At the regular monthly meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board on June 8th, the Planning and Zoning Board decided to hold another public meeting on the Proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to discuss the Planning and Zoning Board members collective thoughts and recommendations to send to City Council on the proposed ordinance and Chapter 160D compliance. The board intends to have a UDO discussion and Draft Zoning Map Review based upon the proposed UDO.
The special public meeting will be held on June 16 at 5:30 pm in City Council Chambers. Members of the Planning and Zoning Board include Chairman Doug Lawing, Ron Humphries, Renee Bost, Ronnie Franks, Maury Williams, Joseph Allen, Bobby Elliot, Donald Adkins, Todd Wilson, Chris Jolly, and Clint Bouldin.  The city’s staff include Community Planning and Economic Development Director  Stuart Gilbert, Kimberly Herndon, Brian Finnegan, and Tinelle Wallace.

By Loretta Cozart

In NC, there are 20,816 registered sex offenders. As of May 2021, it is estimated that approximately 780,000 offenders are registered nationwide. Offenders are required by law to register and are restricted as to certain areas in which they cannot live, like near schools, churches, or parks.
The North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry in January 1996. This law outlines registration requirements for persons living in North Carolina, non-resident students, and non-resident workers.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. At the site, the public may search the registry or get statistics on sex offenses in the state. The United States Department of Justice maintains a site as well, at www.nsopw.gov.
You can sign up to receive an email notification when a sex offender reports moving to a North Carolina address within 1, 3, or 5 miles of your home. In fact, you can register multiple North Carolina addresses which will enable you to be alerted when an offender reports moving to a North Carolina address within 1, 3, or 5 miles of any of the locations you register. This enables citizens to sign up to receive email notification if an offender moves near their homes, children’s daycare centers, grandparents homes, etc.
In addition, the public can sign-up for email alerts. When registered sex offenders move into or out of an area, those who have registered for alerts in that area are notified. Visit: https://signup.ncsbi.gov/ to register. Click “Register” on the main page, and then provide a username, first and last name, password, password confirmation, and email address. An email will be sent to you with a validation link. Once you click the validation link, your account will be enabled, and you can add subscriptions.
Victims may receive telephone notifications for any status change of a registered sex offender through the Notification program.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety website has information for parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement, including Internet safety tips, an Internet safety video and resource guide, how to schedule a child safety presentation, and information on school safety.
Visit the site to learn more about protecting our children. www.ncdps.gov When using the site, remember the following:
• Because of certain North Carolina General Statute provisions, juvenile offenders adjudicated delinquent of sexually violent offenses are not included in the public Sex Offender Registry.
• The Registry does not include information on those individuals whose sexually violent behavior has not come to the attention of authorities.
• Not every sex offender is required to register.
• Portions of the registry information, and therefore its reliability, are based on information provided by the offender. For example, the offender reports his address, whether they are a student, etc.
• The SBI and county sheriffs attempt to ensure that Registry information is accurate and current. Although the database is updated regularly, information can change quickly.
• Positive identification of a person you believe to be a sex offender can only be made by a fingerprint comparison between that person and the person in the state registry. Other information such as name, date of birth, and other information are not necessarily unique to one individual.
An offender can be found guilty of a Class F felony if they:
• Fail to register
• Fail to notify the last registering sheriff of a change of address
• Fail to return a verification notice
• Forge or submit under false pretenses the information or verification notices required
Any law enforcement officer who is aware of the violation shall immediately arrest the person or seek an order for the person's arrest.

Following a public hearing at its June 1 meeting, Cleveland County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the County’s budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The new budget decreases the property tax rate by 3.25 cents while maintaining, and in some cases enhancing, the services and programs available to Cleveland County’s citizens. The tax rate changes includes a 2.25 cent decrease in the County General Tax rate and a 1.00 cent decrease in the County School tax rate.
“Very few local governments are in a position to enact tax rate decreases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Chairman Doug Bridges said. “The fact that Cleveland County can do so, while continuing to provide a high level of service to our citizens, is a testament to our team’s fiscal prudence and careful planning.”
The budget process is carried out under the general direction of the Board of Commissioners. With the Board’s guidance, County staff plan for the financial management of over twenty-five County departments. This involves analyzing projected revenues from sources including property and sales taxes, state and federal funds, and grants from partner agencies. Staff then determine how the County can budget the available revenues to provide services and meet policy goals set by the Board of Commissioners.
“When the COVID-19 Pandemic first hit, our team immediately took a ‘ReAct/ReBuild/ReThink’ approach to crisis management,” County Manager Brian Epley said. “This involved a total budget reset in March of 2020. After reacting to the immediate crisis and rebuilding over the last year, the 2021-22 budget process has been an opportunity to rethink how our team can do more with less by incorporating the lessons learned during the pandemic to streamline our operations moving forward.”
One example of the County doing more with less has been its focus on lean operations. “We have been intentionally focused on right-sizing county government,” Commissioner Johnny Hutchins said. “This is evidenced by the budget having grown only a little over 6 percent since 2015.”
The 2021-22 budget also continues the trend of providing competitive wages for County employees. “As commissioners we continue to be committed to positioning Cleveland County Government as an employer of choice,” County Commissioner Deb Hardin said. “Competitive wages, minimal turnover, and an improved benefits package ensure the County can recruit and retain the talent necessary to Make Our Community Better.”
Despite a decrease in the County’s property tax rate, the 2021-22 budget includes significant investments in public safety, economic development, and capital planning. The Board of Commissioners’ commitment to public safety is most evident when analyzed over time. Since 2015, the cumulative investment in the Sheriff’s Department, Detention, EMS, Emergency Management, and E-911 Communications has increased by 39 percent to $19,608,050.
Examples of this investment at work in the new budget are the County’s first year of payment for a full fleet replacement of nine ambulances, a system-wide radio replacement for public safety employees, over $700,000 allocated to the replacement of Sheriff’s Department vehicles, and continued support for the County’s newest EMS base in Casar.
 “This Board has prioritized ensuring that our public safety professionals have the best available tools at their disposal to protect and serve our community,” Commissioner Kevin Gordon said. “Before Cleveland County can be somewhere that people can live, work, and play, it first must be a place where people feel safe. We will continue to find cost-effective ways to invest in and support the people who look out for us and our families twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.”
   The new budget also continues the County’s focus on economic development, as the County will again be appropriating funds to the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership. Working with the Partnership, the County has recently recruited employers including Greenheck Fan Corporation and Benestar Brands. The County, in cooperation with the City of Shelby, is also actively marketing its latest Shell Building Project, which provides an opportunity for yet another major manufacturing employer to set up shop in Cleveland County.
   “Economic development has been one of the Board of Commissioners’ highest priorities over the last ten to fifteen years, and we are now seeing the benefits of that,” Commissioner Johnny Hutchins said. “In addition to projects such as Clearwater and Greenheck, we are also excited at the continued development of the Catawba Indian Nation’s Two Kings Casino Resort. Cleveland County is positioned to be one of the leading counties in North Carolina for economic development in the Twenty-First Century. The benefits of our economic development success include job creation and increased tax revenue, which in turn lessens the tax burden on our county residents.”
   Cleveland County is also staying the course on its five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Using this plan, the County is preparing for future capital needs at the detention center, courthouse, board of elections, and 911 call center. Staff are further beginning the process of co-locating the Health Department and Social Services Department into one location, which will result in further savings for taxpayers.
   “Co-location is very different than operational consolidation,” Epley said. “This is a simple calculation that allows the County to avoid constructing a new building while moving DSS staff out of a facility that is nearing the end of its life. An added benefit to co-location is the ability to capitalize on shared operating costs.”
   The County’s overall financial health has been crucial in allowing the Board of Commissioners to continue to identify and pursue strategic priorities while not burdening taxpayers. As recently as 2017, Cleveland County received a bond rating upgrade from S&P/Moody’s and is now AA+ rated.
“This puts us in the top fifteen percent of counties in the State,” Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine said. “We are in a healthy financial position, with limited debt. As to the debt the County does have, we are positioned to liquidate more than ninety percent over the next ten years.”
The entire 2021-22 Cleveland County Budget, along with budgets for past years, can be viewed online at clevelandcounty.com. Click on County Departments, Finance/Purchasing, Annual Budget.

Several roads in the Downtown area to be impacted on June 5 due to Concert Series and Cruise-In

The City of Kings Mountain Special Events Department will host a Concert Series and Cruise-In, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Several roads in the Downtown area will be impacted during the events. Railroad Avenue, West Gold Street surrounding Patriots Park and a portion of West Mountain and South Cansler Streets will be closed beginning 2:00 pm, Saturday June 5th, 2021 and remain closed or barricaded until 11:00 pm. Further information regarding road closures is listed below.
• Partial barricade placement will begin at 8:00 am – some roads will still be accessible during this time but vehicles must be moved by 2:00 pm
• Additional barricade placement will begin at 2:00 pm
• Roads closed at 2:00 pm and remain closed until 11:00 pm (ALL unauthorized vehicles will be towed after 2:00 pm)
• Arrival time for Cruise-In participants will begin at 4:00 pm with the Cruise-In beginning at 5:00 pm-Concert will begin at 6:00 pm
• Participants in the Cruise-In and concert goers,  must use travel from King
Street to Cansler Street for access to Railroad Avenue, Mountain and Gold Streets
Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through Downtown Kings Mountain due to the increase in motor vehicles and pedestrians. Please plan to travel different roads if you are impacted by this change.
For more information on the Cruise-In or Concert Series, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com. You may also visit their Facebook page at @cityofkmspecialevents.

Big money in scholarships totaled $2,266,175.00 and earned by the 2021 graduating Class of 2021, according to Jill Cruise, National Board counselor.
Senior Olivia Green was a big winner of scholarship money. She received a total of $380,000 in scholarships, including $220,000 from Quest Bridge National College Match and Jack Kent Cook Foundation $160,000. Green will study at Duke University on a full scholarship.
Students will be using the money to attend college and universities to pursue careers in many areas of study beginning in Fall 2021.
Twenty-seven juniors nd seniors have earned extra credits at Cleveland Community College, including seven seniors graduating with Associate degrees and may help them to enter college as sophomores or juniors.
Seniors earning associate degrees from Cleveland Community College while attending KMHS were Breanna Davis, Katherine Martin, Savannah Poston, Sara Putnam, Allie Pyne, Donald Lee Page and Emma White.
The full list of recipients of awards and scholarships is in today’s Herald on page 10B.

(May 5, 2021 Issue)

The April 27 City Council meeting stretched on for four and a half hours Tuesday, as nine people who either own businesses, properties or represent them voiced their concerns regarding downtown development throughout the meeting.
   First to speak was Iris Hubbard, owner of 133 West in Kings Mountain. “I thank the city for their support. We opened on August 26, 2020. My business employs four full-time employees and 21 part-time employees. I currently serve on the Main Street Advisory Board and the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,” she said. “I request a meeting of building owners, business owners, city council, the city manager, and Director of Economic Development within the next 14 days to assure we can all achieve our goals for the better of our community.”
   Next, architect Ken Pflieger represented two clients and said he has also served on the Main Street Design Committee for 12 years. “Main Street’s Mission is to create a pivotal lifestyle center in our community that offers locally owned shopping, dining,
live entertainment venues, as well as multi-generational options,” he said. He is currently working on two projects downtown, Taylor Commercial Properties, the former First Citizens Bank Building, and David Stone’s property at 138 W. Mountain Street.
   “I have two concerns tonight. One is the formal complaint letter I sent this morning asking for a meeting. We are dealing with two issues. One is a pattern of obstruction on getting a flow of information regarding the streetscape into our hands. We’ve been asking for this since November 2020.” The city provided renderings of the streetscape last November, and they remain on display in the lobby of City Hall. “The specific area I’m working on is about the size of a matchstick, and there is very little detail about it,” he said.
   “Since I’ve been asking, there have been patterns of withholding information that is needed until just last Tuesday. We met with Mr. Flowe at the project site and were very surprised to learn that plans are 99% complete. I have been tasked with an alternate study that does work with grade and entry points on either side of the alley. There is a one-and-a-half-foot difference between the building and the plaza elevation. I don’t know how we are going to resolve that. We are asking for collaboration,” Pflieger requested.
   Jewel Reavis spoke on behalf of the Southern Arts Society. She shared, “In 2025, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Depot. We support the businesspeople in town asking for a meeting with the city council, the city manager, and staff in the next two weeks to hear from the main street community on revitalization of downtown.”
   Jimbo Thompson shared that his business, Gutter Guys, has 13 full-time positions and numerous subcontractors. “We would like to see more transparency and cooperation with the city to become partners in advancing downtown. We also fear retaliation for having a strong voice. I support having a meeting in 14 days,” Thompson said.
   Jackie Falls and her husband own the Edward Jones building downtown and rent apartments above. “We love the people here and want to give back. We want to work to collaborate with revitalization downtown,” she said.
   Stella Putnam shared, “I’ve seen a lot out of my window over the last 44 years. This city means a lot to me. I’ve watched public and private partnerships and am excited about what is happening. Look around. The business owners are putting blood, sweat, and tears (into their projects). These people live here! We are remodeling Neisler brothers after all these years! Everybody here wants the same thing.”
   Marlo Parker spoke, saying her husband is Michael Parker Construction, a general contractor who holds a realtor’s license and has a civil engineer background. “We have received violation notices. The Main Street Coordinator threatened to have my husband arrested for working on the building. The city also tried to enforce construction permits and liens when there is no construction time frame on this type of permit.”
   She went on to say, “The straw that broke the camel’s back was a voicemail we received from the NC General Contractors’ Board from the city trying to file a claim against Parker Construction. The board simply replied, ‘There is not a violation. There is no contract. I am not sure why the city is doing this.’ Why is the city being so malicious? Why aren’t they taking the time to promote growth instead of hindering the growth that is here?” She also asked for a meeting within 14 days.
   Russ Putnam was the last to speak to represent downtown business and building owners. He said, “In many ways, Kings Mountain looks like it did when I was a child. I can’t stress enough the importance of working with and listening to the building owners and businesses in finalization of the downtown streetscape to make it work better.”
   Later during a public hearing the city council discussed a proposed amendment to the City of Kings Mountain Zoning Ordinance for vacant properties located in the KMPPED overlay district. The amendment included language requiring upkeep maintenance to vacant buildings in the Main Street District and that would require owners of vacant buildings to register them and pay fees every six months that a building remains vacant. Fees would range from $250 to start and going up to $1,000 after 18 months.
   Under the proposed ordinance amendment, general maintenance of vacant properties would require that windows and doors remain intact and operable, storefronts and facades be maintained, all awnings and signs must not appear worn, tattered, or have missing parts, visible interiors be maintained, broken windows be replaced or re-glazed, and that properties vacant for more than 90 days have lighting at entrances and exits. Under the proposed ordinance, vacant buildings must be maintained in a way that does not provide evidence of vacancy. There were exceptions to the ordinance also noted.
   Economic Development and Planning Director Stuart Gilbert shared with the city council, “The Main Street Board recommended against the amendment the Planning and Zoning Board recommended for it. And as a Broker-in-Charge in the state of NC, I can attest to the fact it is important to maintain buildings.”
   Jimbo Thompson spoke against the proposed amendment saying, “I have a total of four buildings. To even be asking for ordinances on zoning for downtown business owners after what you heard tonight from multiple constituents, from people that live here. What are you doing to encourage building owners to get these building up? Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get one building off the ground? I was encouraged to get architectural drawings. NC statutes say I don’t even need them. Steel has stopped, and I can’t move forward,” he said.
   “Downtown, you want to find people to encourage them to upfit their buildings. Have you talked to any of the building owners? Have you ever spoken to me? I have made complaints, and only one person spoke to me, and that was Keith Miller. How can you make an ordinance part of zoning when you don’t have zoning? I think the zoning ordinance should be tabled or done away with,” said Thompson.
   David Stone spoke against the ordinance as well, saying, “Based on what you heard from main street businesses, will this ordinance bring us together or drive a wedge between us?” He encouraged a dynamic public / private partnership similar to those in Wilson and Belmont, NC.
   Mayor Neisler spoke, saying, “To say we are not transparent… We are virtual, sharing meetings online, and have held community meetings. To say we don’t want public input is false. We want a strong and vibrant downtown. We have building owners who don’t care about their buildings. But not all business owners are like that.” He went on to say, “We go to the nth degree. The character of our board is stellar. Zoning protects owners; it protects property. We have asked for public input. We even hired someone. We’ve invested in Patriots Park, where people want to go. We want downtown to be the same.”
   The city council unanimously decided to table a decision regarding the vacancy ordinance until May 25 and scheduled a meeting with the main street building and business owners for May 10.    
   Councilman Jimmy West said, “We need to go out and meet with property owners. I don’t want to make it punitive for those who are trying to fix their buildings. We have to meet them in the middle.” Councilman Keith Miller agreed to go with West to talk with all the business and property owners downtown before their May 10 meeting.

(April 21, 2021 Issue)

Several roads in the Downtown area to be impacted on May 1st due to Concert Series and Cruise-In

The City of Kings Mountain Special Events Department will launch a Concert Series and Cruise-In, Saturday, May 1st, 2021. Several roads in the Downtown area will be impacted during the events. Railroad Avenue, West Gold Street surrounding Patriots Park and a portion of West Mountain and South Cansler Streets will be closed beginning 2:00 pm, Saturday May 1st, 2021 and remain closed or barricaded until 11:00 pm. Further information regarding road closures is listed below.
• Partial Barricade placement will begin at 8:00 am – some roads will still be accessible during this time but vehicles must be moved by 2:00 pm
• Additional Barricade placement will begin at 2:00 pm
• Roads closed at 2:00 pm and remain closed until 11:00 pm (ALL unauthorized vehicles will be towed after 2:00 pm)
• Arrival time for Cruise-In participants will begin at 4:00 pm with the Cruise-In beginning at 5:00 pm-Concert will begin at 6:00 pm
• Participants in the Cruise-In and concert goers, must use thoroughfare King Street to Cansler Street for access to Railroad, Mountain and Gold Street
Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through Downtown Kings Mountain due to the increase in motor vehicles and pedestrians walking. Please plan to travel different roads if you are impacted by this change.
For more information on the Cruise-In or Concert Series, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com. You may also visit their Facebook page at @cityofkmspecialevents.

(April 14, 2021 Issue)

During the March 30 City Council meeting several items were approved under the consent agenda. Among those items are several budget amendments and public hearings were scheduled. All items noted were unanimously approved by city council. Absent from the meeting was Councilman Dave Allen. The budget amendments approved include:
▪ A budget amendment to transfer funds among departments to cover General Fund payroll and benefit costs at the departmental level for the remainder of the fiscal year. *Note: There is no increase to the overall budget, and it is projected that there will be more than enough payroll budgeted in total for the General Fund. This is necessary due to variances in projected OT, employees (Public Works) transferring between departments since adoption of the original budget, temporary labor requirements, etc. Council approval is required given that we are transferring monies between departments/functions.
▪ A budget amendment to transfer Streetscape Budget, which was approved last month, from the General Fund to a newly proposed Capital Project Fund. This prevents the necessity for reappropriating unspent funds at year end in next year’s General Fund Budget, as a project ordinance is valid until action is taken to formally close it. Council approval is required as we are transferring budget between funds.
   Adopt a Capital Project Ordinance for Streetscape to move previously approved budget to a project fund. This prevents the necessity of having to reappropriate the amounts in next year’s General Fund Budget.
▪ A budget amendment in the amount of $1.5M to the General Capital Reserve Fund Ordinance. This fund was established to accumulate resources for capital related activities, then transferred to other funds to finance the capital. In order to move monies into this fund, amounts must be budgeted as transfers in other existing funds. In order to spend these funds, capital must be approved/budgeted in other funds. There is currently no remaining budget in this fund - $500,000 is the amount to be transferred to fund Streetscape, which will exhaust the funds current budget, thus the need to amend the ordinance. Council approval is required to amend a project ordinance.
▪ A budget amendment in the amount of $250,000 to move resources from the Medical Self-Insurance Fund to the Worker’s Comp Self-Insurance Fund. The Medical Fund received transfers of excess resources from the Worker’s Comp Fund in past periods and is now in a position to “reimburse” the Worker’s Comp Fund. The City is partially self-insured for both functions, but they are accounted for in separate funds.
   Mayor Neisler was authorized to execute a Lake Use Agreement with the 2021 Thursday Night Bass Tournament, a non-profit organization to allow “Thursday Night Bass Tournaments” from 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Moss Lake beginning April 1, 2021, then every Thursday night until October 14, 2021. A final “Fish Off” will be scheduled for a later date on a Saturday in October 2021. This is a recommendation from the Moss Lake Commission.
Four Public Hearings were scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to:
• Consider a Resolution to delay the November 2021 City of Kings Mountain Municipal Election until March 2022.
• Consider a Zoning Text Amendment to add Section 6.16 (4) Kings Mountain Protection, Preservation and Enhancement District (KMPPED) beginning at Page 53-R.1, a vacant properties/building registration process.
• Consider an Ordinance to create the City of Kings Mountain’s Mural Ordinance.
• Consider amendments to the City of Kings Mountain Zoning Ordinance - Case No. Z-24-3-21 as follows:
Article VII – Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses. Section 7.4 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses (See Table) Add on Page 61 and change the table of permitted and conditional uses as follows:
• Change Automobile Parking (commercial) from a conditional use permit (C) to a Permitted by Right use (X*) in the G-B zoning district and add as a note on the bottom of Page 61 (X*) “when such facilities are physically connected to Catawba Indian Nation Trust Property.”
Add to the list of height limitations exceptions in the Zoning Ordinance – Section 4.8 Height Limitations Exceptions
• Add the following language after the word hospital, “Automobile Park (commercial) including elevator shafts when such facilities are physically connected to Catawba Indian Nation Trust Property.”
   Additionally, city council decided to:
▪ Award a bid in the amount of $889,432 to WESCO Distribution for the Delivery No. 5 MVA Substation Power Transformers. The Capital Project Ordinance for the Delivery 5 project was approved at the regular Council Meeting of January 26, 2021.
▪ Award a Contract for System Development Fee Study for Water Sewer Department to Willdan based on the rating evaluation. This is a recommendation from the Water Department and from Purchasing.
▪ Authorize a Capital Project Ordinance for the Beason Creek Lift Station. The developer agreement was previously approved by Council, and the developer fee in the amount of $1,200,000 was paid to the City in early March. This project is required to be completed within 14 months. Since the project will overlap into the next fiscal year and the fact that these are restricted funds, it is best practice to adopt a project ordinance.
▪ Adopt a Resolution directing the City Clerk to investigate a Voluntary Non-Contiguous Annexation Petition received under N.C.G.S. § 160A58.1 from R. Dean Harrell and Colton Harrell being located in Cleveland County containing 60.91 acres, for property that R. Dean Harrell owns located between Crocker Road and Kings Mountain Boulevard.
 

(April 14, 2021 Issue)

Please take
community
satisfaction survey 

The Cleveland County Health Department needs your help in assessing community satisfaction with our services and operation. If you have received any service from or participated in any events/programs sponsored by the Cleveland County Health Department in 2021, please answer a few questions in our Community Satisfaction Survey.
Services and events/programs may include, but are not limited to, our clinic services, dental services, eye exams, pharmacy, health education information and presentations, coalitions, and COVID-19 services such as testing, contact tracing, and vaccinations.
You have the opportunity to respond until May 3. All responses are anonymous. You may access the survey by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCPHSurvey2021
Your input is vital as we strive to meet the public health needs of the residents of Cleveland County. The Cleveland County Health Department thanks you in advance for your participation.