City Council

That’s It ? , that’s all the Observer could write?             

They are not “open”, they are contested.

Is this all that we are going to get from the City Council candidates this year?

You have to buy a copy of the Thursday (10/18)Observer to get more information. To be fair, there is a bit more information from the generic questionaire that was sent to all the candidates.

 Becky Burch: “…she would encourage the development of one shuttered textile mill to be converted into a nursing home…”  and this helps the tax rate how?

“Burch said council members have the authority to ask developers to leave room for these areas, she said. They haven’t made that request yet though, she said.”  WHY haven’t the council members made those requests – YET ?

We are not making this up – these are quotes from the Charlotte Observer.

  Irl Dixon: “While some candidates say they are concerned about high property taxes, Dixon said the tax rate dropped last year and he expects it to do the same in the future because of the development of high-end, waterfront homes”.

Does this give credence to the term “economic-genocide” that East-enders and South Point residents are concerned about? Push out the existing homes to build McMansions along the lake, reducing visibility and accessibility. This is a concern here in this community.

  Charlie Flowers:  “If re-elected, Flowers said he will push for businesses to fill the now empty textile mills”.

Too Late Charlie !  Most of the mills have been torn down or are in the planning stages to be torn down. We cite the examples of the Belmont Hosiery plant – now, called Belmont Reserve. We cite the Imperial Mill – now vacant, and its mill village called Hawthorne. We cite the Acme – now the space for development. This site even had a viable park area that the city acutally refused to use (Woodlawn) in the late 1990’s. How about what once was the Belmont Dyers, now torn down with development plans for high-end housing. Even the cotton warehouse that Stowe Mills used over on Eagle Road (a perfectly good pre-cast concrete structure) was torn down to make way for the clear-cutting that is now known as Eagle Village. Not even going to discuss in any detail the tearing down of the Eagle Mill for $500,000 unsold homes across from Belmont Central.

  Ron Foulk: “…61-year-old political newcomer said council members have budget responsibility…”.

He’s not a newcomer — he has run for City council in at least 2 other elections. He also opposed the Amity Acres annexation into the city in the 1990’s. How can you trust someone who will be opposed to future annexations.

  Curtis Gaston: “He would favor a building moratorium, especially on large subdivisions.”

Once again, the Pittenger/Duke(Crescent) property is already under design – that’s over 1,000 acres of voluntarily annexed land. The city has had jurisdictional control for over ten years on this property and until it was sold to State Senator Pittenger, nothing was done to guide its development direction.  Young Mr. Gaston needs to be more involved. He has promise but will he be committed in the long run?

 Martha Stowe: “…It [the land use plan] doesn’t prohibit developers, it just makes sure you’re working in tandem with developers,” she said. “As much development as we’re seeing in Belmont we’re going to have to do something other than what we have done…”

So, what are your plans and ideas?

Richard Turner:  “…The recent land-use plan lacks teeth, Turner said, and developers have been able to build as they wanted using conditional zoning. He said the city needs a public facilities ordinance that wouldn’t allow growth beyond the city’s ability to service it…”

Dennis Boyce: “Did not respond”

We hope the BannerNews and the Gazette will expand these questions.

We find it amazing that wherever you see a Burch sign in a yard, there is a Flowers sign right next to it. If it looks like a ticket (signs), sounds like a ticket (identical votes on all issues before council), it’s probably a ticket. Vote for one, get 2.  And we thought that the politics in Belmont was “non-partisan”.

Speaking before the North Carolina League of Municipalities today, Governor Mike Easley has called for tighter water restrictions.

(WCNC photo)

Ok, City of Belmont, why is it ok for this?:

And This? :

(BFP photos – Eagle Road and Assembly Street)

After much deliberation, the editorial board of the the Front Porch has decided to post photos of homes and businesses who feel the need to live above their neighbors, and the local regulations.

10/16 Update: “Official: No need for mandatory water restrictions” (Salisbury, NC)

And they want to tap the Catawba for their water source?

R U SERIOUS ?

 Belmont is tightening some of its mandatory water use restrictions that resulted from the recent Stage 2 declaration.

Effective immediately, the watering of lawns is prohibited at all times. This includes not only the continued prohibition against any type of irrigation or sprinkler system, as banned under Stage 2, but now includes lawn watering with the use of a hand-held hose.

The watering of plants, shrubs, or trees may continue using a hand-held hose with a spring-loaded nozzle on the schedule of days and times specified in the Stage 2 regulations. Also banned are ornamental fountains.

Civil penalties for violating any of the mandatory water use rules will remain as for Stage 2: up to $100 for residential customers and $500 for commercial or industrial customers, with possible disconnection for continued violations.

The actions are in anticipation of a Stage 3 water restriction, which is likely to occur within the next few weeks.

For more information, call the Belmont City Hall at 704-825-5586.

Source Article

Does this mean the fountain at Stowe Park too?

What about the football field and baseball field at South Point?

Does that mean the folks out at Belle Meade and Reflection Pointe have to stop watering?

What if we all just put out signs that say, “Well Water Used For Irrigation”, does that count?

How water restrictions are decided:

Wondering who and what decides local water restrictions?

At their heart is Duke Energy, which manages the Catawba River reservoirs under a federal hydroelectric license that expires in 2008. In negotiating terms of a new license, Duke created a drought-response plan that’s getting its first test.

How it works

The plan is designed to stretch water supplies during a dry spell.Twenty-four local governments, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, belong to an advisory group that puts the plan into action. Each enacts its own water restrictions based on shared conservation goals.

Duke monitors three conditions: lake levels, for how much water is in its reservoirs; stream flows that feed the lakes; and the U.S. Drought Monitor.

As the drought drags on

The plan sets trigger points to respond to conditions.

At Stage 1, declared July 30, Duke reduced the amount of water released from its dams and closed some boat ramps as lake levels fell. Local water agencies asked customers to reduce water demand 3 percent to 5 percent.

At Stage 2, in effect Aug. 27, Duke further cut water releases, shutting down most of its hydro plants. Local governments set mandatory restrictions with a conservation goal of 5 percent to 10 percent.

More cuts to come?

Stage 3 awaits, probably later in October if no rain falls.Duke would further lower lake levels, especially at Lakes James and Norman, which hold most of the system’s water. Lake James could fall to as much as 15 feet below full pond in October. The winter months could take it still lower.

Municipal water users could face more restrictions to meet a Stage 3 conservation goal of 10 percent to 20 percent. The watering ban last week by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities and several other cities is as harsh as it’s likely to get for homeowners. Charlotte-Mecklenburg says it would turn to cuts among large industrial and commercial customers.

Stage 4 would further clamp down, with a goal of cutting water use 20 percent to 30 percent.

If rain doesn’t come

The Catawba won’t run out of water. But lake levels could drop to the point that intakes for power plants, municipalities and industries can’t pump water.

The region’s conservation efforts are trying to prevent that.

At Lake Norman, for instance, the critical intake-covering level is 10 feet below full pond. The lake is now 6.5 feet below full. Since a lot of water depth is under the intake, the lake could be left with billions of gallons — all out of reach.