Established July 1998

The Internet Publication

For and about the people of

Locust, North Carolina

A Tree Top Publication
C. Wrenn, Editor
2008

Mission and Purpose

Local News

July 19, 2008

The Locust City Council held their July meeting this past Thursday night. Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Hinson opened the meeting with the Presentation of the Colors and Prayer. Mayor Greene was attending an RPO meeting representing Locust. Mr. Harry Fletcher addressed the Council with concerns about the Council lack of passing the "Sun Set Ordinance" on sewer capacity and increasing the city's sewer rate.

Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Hinson presented Locust Police Captain Charles Connell with the "Mayors Award" for his outstanding service to the City of Locust.

City Administrator James Inman introduced the new "Director of Parks and Recreation" Mr. Dan Sullivan and welcomed him to Locust. Mr. Sullivan's office will be located in the park. Mr. Sullivan said the city was forming an adult softball league and forms were available in city hall.

Mr. Inman reported that the NC Department of Transportation had given the city the property on West Main St. between South Central Ave. and Locust Ave. for a Pocket Park. He also reported that the city's computer system had crashed, but with the help of Assistant Police Chief Frank Hartsell the system was up and running. He said that the police department's record server broke and had to be replaced. He also reported that the city's decorative street lights would be installed in August.

Parks Commissioner J. C. Burris said that he had been contacted about the placement for Horse Shoe Pits in the Park. Mr. Inman said that the Parks and Utility Departments were aware of this and it was on their list of items to be completed.

Public Works Commissioner Larry Baucom reported that the new Locust Public Works Facility had been completed in the Meadow Creek Industrial Park. He also addressed Mr. Fletcher's concerns about the Sun Set Ordinance for sewer capacity and increased sewer rates. He said they had met with Oakboro officials about the cost Oakboro was charging Locust for treating the city's waste water and would meet again in several weeks. They will also bring up the Sun Set Ordinance in the August meeting.

Commissioner David Walker asked Baucom why the matter of the Sun Set Ordinance had not been resolved. We have been aware of this issue since January. He asked if there was a Mediator during the meetings with Oakboro. (Last year the city paid to have a study done on the sewer rates that Locust pays Oakboro. The results have been in the city's hands for months with no action taken.") (Another thing the Locust Taxpayers should be aware of is the city installed flow meters on the waste water being sent to Oakboro at Oakboro's request and Locust cost. Because our flow meters showed our flow rate to be less than Oakboro's expectations to bring in enough revenue to satisfy Oakboro they are charging us by the amount of water being used by Locust from the Stanly County water system. No matter if we wash our cars or water our garden, our pets, our yards, our plants and trees. We are being charged as if it is waste water.)

Baucom said they didn't feel the need for a Mediator at this time. He told Walker that hopefully they would work out an agreement with Oakboro shortly.

City Administrator James Inman said the LGC advised Locust that this matter needs be resolved. He recommended increasing our sewer rates to be in compliance with the LGC. A motion was made to increase the sewer rates and passed. Walker asked if the city would get its money back if it's found that the rates are too high. (My question to the Council is why we paid to have a study done on our sewer rates if we had no intention of acting on the findings or at least dragging them out for months and having to increase our sewer rates at the 11th hour to keep Oakboro happy?) Or as some one looking over my shoulder just said, a stall tactic!

Commissioner Charlie Hinson said in defense of Oakboro he was told that their sewer plant could handle 900 thousand gallons of waste a day but they were only handling a small percentage and they need around 800 thousand gallons a day for the plant to be efficient. (The same old song as I heard a decade ago.)

Commissioner Hinson who is and does a good job with Planning and Zoning brought two issues to the Council for their approval. He asked for a Public Hearing for rezoning the property at 523 North Central Ave. from GR to HC and a Flood Plain Ordinance for the City of Locust. Council approved both issues.

Public Safety Commissioner David Walker asked for a Public Hearing for a Golf Cart Ordinance for the City of Locust. Council approved. He also thanked Capt. Charles Connell for his outstanding service to the city.

Planning/ Finance/ and Economic Development Commissioner Joel Huneycutt reported that the city had received two grants one for bike paths and sidewalks and the other for infrastructure for Chicago Tube and Iron.

The Council recognized Mr. Stan Priest. Mr. Priest presented Mrs. Pat Long with a 1967 Locust Phone Book for the Locust Historical Society.

Council Adjourned until their August meeting.

Road widening has started on Brown Hill Rd. between West Main St. and Nance Rd. The road is being widened from 18 feet to 24 feet.

The New Locust Public Works Facility

The New Locust Public Works building is located in the Meadow Creek Industrial Park. This facility will house the city's park and road equipment and the offices for the Utility Department.

Mrs. Pat Long with Locust Historical Society

Mrs. Pat Long displays a 1967 Locust phone book given to her by Mr. Stan Priest at the Locust City Council meeting. The phone book will be displayed in the Locust Historical Museum.

Chicago Tube and Iron

Work continues on the new Chicago Tube and Iron plant on Brown Hill Rd. in Locust, NC. For more photo's click on above photo.

Redbridge Golf Course

Grass is going down on the new golf course which is set to open in October.

Click on photo for more information

Mayor report 7-19-08

As some of you now know, I missed the Council meeting last evening in order to attend the RPO meeting in Marshville. The choice was tough because I had not missed a meeting ever as Mayor but this transportation board directly affects issues that we have as we are in a very fast growing time in the life of Locust.

You know that I am working on a transportation plan to try getting is place ideas for long-term growth in Locust. Some very helpful information was gleaned from this meeting.

Safety is the most important consideration that I see when looking at any means of travel followed by the details of moving people, goods and services to the proper destination.

With safety in mind, " Safe Routes To School" is a term you will be hearing more about in the near future as we continue to look into how this program can perhaps benefit us here in Locust.

Other things for Stanly Co. coming soon include the following: completion of Brown Hill Rd. widening and repaving, bridge replacement on 73 West at City Lake, 52 South beginning at 24/27 and repaving Air Port Rd.

Congratulations to Captain Charles Connell on receiving the Mayor's employee award and my thanks to him for his years of distinguished service to the citizens of Locust.

I was interviewed on Stanly County Educational TV this past week. I have posted the Schedule below.

SCC-TV Prime Time Schedule
Time Warner Cable Channel 21

Monday, July 21st
7:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - HealthBeat with Ben Jolly:
Stanly Regional Medical Center CEO Al Taylor
7:30pm - SCC: The College & The Community - COC Stanly Business Review:
City of Locust Mayor Harold Greene

Tuesday, July 22nd
6:00pm - Carolinas Historic Aviation Commission Show
6:30pm - Education Showcase
7:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - Stanly County Senior Services
Birthday Party: Celebrate 90+ Seniors

Wednesday, July 23rd
7:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - SCC Campus Connections:
Stanly Online with Dennis Souther
7:30pm - SCC: The College & The Community - Life Matters at Monarch:
Tonight's Topic - Mental Illness
8:30pm - Sharing Miracles: Olympic Diving Gold Medalist Greg Louganis

Thursday, July 24th
6:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - Stanly County Senior Services
Birthday Party: Celebrate 90+ Seniors
7:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - HealthBeat with Ben Jolly:
Stanly Regional Medical Center CEO Al Taylor
7:30pm - SCC: The College & The Community - COC Stanly Business Review:
City of Locust Mayor Harold Greene

Friday, July 25th
7:00pm - SCC: The College & The Community - SCC Campus Connections:
Stanly Online with Dennis Souther
7:30pm - Sharing Miracles: Olympic Diving Gold Medalist Greg Louganis


The SCC-TV prime-time schedule may be subject to change. Tune in to the SCC-TV Bulletin Board on Channel 21 for the latest information.

The SCC-TV full weekly schedule can be accessed on the Stanly Community College website - www.stanly.edu.

I have a friend who always ends her correspondence with the phrase "be the change you want to see".
Who is she?
Who is the author of this phrase?
How would applying this phrase benefit you and me?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Harold E. Greene
Mayor
Locust, NC

Again as I said last week Keep your eyes open and hang on as Locust Zooms into the future.

Please feel free to contact me via e-mail or through city hall if I can be of service to you.

The West Stanly Business Association is a group of local business owners who meet on the first and third Wednesday, of every month at 12 noon until 1:00 pm at Stanly Community College in the Honeycutt Room. Lunch is $5.00 per person, annual dues are $35.00 per company. Our main focus is to discuss the issues in the community related to local business: marketing ideas and strategies, small business issues, community development issues and the like. Most meetings involve a guest speaker to discuss pertinent issues. We welcome all business owners in and around Locust, Oakboro, Red Cross and Stanfield. Business owners in Midland are also welcome to join us as we share services even though we are in different counties. This is an open forum for the exchange of ideas related to local business. So come on down and join in. We just might be what you have been waiting for!
For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Friedman 704-888-6700

July 19, 2008

Gas prices and energy – specifically the lack of action here in Congress on this issue have become a major issue. Folks at home want us to do something, and the reality is that we have the ability to do something. But we are not.

According to media reports, the House leadership is doing everything possible to stop a vote on opening more of the oil and gas reserves available in this nation. And it sounds like the entire federal funding process might be stopped rather than have a vote on using our resources so we aren’t so dependent on OPEC.

I really don’t understand why – maybe it’s being captive to the extreme environmental lobby or maybe it’s a completely different philosophy that says we should NOT do everything possible to bring gas prices down.

What I do know is that we are not going above and beyond to fix this problem – the House is going above and beyond to stop consideration of a viable solution. That’s wrong, and we need to let this come up for a vote.

Even if you don’t agree with the policy of using more of the oil and natural gas available here in this nation, I think we can all agree that House of Representatives should not be prohibited from voting on such an important issue.

Excerpts from an article in The Hill, a Washington-based newspaper, detail how the House leadership has worked to stop any vote on using more of our resources here at home – frustrating lawmakers on both sides of the isle:

“Worried that a floor vote on any energy-related measure would trigger a Republican-forced vote on domestic drilling, House leadership has scrubbed the floor schedule of the energy legislation that it vowed to tackle after the Fourth of July recess…”

“Exactly when the Majority will change their present course and bring an energy bill to the floor remains uncertain.”

“Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind,’ said a Democratic aide.”

“One pro-drilling Democrat predicted that the backlash against Congress for gas prices could rival the outrage constitients felt about the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.”

“Another, Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-3), is frustrated at not being listened to.”

“‘My concern with my leadership is that they’re not letting all the people in the room to present the facts,’ said Melancon, a proponent of more offshore drilling. ‘Where are all the pro-oil legislators? I’m not in the room. I don’t know who is. My feeling is we are not being all-inclusive to pass legislation that can get through the Senate and avoid a veto.’”

Recently, I introduced The Alternative Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 6383), which increases the development of new alternative energy technologies by diverting all federal proceeds from future oil and gas leases, on and off shore, into a newly created Alternative Energy Trust Fund. I hope this new energy legislation will bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats on the energy issue.

In the short run, I believe we need to use more of the oil and gas that is available here in our country. Over the long run, I believe we need to develop and implement new alternative energy sources. This legislation seeks to accomplish both of these goals by using the proceeds from oil and gas leases to fund alternative energy research and development for the future.

As always, please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.hayes.house.gov.

North Carolina State Senator William Purcell

Greetings from Raleigh!



This week, the Senate and House come to a resolution on the state budget. The budget passed through both chambers on Tuesday and was then sent to the Governor for his signature. This budget was a culmination of hard work and compromise, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished.



There are many provisions of this budget that will greatly benefit our district in particular. Some of these initiatives include $50 million for water, sewer, and natural gas projects, with an additional $4 million for economic development grants, all exclusively for rural areas. It also provides $10 million in gang prevention grants to help put an end to gang violence in our district, and $20 million for statewide programs that work to bring more jobs to North Carolina.



In addition to the budget, other bills passed this week that will be beneficial to our local communities. House Bill 2162, Richmond Community College Capital Project, passed both chambers and has been sent to the governor. This bill allows RCC to collaborate with the City of Laurinburg to build a satellite campus in Laurinburg. The City of Laurinburg will then turn the campus over to RCC once the project is completed. Our community college system is an important player in educating our workforce, and I commend both RCC and the City for supporting this project.



We also passed several bills that will help further protect our children. One bill, Local Parks and Recreation Participant Records, limits the access of identifying information of minors participating in these local programs. I also sponsored a bill that requires convicted sex offenders to register all email addresses and online profiles on the sex offender registry so that parents and police officers have the necessary information to protect innocent children from these predators. I also worked on a bill that passed this week that requires local hospitals and physicians to report serious, non-accidental trauma injuries in children to law enforcement officials. I am proud of the progress we made in this short session on behalf of our children, and look forward to continuing this work in the future.



Lastly, I have an important and exciting announcement. Our district is fortunate to have Naomi Daggs, a retired educator from Richmond Community College, nominated to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. The Board governs the entire North Carolina Community College System, which is the third largest in the nation. I know she will be an asset to this governing body, and I am proud that she will represent our area on this prestigious board. Congratulations to Ms. Daggs!



As always, feel free to contact my office about any issue that is important to you. I hope you all have a great weekend, and thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the Senate.


William R. Purcell, M.D.

Counter Stats

gold coast study Counter

David Almond

New York Life Insurance

Agent

Office 704-983-1611
Home 704-888-5212