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KIMfl&JtAOUMTAItl
MIRROR'HEBMJ)
15
86 NO. 15
Cleveland County's Mttdern yiewsweekly "
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY, APRIL 17,1975
Board Tables Decision
Water Rate Stays Same,
At Least Til New Budget
ByTOMMcINTYRE
Sditor, Mirror-Herald
Xhi chairman of the
lyor's utility rate study
wmittee, isn’t happy over
le city commissioner deci-
lion to delay action on adcpt-
a jiew rate and surcharge
■iio July 1.
[Dr.l’rankSincox, who guid-
td the committee through
jumerous fact-finding meet-
^sirilate 1974 and early 1975,
iaid|londay night he had
lieenpromisedafirm decision
jn the matter.
Ata'meeting in March com-
r ssiohers asked for the delay
order to further study the
lommittee’s report. The
)ard (members indicated in
i^Prch meeting that a firm
jisA one way or the other
[ouldie reached by the Apr.
[The (study and committee
iionpcuitions includes
^IgestiSn the board 'risrt-
ute the changes recommend-
id w|hout further delay to
[ive tje outside heavy water
Bersfome reliei.
Thel discussion which
[needed the action was a
Mntihuation of the one begun
itth^ard’s Mar. 25 meeting
ffhenDr. Sincox presented the
Snal^port.
The) report’s recom-
Pndations included rebates
to industrial water users
(ardest hit by increased rates,
altering of the city’s water
(atefchedule and reducing
Ihe^charge to large water
(Bere ;(from 50 per cent to 20
tier cent surcharge for users of
bver 40,000 gallons of water
ir month) and creating a
iwrate for water users in ex-
isofone million gallons per
lonth. The lowest rate in the
report’s recommendations
»'ould be32 cents for over one
nilliongallons per month. The
iresent rate for 500,000 to one
nillion gallons is .5225 cents.
At jttie request of Com-
lissioner Jim Amos, city con
sulting engineer Dennis Fox,
who also served on the study
committee, reviewed the find-
u>8s of a preliminary engi
neering report completed
^ior ito the committee’s
ttliberations and read an item
TO (the Federal Register
®tedFeb. ll, 1974 relating to
usertoarges and industrial
wstlecovery which stated
^entity discounts to indus-
™i Users wasn’t acceptable.
Asked by Commissioner
Murray C. Pruette how Kings
Mountain’s water prices
stack up” with surrounding
QhesjiFox replied “with re-
Wto water and sewer rates
pnbined, ! would think Kings
pimtain is very competitive,
“P^ally with its inside the
oty rates,”
'incox said the present
Pico' “^bove everybody
Jesjbut Shelby’s” and that
"^proposed 32 cent rate (for
over one million
is “competitive.”
commodity” - was something
the city had an “available”
quantity of and that “the more
we can sell, the better off we
can be.”
Commissioner Lloyd Davis
commented, “We’ve only got
a four million gallon plant
(treatment plant) and we’ve
got to enlarge” it; “that’s
going to cost some money.
We’ve got plenty of water but
we’ve got to get it ready for
the people before we can start
pumping it.”
Amos said he opposed cut
ting the .5225 rate “for anyone
for any purpose; I feel if this
rate of .5225 is acceptable to
other outside users I feel this
board should not cut the basic
rate.” The matter of whether
or not to reduce the surcharge
should be the one for the
board’s “comment” and
“conjecture,” he said.
of the first 40,000 gallons to 85
cents (presently 95 cents).
and sewer.”
Dr. Sincox stated the “sur
charge should not be a me
chanism to gain or lose more
money” - that it was not a
“punitive” measure for those
living outside the city limits.
Pruette said he would be in
favor of altering the sur
charge, reduction of the cost
“The outside surcharge is a
question in everyone’s mind,”
Amos stated. “In my opinion,
the city should recover its
total cost and no less from in
side and outside users of water
Discussion then shifted to
definitions of costs - a matter
which occupied much of the
water rate study committee’s
discussions. Buford Defore,
representing Spectrum Tex
tured Fibers, firm hardest hit
by last May’s water rate in
creases, elaborated on fixed
and variable costs and pointed
out that the .5225 price was not
substantiated by the study
committee.
At KM Country Club
Chamber’Merchants Banquet Is Monday
Photos by Tom McIntyre
NEW HONOR STUDENTS - Last Thursday morning 12
The annual Chamber of Commerce-Merchants Association
meeting will be held at 7:30 p. m. Mon., Apr. 21 at the Kings
Mountain Country Club.
Presiding will be William (Corky) Fulton 111, who was elect
ed president of the merged organizations at a directors ipeet-
ing last wedi.
Under the bylaws draw n to cover the new group, the general
membership is no longer required to approve new directors
and officers at the annual meeting. They did this when re
turning mail ballots recently approving the bylaw changes and
suggested directors.
Fulton was elected president by the directors on Apr. 8. Also
elected were Lyn Cheshire, president-elect (same as first vice
president); James Dickey, second vice president; and Bill
Grissom, secretary-treasurer.
At the dinner meeting Monday the Rev. Russell Fitts, pastor
of Bethlehem Baptist Church, will be guest speaker. Rev. Fitts
is a noted humorous after dinner speaker. He recently record
ed a comedy LP with many of his favorite stories. The LP is
entitled “Fitts of Laughter.”
Tickets for the dinner mc' are$5 per person.
^Carou-Sale’ Set
Kings Mountain Senior High students were inducted into the
National Honor Society by scholastically averaging a 3.4 grade
level and for being outstanding in character, leadership and
service. Above, seated 1. to r.; Cindy Swofford, Perry Ham-
bright and Ann Rowell. Standing, 1. to r.; Karen Hambright,
Greg Dixon and Penny Greene.-Below, seated; Kaki Mauney,
Tommy Bridges and Donna Smith. Standing; Jane Campbell,
Barry Poston and Elizabeth Eaker. Induction in the NHS is the
highest honiM' local schools offer any student.
By KM Merchants
Lake Opening
For May 3-4
By TOM McINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
present
Shelby’s and that the
In its first meeting in sev
eral months the Kings Moun
tain Lake Authority officially
set the seasonal opening of the
John Moss Lake and heard
reports fishing and possible
funding for recreational de
velopment.
Boating, swimming and ski
ing will officially begin at
Moss Lake on Saturday and
Sunday, May 3-4. Mayor John
H. Moss, chairman of the
authority, said notices are al
ready being sent out to license
holders of last summer about
renewals. To date 15 boating,
three fishing and four family
plan licenses have been re
newed.
“Because of the economic
downturn since last year,”
Moss said, “we haven’t been
able to go as far as we had
hoped in our lake use plan
ning. However, we have had a
lot of encouragement, such as
the promise of additional
buoys to mark the lake chan
nels for safety, preparatims
to pave the new lake access
area and continued support in
policing the lake by the State
Wildlife Resources Commis
sion in addition to our own city
police.”
Moss said there is a plan to
publish brochures and maps of
the lake and the facilities as a
guide to users. Another pro
posal is to use one of the public
service jobs to put a fulltime
supervisor at the lake.
Moss also asked for another
meeting with the authority
prior to the official opening in
May to have Gardner Gidley
of Winston-Salem, an outdoor
recreation planner, come and
explain the wa-k he has daie
for theMossLake and what he
can do in the future.
The mayor told the authori
ty that a large power company
(TurnToPageGA)
Kings Mountians will see the
beginning of what is planned
as a continuing arts p'ogram
for this area-when the musical
play “Carousel” plays here
Apr. 26-27 at BameS Audi
torium.
Produced by the Per
forming Arts Guild (PAG),
“Carousel” numbers in its
cast six Kings Mountians.
To promote the show and to
show support for the proposed
Kings Mountain Arts Council,
local merchants are planning
a big sale next Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday.
“This ‘Carou-Sale’ will
employ some of the same
techniques merchants used
and found successful during
the Centennial celebration last
year,” said Corky Fulton,
KMUF
Nears
Finish
president of the Chamber of
Commerce-Merchants As
sociation. “Such things as
sales personnel working out on
the street with tables and
racks of merchandise. Too, we
hope to have strolling musi
cians and a large carousel ride
to be set up beside Neisler
Brothers on Battleground
Ave.”
In next week’s Mirror-
Herald shoppers can readily
identify the participating
merchants by the “Carou-Sale
Specials” clearly specified in
their advertisements.
“Numerous Kings Moun
tians have often remarked
about the good feeling and
good time they had here
during Centennial week last
year,” Fulton said. “Andhave
asked when somrthing with all
that excitement was going to
happen again. Well, next
week’s activities on the
streets, the bargains in the
shops and the musical ‘Carou
sel’ at Barnes Auditorium will
come as close as any.”
Bloodmobile Lisit
Set For Monday
million
Wons) IS “competitive.”
Shelby’s price
fede customers was 60
100 J?!'' gallons plus a
the out “Shelby is
Gorily cty in North CaroLa
® not decrease its
nymore than they do.”
'ncox also pointed out
a “very saleable
-^mco
“'at Water
The Red Cross Bloodmobile
will visit Kings Mountain
Mon., Apr. 21 at the Com
munity Center from 11 a. m.
until 4:30 p. m.
The goal this trip is 190
pints, the amount donated last
month at the high school.
Co-chairmen Bill Grissom
and Lyn Cheshire said, ‘"The
students put us over our goal
for the first time in several
years. Now it’s up to the citi
zens at large to follow the
standard set by their kids and
make this visit a success.”
RANGE HENDERSON
ON PANEL - Ranee Hen
derson, former Kings Moun-
tian, was in Washington, D. C.
Apr. 9-11 serving on the review
panel for the Model Secondary
School For The Deaf. The son
of Mrs. Ray Henderson of KM,
director of the N. C.
he is
Schools For The Deaf.
Kings Mountain’s United
Fund Campaign is heading up
to the finish line.
Cash-in-hand and pledges
neared the $16,000 mark this
week, with some gifts yet to be
reported by campaign solici
tors.
“We want to wrap up the
campaign Apr. 28th”, said
Chairman 'Bill Bates, and
anticipate we will top our
$20,000 goal.
“It looks real good”, said
Bates, who was elated that the
lagging campaign had picked
up steam.
Directors of the KMUF sev
eral weeks ago volunteered to
do the solicitation work for the
campaign, badly hit by pinch
of the economy when several
mills curtailed and workers
found themselves in unem
ployment lines over town.
Mr, Bates encouraged
volunteers who had not turned
in their final reports to do so
as soon as possible.
Directors will meet on Apr.
28 to make final reports of the
drive which supports 10
causes.
Condemnation Suggested
Rights Of Way Purchases
Stalled By Two Owners
A notice of condemnation
proceedings is being sent to
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Hamrick
following right-of-way pur
chase negotiations failure.
City Attorney Jack White
told the city commissioners
Monday night that rights-of-
way negotiations are about
two-thirds completed from the
city limits to the Eaton Cor
poration site for installation of
sewer lines. But, he said the
offer along the Hamrick’s
2,000 feet of property has been
refused.
Under new laws. White said,
the city could take possession
of condemned property
“much faster than under the
old laws.”
White said a second smaller
property owner, George Peel
er, “won’t talk to us under any
conditions about a right of
way.” The board approved
sending Peeler a written offer
with a certain number of days
to reply. Then, White, sug
gested condemnation pro
ceedings begin if no satis
factory results have been
made.
In other action, com
missioners :
- approved an amendment
to the engineering contract on
the 201 sewer facilities plan
giving federal agencies access
to records and reports on the
project plans.
- approved a request from
George T. Ruf^e for a change
from R-20 to R-10 on 6-plus
acres on Phifer Rd. adjoining
the junior high property.
Board sent the request on the
zoning board for a recom
mendation.
- heard and denied a motion
from Commissioner M. C.
Pruette to pay the chairman of
the elections board $75 month
ly and the board secretary $50
monthly. Commissioner Ray
Cline objected to a motion on
the grounds a special commit
tee (himself, Jim Amos and
Luther Bennett) was going to
meet to discuss salary for
elections personnel.
- heard a request from Rev.
Ansel Center, representing the
Kings Mountain Ministerial
Association, that the oommis-
sioners see to it laws against
illegal drug and alcohol sales
in Kings Mountain be en
forced.
KMRC
On The
Move
With 30 more buildings to
come down, parking lots to
build and land to landscape,
the Kings Mountain Re
development Commission
staff says that downtown re
development is “really
moving now.”
Dean McGinnis, assistant
director of the staff, said that
he is negotiating a demolition
contract to tear down the 30
remaining buildings in the re
development plan.
“We should have the old
Bonnie Mill on Gold Street
down by the end of the sum
mer,” McGinnis said. “I guess
we have 10 or 11 businesses
still escated in those 30 build
ings that have to be relocated
within the next 900 days or so,
(the limit on the demolition
contract). I know where half
to three-fourths of those busi
nesses will be relocated.’!
McGinnis conceded that the
downtown project is now
about three years behind
schedule, but said things will
start moving as soon as the
contract for demolition is let.
“We’ve started our renova
tion of downtown by getting
store owners to place more
emphasis on the back down
entrances to their businesses
— where we are going to have
shopping center-like park
ing,” McGinnis said.
“Also, we now have a sign
code for the downtown busi
nesses. There can’t be any
signs painted on walls. Signs
over the door can’t flash or ro
tate or be oversized, and they
can’t hang out over the side
walk.”
The budget for the down
town project is $1.7 million
with the City of Kings Moun
tain funding one-fourth of it.
The big grant comes from fed
eral tax money.
McGinnis said that the sec
ond part of the redevelopment
plan - the Camsler Street
residential project just north
west of the downtown area - is
on schedule.
“There were 245 families in
this area and 169 of them had
to be relocated. The rest could
stay where they are,” McGin
nis said. “We’ve relocated
about one-half of those who
need to be, I guess. And we’ve
had no trouble, problems or
complaints from the people
living there.”
McGinnis said the plan for
this area has just recently
been drastically changed and
must be approved by the Com
mission board and through
public hearing. After the plan
is approved, then the streets,
water and sewer system have
to be redone, houses ton
down, others renovated and a
park built.
The project is scheduled for
completion in December 1976.
Included are four public
housing projects with 90 units.
About 30 of those will be speci
fically for elderly people. We
have put them ri^t next to
downtown in our plan so that
they can do their shopping
easily,” McGinnis said.
McClinnis said that the Re
development Commission is
tapping Farmers Home Ad
ministration money, both to fi
nance new homes for dis
placed homeowners in the
project area and help pay for
remodeling of homes left
there.
McGinnis said that federal
capital grant for the Cansler
Street project is $2.7 million,
with the City of Kings Moun
tain paying a one-fourth
matching share.
“The public housing units
will be fact within a year,”
McGinnis said. “We’re at the
point now that we can really
get these plans underway.”