Here is a summary of local government meetings in the Lake Norman region for the beginning of August. We are supplying links so you may view the streaming video from these meetings at their actual times or after the meetings. Please note our reports do not include the full content of the meetings. —EH Stafford, Managing Editor
Cornelius
MONDAY, AUGUST 3rd — Concealed Carry Discussion Dominates Meeting
The Cornelius Town board was split on a decision of whether to allow individuals to carry firearms at town facilities. Instead of rushing to a rash decision they may regret later, they chose to conduct more research on the matter and hold a public hearing in September to take the temperature of residents on what is sure to be a hot button issue.
This was originally put on the radar of commissioners in June when they were looking to clarify existing codes and ordinances. Town Manager Andrew Grant conducted research on the matter and presented his findings to the board. His findings showed that most municipalities either prohibit concealed weapons in their facilities or are silent on the matter.
Ultimately, Grant put the decision in the hands of the board with some guidance. He suggested they could adopt an ordinance prohibiting firearms, except for a handgun carried by an individual who possesses a handgun permit. By law, police headquarters, the animal shelter, and public works do not have to abide by the ordinance. It would be up to commissioners whether the ordinance would include Town Hall, arts centers, and fire stations to achieve greater flexibility.
Cornelius Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 7pm in the Assembly Room at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC 28031. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. You can view current and past agendas as well as video streaming of the meetings on the Cornelius Town Hall website.
Davidson
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11th — Davidson College Plans for Fall 2020 Semester Reopening
Davidson College plans to welcome students back for the 2020 fall semester, but nothing will be normal. College administration has been working around the clock since the students left in the middle of March to ensure that safety is Davidson’s foundational priority. Design teams made up of students, faculty, and staff have modified the academic calendar, adjusted the experience of first year students, and put in protocols so that students can live on campus and stay well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes taking place
Whether you are eating a meal on campus, living in a dorm, or sitting in class, changes will be plentiful at Davidson. All these changes were put in place with the assistance of a dedicated medical staff as well as the guidance of trustees with relevant epidemiological and medical expertise. Protocols are being established to test frontline staff on a regular basis. Facilities have been made available on campus should any students need to be quarantined. Davidson is working with Charlotte’s largest hospital to provide a full-time public health nurse as well as examining the need for additional medical staff.
Davidson has an estimated 2000 students and all of them have individual educational needs. Some students will be learning remotely, some students will be commuting to and from campus, and some students will live on campus full time. Many faculty/staff members will continue to work remotely. A variety of spaces on campus will be temporarily converted to classrooms and will be arranged to comply with the current health guidelines.
Davidson College will follow new health and safety guidelines including wearing masks or face coverings indoors, and in some instances, outdoors. A symptom-checker application will be utilized to track symptoms with the goal to keep all students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible. Dorms, dining facilities, and other campus facilities will be cleaned on a more frequent basis.
Fall sports postponed
All fall sports have been postponed, but Davidson will work with the NCAA, the Atlantic Ten Conference, and the Pioneer Football League on testing and other accommodations necessary to return to competition as soon as possible. The Davidson College campus will remain open, but no one will be allowed into a college facility unless their ID card grants them access to that facility. The track will be closed to the public. If you wish to go to campus, you are required to wear a mask/face covering.
Davidson Town Board meetings occur on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. The agenda, meeting minutes, and links to audio and video recordings of the meetings can be viewed on the town’s website. See exact meeting dates and times on the calendar. Contact information for Davidson’s mayor and board of commissioners is available in the staff directory .
Huntersville
MONDAY, AUGUST 3rd — COVID-19 Pandemic Making Planning Difficult
COVID-19 has inconvenienced everyone in some way in 2020 and the Town of Huntersville is no different. This is especially true as commissioners and staff work together to put together a comprehensive plan for 2040. The inability to partake in social interaction have forced commissioners, town staff, and residents alike to modify how pertinent information is shared.
Investing additional resources
As a result of this, the town is investing additional resources to aid in the overall awareness and encourage additional public engagement as the 2040 plan continues to be developed. At the August 3rd meeting, commissioners approved up to $20,000 to assist in the promotion concerning the 2040 plan. The expenditure increases the 2040 plan budget to slightly more than $150,000.
A consulting firm is assisting the town with the month-long process that will prioritize goals, outline growth management expectations and aspirations, and create a reference guide concerning decisions about all aspects of the future of Huntersville. The additional approved finances will be utilized to conduct more virtual meetings, increase digital promotions, concerning the plan, and distribute copies of the proposed plan to every Huntersville household.
Huntersville Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6pm in the Huntersville Town Hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. You can view meetings on the Town of Huntersville’s Facebook page.
Mooresville
MONDAY, AUGUST 3rd — Silicon Shore East-West Connector Road Project Contract Awarded
At the Mooresville Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, August 3, a professional services contract in the amount of $1.7 million was awarded to Rummel, Klepper, and KahlLLP out of Charlotte for the design, utility relocation, right of away acquisition, and railroad coordination for phase one of the Silicon Shore East-West Connector Road project close to exit 31, off of Interstate 77.
The multi-lane road construction will connect Langtree Road to N.C. Highway 115 and includes additional road modifications at both the Langtree Road and East West Connector and the N.C. Highway 115 and East West Connector intersections. Construction of the RL Connector as well as the Transco Connector are also included within the scope of the contract. Finally, as part of the contract approval, commissioners also approved corresponding East West Connector project budget ordinance amendments.
Mooresville Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6pm in the Executive Board Room at Mooresville Town Hall, 413 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. View current/past agendas and video of the board meetings.
Photos courtesy Pixabay.com
Travis Sherrill
A lifelong Mooresville native, and a library associate at the Mooresville Public Library. I am in charge of marketing and promoting events taking place at the library. An avid sports fanatic. I especially love Davidson Wildcats basketball, Atlanta Braves baseball, and NASCAR.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our writers belong solely to them
and do not represent LKNConnect.com, its publisher or its staff.
