The Town Board this year wants to build Davidson as a “national model of a healthy community” with a series of goals that address town government, businesses and residents. Those goals, discussed at the board’s monthly work session Tuesday, include ensuring Town Hall’s financial stability and the community’s economic sustainability.

Also Tuesday, the board discussed 2010 lobbying priorities with its Washington lobbyist. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

When Davidson and Mooresville bought the local cable TV system in December 2007, officials envisioned it initially would pay for itself, spur economic development and, later, turn a profit. Instead, it is losing money and customers amid the economic downturn and intense competition.

Now, there are signs the system’s financial troubles might soon affect the towns’ budgets. In Davidson, that could mean layoffs at Town Hall. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday approved an agreement to participate in a public-private business incubator project that aims to foster the development of “green” businesses and jobs in town.

Also Tuesday, the board also approved a positive review of the 2008-2009 budget from its auditors, Tinsley & Terry, and voted to extend its lease with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for use of the Ada Jenkins Center, on Gamble Street. Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board begins the new year this week with a busy schedule: The regular meeting Tuesday night will include updates on the MI-Connection cable system, the town marketing study, and a new business incubator as well as a presentation and vote on the fiscal 2009 audit. Then, the board heads to Charlotte Wednesday through Friday for its annual planning retreat, to be held in the conference room of a Tryon Street office building. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – The MI-Connection communications system board Thursday heard a report from its outside auditor confirming that the system owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville lost $6.4 million in the 2009 fiscal year that ended June 30.

Meanwhile, Pete Teague of audit firm Dixon Hughes also raised a red flag, telling the board that as a government-owned entity, MI-Connection must acknowledge in its formal budget how it pays for ongoing losses – currently with borrowed money. Read the full story

The board of directors of the MI-Connection cable and internet system meets Thursday morning, with an agenda that includes a discussion of the audited financial results for 2009 and consideration of an amended budget for the 2010 fiscal year. The board also will discuss its financial reporting process and discuss nominations for chairman, treasurer and secretary. The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. at MI-Connection headquarters, 420 S. Academy St., Mooresville. Read the full story

Charlotte’s new mayor is a Davidson grad Foxx Cheers went up around Davidson Tuesday night when Democrat Anthony Foxx was declared the winner over Republican John Lassiter in the Charlotte mayoral election. Mr. Foxx is a 1993 Davidson College graduate. He told The Charlotte Observer, “We’re going to pull Charlotte together.”

For those who voted, cable deal was an issue; some wonder: What happens to regionalism?

In recent years, officials in north Mecklenburg and south Iredell have begun working more closely on issues of regional interest, from transportation to regional planning to the joint purchase by Davidson and Mooresville of the local cable TV system. Mayors have played a big role in promoting that sense of regionalism. But now some in the region are wondering if that process can stay on track following Tuesday’s surprise results in Mooresville, where two-term Mayor Bill Thunberg was ousted by just 16 votes by a political newcomer who ran against Town Hall. Read the full story

This fall’s Town Board election campaign has been noteworthy not for any stark differences between the candidates, but because all eight at least broadly share the same goals: preserving Davidson’s sense of community and small-town feel, improving performance at the town-owned cable TV system, preserving downtown, and managing growth, traffic and related issues.

So resident Rodney Graham’s question at the end of a public forum Thursday at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church gave the candidates a welcome chance to stake out a bit of their own turf: What issue or amenity do they believe is important enough to warrant raising taxes? Read the full story