A summary of decisions made by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners met in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Wednesday, January 19, 2005. The meeting was televised live on The Government Channel, cable 16 and rebroadcast on WTVI at Midnight. The meeting was scheduled for re-telecast on channel 16 January 21 at 9 a.m., January 22 at 8 p.m. and January 23 at 8 a.m. It also airs at various times on GOV-TV, Time-Warner Digital Cable Channel 232.

AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS. 

The Board recognized Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Eddie Stroup for his many years of service and contributions to Mecklenburg County.

PUBLIC APPEARANCE.

Rusty Loudermilk addressed the Board on building inspections and public access, praising County staff for their assistance; Dr. Gyasi Foluke spoke on a proposed reparation conference.

APPOINTMENTS.

The Board made the following appointments: Barbara Price to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission; Chris Hardin, Dan Ranson and C. Harley Cook to the Fire Commission; John Greenwood to the Information Services & Technology Committee; John Adams to the Personnel Commission; Brian Sigmon to the Building Development Commission; and Cheryl Pugh to the Women's Commission.

OZONE CONTROL PLAN.

The Board received information on a region-wide Transportation Demand Management Program proposal, a partnership among Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce to achieve voluntary air pollution reductions. The Board also adopted a resolution supporting the pursuit of federal dollars to finance the proposal. The program will focus on Chamber members with 100 employees or more. Emissions reductions would be obtained through promotion of alternate modes of transportation (carpooling, telecommuting, riding transit, walking and biking). This program will be managed and actively promoted by the business/government partnership and administered through Advantage Carolina. The partners are applying for $2 * 3 million in federal funds annually for a three-year period to finance the program.

County staff had recommended an ordinance that would require certain actions by businesses during the summer months. The Charlotte Chamber offered the Board an alternative proposal that would establish a voluntary effort among businesses.

CORE VALUES AND STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN.

The Board re-adopted a set of values and standards for children in Mecklenburg County. The previous Board adopted these values and standards and members of this new Board requested that this Board to re-adopt them, just as the Board has endorsed standards for air and water quality. The values and standards include but go beyond the health and safety of children to also include having opportunities for free and appropriate education, having sufficient food, shelter and clothing, and having places to go and do that involve children in the community.

BOARD COMMITTEES.

The Board announced its committee assignments that include four standing Board committees tied to the Board's four focus areas, as well as four ad hoc committees.  These committees allow subcommittees of the Board to take time to research, analyze and discuss issues and recommendations that are ultimately provided to the full Board for a vote.

Standing Committees are:

• Youth & Families - tied to Social, Education & Economic Opportunity Focus Area
• Effective & Efficient Government
• Community Health and Safety
• Natural Resources Committee - tied to Growth Management and Environment Focus Area

Ad hoc Committees are:

• Economic Development  - To increase business and job development
• Education Liaison  - To foster positive communication and working relationships between the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Education and CPCC
• Community Building - To help build the community's capacity to meet the needs of a diverse population and increase appreciation of different ethnicities and cultures within the community
• Compensation - To review and recommend the compensation of the County Manager

ENDERLY RECREATION CENTER.

The Board approved the renaming of the Enderly Recreation Center to the Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center in honor of Bette Rae Thomas for her devotion and hard work in the Enderly Park community. The Board also approved naming a room within the recreation center after community resident Herb Weathers in honor of his dedication and hard work in the community.