GRANITE QUARRY — A graduate student team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will present its assessment next week of how a non-taxed municipal service district might work in Granite Quarry.
The students will report their findings on “Granite Quarry Opportunities for Downtown Revitalization” when the Planning Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Town Hall.
In other news related to the central business district, Garry Mattingly, chairman of the Revitalization Team, said Paul Fisher of F&M Bank is sponsoring a group of businessmen and team members who will take a June 16 day trip to Traveler’s Rest, S.C.
The group will tour the S.C. town and see what it has done with revitalization and beautification efforts.
At Monday’s town board meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Jim LaFevers said his committee is looking into separate mayoral elections in Granite Quarry and may need an additional month or two to make its final recommendation.
“We’ve made a lot of progress,” he said.
Alderwoman Mary S. Ponds said she hoped the committee wouldn’t take much longer.
“I hate to see us continue to draw this out,” she said.
In other Granite Quarry news:
• July 18, a Friday, has been set for the town’s first “Movie in the Park.” Town employee Sara Cross said what the free movie will be hasn’t been decided yet, but it will be shown at Civic Park starting at dark that night. Refreshments will be available.
• Cross said the Covenant Community Connection’s dedication of a Peace Pole May 17 at Granite Lake Park was “an awesome event.” A solar panel fixed to the bottom of the pole lights it up at night. The town’s maintenance department arranged landscaping and pavers in a way to provide a platform for praying around the pole.
• The Board of Aldermen has approved an audit contract with Eddie Carrick CPA of Lexington for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which ends June 30.
The town will pay $7,500 for the audit and $1,500 for annual financial statements.
• Aldermen approved a budget amendment transferring $6,050 from administrative contingency funds to add $550 to board expense and $5,500 to recycling, which reflects stronger citizen participation in recycling. The extra board expense mostly went toward Institute of Government training for new board members.
• A Red Cross Blood Drive is planned from 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Town Hall.
• Town Manager Dan Peters said the latest issue in planned improvements for the Bank Street railroad crossing is the relocating of a power pole at the driveway to the Price pharmacy. Otherwise, Peters continues to work with a N.C. Department of Transportation rail engineer on plans for the crossing changes.
• Maintenance Supervisor Kim Cress reported that town dumpsters made available to residents May 8-10 collected 190 cubic yards of materials.
• The Granite Quarry/Faith Joint Police Authority had 521 calls for service in May. The department issued 24 traffic citations and wrote up 12 crash, 10 incident and 11 arrest reports.
Officers made 69 traffic stops, responded to 17 domestic or other disturbances and did 21 follow-up investigations.
• On May 12, the Planning Board approved the site plan for a new Family Dollar at 240 N. Salisbury Ave.
• Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Closner reported the issuance of nine permits. They include parking lot changes for Gildan at 2121 Heilig Road; reconstruction of a fire-damaged structure at 110 Martin St.; home occupation businesses at 3232 Faith Road and 415 E. Lyerly St.; an in-ground pool at 1002 Loganberry Lane; a demolition permit for a burned-out structure at 237 Railroad St.; and new homes on Dusty Lane and at 1214 and 1251 Stonewyck Drive.