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 Tuesday, March 1, 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 March 2 at 9 p.m. and March 4 at 9 a.m. It also airs at various times on GOV-TV, Time-Warner Digital Cable Channel 232.
PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS.
The Board of County Commissioners proclaimed February 27 - March 4, 2005 as Invasive Weeds Awareness Week in Mecklenburg County. Through the Park and Recreation Department, the Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition asked for this proclamation to raise public awareness about the major environmental threat created by invasive exotic plants. Public awareness is considered an important step in preventing the introduction and spread of these species.
The Board also proclaimed March 2005 as Mental Retardation Awareness Month. The proclamation urges Mecklenburg County residents to support enabling people with mental retardation to live full and productive lives of inclusion in our communities.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE.
Jack Stratton addressed the Board on child protective services.
APPOINTMENTS.
The Board made the following appointments: Anita Zarey to the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee; Norma J. McCormick, Carl Murchland, Carolyn Patton, and Ronald Ritch to the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee; and Jean Neal to the Waste Management Advisory Board.
LAND ACQUISITIONS.
The Board accepted the donation of a 1.864-acre portion on Back Creek at W.T. Harris Boulevard and Rocky River Road from Avtex Partners. The property will become part of the Back Creek Greenway.
NEXTEL ALL-STAR CHALLENGE.
The Board approved contributing $62,500 to support the NASCAR Nextel All Star Race Challenge. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority requested the money as an economic development effort. It is estimated that this race has a $94 million economic impact on the Charlotte region through tourism.
BUSINESS INVESTMENT GRANT.
The Board approved a business investment grant for Framatome ANP, a company that designs and builds nuclear power plants, research reactors and supplies nuclear fuel. Framatone is relocating and expanding its regional headquarters for engineering from the Center City of Charlotte to the UNC-Charlotte area. The new investment will be approximately $4.1 million. This grant is intended to retain the company in Mecklenburg County, including 420 existing jobs and 100 new jobs paying an average of $75,000 a year. The expansion will generate additional property taxes of $224,000 per year for the County with the County providing a $24,000 a year grant for 8 years. The City of Charlotte also is participating in this grant.
THIRD WARD PARK.
The Board received a presentation on development alternatives for the West Park property in Third Ward. The Board's plans are to develop a park on this land, which is bounded by Mint, Graham, Second and Third Streets. The proposal takes into account growth forecasts, a nearby transportation center, Johnson & Wales University, redevelopment of the federal courthouse, and increased mixed-used development for residential, office and retail towers. To buffer the park from a nearby parking deck, the proposal allows the option of private development on the southern edge of the property. To allow the County to prescribe the type of development, the Board adopted a motion to authorize the County attorney to develop legislation that would allowing the County to sell a portion of land adjacent to the future park site for the best purpose rather than the highest sale price. The intent is to stimulate housing development adjacent to the park site.
FAMILIES OF ABRAHAM IN CHARLOTTE.
The Board approved appropriating $2,000 from unrestricted contingency to support a $26,000 photograph exhibit to increase respect and appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity. The project will document people of three faiths in Charlotte who look to Abraham as the father and spiritual ancestor of their faith.
