Area mayors urge a yes vote on park & rec bonds
Posted By David Boraks On October 25, 2008 @ 9:05 am In charlotte,Election 2008,Planning & Development,Town Hall | Comments Disabled
LOCAL PROJECTS IN THE BONDS
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Joint press release by 7 Mecklenburg County mayors, dated Oct. 24
MATTHEWS – The Mayors of Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville are pledging their support for the proposed $250M Parks & Recreation Bond package which will be on the November ballot. They are asking the public to vote yes for the bonds.
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte, Davidson Mayor John Woods, Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain, Matthews Mayor Lee Myers, Mint Hill Mayor Ted Biggers and Pineville Mayor George Fowler have all signed a resolution recognizing the importance that open space, recreation centers and park development and the need for the bonds so that future needs for parks and recreation are met.
In the resolution the mayors comment that all of the proposed parks and recreation projects are important to the quality of life of citizens living in Mecklenburg County. The $250M bond package features an immense amount of park and recreation, open space, greenways, land acquisition and facilities that are located across Mecklenburg County. The bond package offers a variety of projects that will be centrally located facilities for all people.
“We are grateful to the Parks & Recreation staff, County Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners for recognizing the needs of our citizens. We need additional parks, greenways, nature areas and ball fields in our county,” Matthews Mayor Lee Myers commented. “Even in these economic times we must continue to plan for the future and the future needs of our children.”
“As everyone knows we have thousands of young people and adults who participate in both organized and unorganized sports. We need facilities so that they will continue to be physically active,” said Ted Biggers, Mayor of Mint Hill.
“We believe that the bond package offers a variety of projects that will benefit all residents of the county. These projects will provide additional opportunities for a healthy lifestyle for our residents. We encourage our citizens to vote for the bond package in November,” concluded Pineville Mayor George Fowler.
NEWS COVERAGE on DavidsonNews.net
Oct. 15, 2008, “Town board endorses county park bonds, urges yes vote.”
Sept. 3, 2008, “Bond package would help fund rec center, other projects”
RELATED LINKS
Oct. 26, 2008, Mint Hill Times, “Mint Hill commissioners support bond”
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Comments Disabled To "Area mayors urge a yes vote on park & rec bonds"
#1 Comment By David Boraks On October 31, 2008 @ 11:38 am
The Town of Davidson is circulating the following Q&A about the bonds via its email lists:
—— Forwarded Message
From: Town of Davidson
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:26:55 -0500
Subject: Bond Information
< The following is a brief overview for those who have requested information about the upcoming vote on Mecklenburg County, Park and Recreation Bonds
QUESTION: What is the amount of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Bonds on the ballot for the 2008 election?
ANSWER: $250 million dollars
QUESTION: If the bonds pass, will my property taxes increase?
ANSWER: No, the Mecklenburg County Finance Department will manage the sale of the bonds to ensure that they will not have an impact on the property tax rate, by planning bond sales with revenues available for debt service. Additionally they will watch the bond markets to determine when the most advantageous time is to sell bonds.
QUESTION: Will they sell all of the bonds at one time?
ANSWER: No, bonds will be sold as projects come forward and the conditions are favorable for the sale of bonds.
QUESTION: How long will this take?
ANSWER: Voting for the bonds gives the County permission to sell bonds for these purposes for up to seven years. It is possible depending on the length of the current financial situation all of the bonds would not be sold.
QUESTION: How do the bonds benefit the residents of Davidson?
ANSWER: If approved the Town of Davidson will receive the following direct benefits from this bond election;
§ $1.5 million dollars committed to the new Davidson Community Center located at Davidson IB Middle School;
§ $1.395 million dollars for construction of 1.1 miles of the West Branch Greenway from Fisher Farm Park to East Rocky River Road and the River Run neighborhood;
§ $1.035 million dollars for the South Prong Greenway extension from South St. in Davidson under the covered bridge following the stream to Highway 115 in Cornelius across from the Food Lion;
§ $2.95 million dollars at Bradford Regional Park on Hwy 73 for the addition of three new synthetic turf soccer fields, expanded parking and restrooms. Davidson and Huntersville will be jointly operating this facility.
§ A total of $6.88 million in Davidson.
QUESTION: How do the bonds benefit the North Mecklenburg area?
ANSWER:
§ The Davidson area receives a direct $6.88 million dollar investment.
§ Other projects in North Mecklenburg include $7.8 million for a new Nature Center at Latta Plantation Park;
§ $2.5 million for 1.2 miles of the McDowell Creek Greenway in Huntersville;
§ $3.6 million for planning and development of the Eastfield Regional Park in SE Huntersville;
§ $27 million for a Northern Towns Recreation Center at a central site TBD;
§ $1.5 million to the Town of Huntersville for expansion of the Family Fitness and Aquatic Center;
§ Funding for upgrading picnic sites and shelters at Jetton Park in Cornelius.
§ A total of $49.28 million for the North Mecklenburg
For more information please visit the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation website at http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Home.htm .