
ministration. This recom
mendation was previously
made Oct. 4, 1974 by Fox and
Ritter, Inc., city engineers. It
is recommended this
separation begin in fiscal 1975-
76.
(4) That the water rate
(which now also includes
sewer charges) be altered as
per a graduating table de
signed by the study commit
tee. These charges essentially
reduce the surcharge to large
Downtown Business
Making Comeback
Under the future
possibilities category;
- Two separate regional
food chain operations are in
vestigating the possibilities of
establishing business in the
former Winn-Dixie location
between Cherokee and Pied
mont Sts.
The building has approxi
mately 10,000 square feet of
floor space and the building
roof has beai renovated since
the W-D operation moved out
in January 1974. Since then the
building has been used as a
textile storage warehouse.
A group of downtown mer
chants made contact with the
food chain managements
about the location.
- Look for the downtown
business district to make a
strong comeback in retail
competition.
Parking appears to have
been a deterent to business,
but if the plans under con
sideration by downtown mer
chants are fruitful (and mer
chants are convinced they will
be) there will be ample free
paved parking throughout the
downtown business area.
In the coming weeks Kings
Mountians will see a concen
trated effort by the downtown
merchants, united under a
single theme (to be an
nounced), to woo customers
“back to theheartof the city,”
a spokesman said.
tion director Roy Pearson re
viewed their programs which
were originally developed
under such funds as this and
spoke of their needs for the
future.
All of their needs were
presented by other citizens
later, as wdl as new ideas.
In order of their presenta
tion, the citizens’ ideas includ
ed:
Local librarian, Mrs. Hazel
Fryar, requested funds to im
prove Mauney Memorial
Library, noting that the li
brary needs to be expanded,
needs film strips, records,
parking, carpeting and a room
for the highly successful stra-y
hour program.
“We cannot have a well-
rounded city unless we think
of the cultural side,” she
noted.
Tommy Bridges, local auto
parts dealer, requested a
share of the, pot for planning
and constructing an airport.
He noted that federal and
state governments would pay
all but 16 and two-thirds per
cent of the planning costs and
aU but 12 and one-half percent
of the construction costs.
Bridges said the city’s share
for the planning would be only
$6,000.
(Please Turn To Page'SA)
Council To Study
Massage Parlor Act
water users and create a new
rate for water users in excess
of one million gallons per
month without increasing
rates.
The recommended table
breaks from 50 percent to 20
percent surcharge at 40,000
gallons. The table includes a
new rate of .32 cents per
thousand gallons for all over
one million gallons used in a
single month.
It is pointed out that these
steps will reduce water in
come by approximately 18
percent and committee makes
no recommendations for
replacing such lost revenue. It
is possible this loss can be
partially recouped when wa
ter production increases as
the city sells water in quantity
to Cleveland County,
Bessemer City, or even to
other sources.
The report notes that even if
the 18 percent loss is not
recovered, water has still
been the highest percentage
return utility (considering
operating profit only). The
new rates would mean
reduced water profits, but
there is no reason that water
profit should be as high as it
has been in thepast, the report
states. It is also noted that
items, such as additional
employes in water and sewer
departments, have not been
affected and perhaps this
reduction will not actually
represent a loss in dollars to
the city.
(5) That the new rates be
kept stable, at least until the
new budget is adopted, and at
that time be re-evaluated. If
(Please Turn To Page 2A)
The city commission will
probably adopt an ordinance
dealing with masseurs, mas
sage parlors, health salcms
and clubs at its Mar. 10 meet
ing.
City Attorney Jack White
was instructed to proceed with
legal advertisement creating
such an ordinance at the spe
cial Monday night meeting.
Similar ordinances are be
ing considered by area cities,
said Mayor John Henry Moss.
It would be the board’s duty
to set the fees and to approve
and revoke a license and to
direct the Ch'*^'’ of Police to
inspect the premises of any
health spas, etc. and make
recommendation to the city
board. If the Chief recom
mends a license be denied,
within 10 days the applicant
would be allowed an open
hearing before the city com
mission.
“It’s a pretty tight ordi
nance”, explained Attorney
White who noted that among
the provisions are that an
applicant for a license not
have been convicted of any
crime, show proof of good,
moral character and furnish a
health certificate from a doc
tor for himself and all his em
ployees, all of whose names
and health certificates must
be approved by the Chief of
Police.
Hours of operation would be
restricted from 8 a. m. until 10
p. m. and treatment of persons
by members of the opposite
sex and use of the facilities by
persons under 18 years of age
would be restricted without a
written order and use of the
facilities by persons under 18
years of age would be restrict
ed without a written order
directing euch treatment by a
licensed physician.
The ordinance would also
govern operation of spas with
in the city.
“This ordinance would
throw the duty on the Chief of
Police to make strict inspec
tions before and after any li
censes would be granted”,
said White.
In other major business of
the board. City Clerk Joe
McDaniel was instructed to
forward check for $1,739.75 to
the N. C. Department of Na
tural and Economic Re
sources in payment of a fine
taxed the city in connection
with a fish kill on Buffalo
Creek last September.
“It hurts us all to pay fines”,
said the Mayor, “and we
r^ret this happened,” as he
reviewed for the board a letter
from Lewis R. Martin which
detailed the incident.
The Mayor said a city em
ployee working below the dam
of the John H. Moss Lake
dropped a ladder which per
mitted a flow of alum into Buf
falo Creek. The fine included
costs of the investigation and
replacing the fish.
“We all realize”, said the
Mayor, “that the Department
of Economic Resources is
charged with the responsibUi-
ty to protect our streams and
wildlife of our state I’m sure
we would want them to be as
diligent in protecting our Wa
ter supply also.”
Comm. Jim Amos requested
that the mayor aSk for a re
bate of the fine, if at all possi
ble, but later withdrew his
recommendation.
The vote to pay the fine was
unanimous.
The board also voted to let
bids on a total of 18,770.1 feet
City’s Tax
Use Share
$35,923.34
Based on per capita distri
bution, Kings Mountain will
receive $34,407.78 as its share
of Cleveland County sales and
use tax.
In addition, according to the
report for the quarter which
ended Dec. 31, 1974, the city
will receive an additional
$1,156.16 from Gaston County
for the 490 KM citizens resid
ing in the Gaston secticai of the
city.
Grover’s share totals
$2,181.58.
Cleveland County
$407,152.29 for distribution
county-wide.
of curb and gutter improve
ments for the following
streets: Mauney Ave. from
York Rd. to Oriental; Hillside
Dr. from SW End of Meadow-
brook Rd.; Katherine St. from
Fairview to Second; Scotland
Dr. from South wood to Lee;
Somerset Dr. from Phjfer Rd.
to Princeton; and Southwood
Dr. from Fulton to Pinehurst.
Executing agreement with
Southern Railway for
municipal use of the depot
building, the board voted to
pay a $100 annual fee for “a
broad latitude of uses'* oi the
building and one and one-half
acre of land on Piedmont
avenue. The Railway would
have the option to retain the
properties on 30 days notice.
City Attorney White said the
lease agreement is “very gen
eral”, also covering a fire pre
vention provision.
To question by Comm. Amos
on question of loss of tax base.
City Clerk McDaniel replied
that the property is not as
sessed on the Kings Mountain
tax levy but by the state.
The board received bids for
a new loader-backhoe from six
firms and voted to award ex
tract at the Mar. 10 meeting.
Bidders were Wooten Trac
tor Equipment Co. of Newton,
$26,314.23; Charlotte Ford
Tractor Sales, $20,592.35; E.
F. Oaven Co. of Greenslwro,
$22,940; Case Power Co. of
Charlotte, $24,422 ^ ; L.nfv, i.jtc
Tractor Co. of Charlotte,
$26,086.30; and Western
Carolina Tractor Co. of Char
lotte, $26,500.
The Mayor announced at the
close of file meeting that the
board would convene for a
personnel meeting in his office
immediately after adjourn
ment.
$154,100
KMRC Closes Purchase
Deal For Bonnie Mill
The Kings Mountain Re
development Commission
concluded the purchase
arrangements of the Bonnie
Mill property Wednesday for a
reported $154,100.
KMRC Executive Director
Gene White said the agency
will advertise for bids for
demolition of existing
buildings on the property in
the near future.
Included in the purdiase,
according to White, was raie
warehouse located at the junc
ture of Cherokee and W. Gold
Sts. ($10150); the mill and a
second warehouse ($113,650)
and compensation for im
movable fixtures, lights,
wiring, etc., ($26,500), and the
lot where Price Taxi is now
located ($3,800).
Redevelopment plans for
the property, from Piedmont
to Battleground on south side
of Gold St., are already under
way.
Charles Diuin Speaks
Sunday, March 9
Final Drys Meeting
Set Tuesday Night
Fourth meeting of Kings
Mountain “Drys” will be held
Tues., Mar. 4, at 7:30 p. m. at
Boyce Memorial ARP Church.
Dr. Charles Edwards,
chairman, said the meeting
date has been changed be
cause of a conflict and en
courages all interested citi
zens to attend.
Tuesday’s meeting will be
the final gathering of “Drys”
prior to the ABC referendum
Mar. 18, in which 4,128 citizens
are eligible to vote on the
question of whether a liquor
control store will be estab
lished here and whether df-
premises sale of malt bev
erages and unfortified wine
shall be allowed.
Kings Mountain citizens will
go to the polls for the third
time in the city’s history on
Mar. 18 to decide the questiai.
Two times the ABC proposal
was rejected at the polls.
Meantime, both proponents
and opponents were heading
up the home stretch in a final
push to get voters.
Faith Baptist Church bought
an advertisement in today’s
Mirror-Herald replying via an
“open letter” to an advertise
ment paid for by “Wets” in
last week’s Mirror-Herald.
The six ward polling places
are the same as in previous
city elections and all six pre
cincts will open at 6:30 a. m.
Mar. 18 and close at 7:30 p. m.
Charles Dunn, Director of
the State Bureau of Investiga
tion, will make the address
Sun., Mar. 9, at 7 ;30 p. m. in a
program o[)en to the public at
Central Ujnited Methodist
Church.
He has served as SBI Direc
tor on appx)intment by Attor
ney General Robert Morgan
since Jan. 3, 1969. Under his
direction the SBI has greatly
increased its size and effec
tiveness and is today recog
nized as one of the outstanding
organizations of its typ)e in the
nation.
A graduate of Ahoskie High
Schooland UNC at (3iapel Hill
Dunn is a former newspaper
reporter and served as an
assistant to former Congress
man Horace Kornegay and
former Governor Dan Moore.
He is a veteran, a Methodist,
and is married and father of
three children.
Dunn is coordinator of the
N. C. Law Enforcement As
sociations Council, Vice-
Chairman of the N. C. Or
ganized Crime Study Commis
sion; Vice-Chairman of theN.
C. Criminal Justice Training
and Standards CouncU, and a
member of the Governor’s
Committee on Law and Order.
CHARLESDUNN