Tillis (left) and Brawley (David Boraks photos)

State Rep. Robert Brawley (R-Mooresville) resigned as chair of the House Finance Committee Wednesday saying he disagrees with decisions of the Republican-led legislature and accusing House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Cornelius) of mistreating him. The dispute with Tillis stems in part from disagreement over Brawley’s bill to ease restrictions on the locally-owned MI-Connection cable system.

Brawley and Tillis also have bumped heads over the issue of highway tolls. On May 5, he came out publicly against the N.C. DOT’s plan to widen I-77 north of Charlotte using high occupancy toll lanes, or HOT lanes. Tillis supports the idea. Read the full story

Click to download the full 2013-14 proposed budget. (PDF)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

There was little discussion on Tuesday night when Davidson commissioners held a public hearing on the $9.1 million 2013-14 budget. When Mayor John Woods called for comments from the audience, only one of the 15 or so residents spoke.

The plan will guide town spending in the fiscal year that begins July 1. It leaves property taxes unchanged, at 35 cents per $100 of assessed value, prepares for possible tax refunds as the county revises assessments from the 2011 property revaluation, and leaves some money for capital improvements, new equipment and maintenance of existing equipment, which has been a board priority. Read the full story

Proposed retirement residence on Peninsula Drive.

Davidson commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday night to waive town parking requirements and allow construction of a $12 million, four-story senior housing complex on Peninsula Drive in the Exit 30 area. The board also voted 5-0 to designate a Modernist home on Hillside Drive as a historic landmark.

Tuesday’s meeting included a public hearing on the $9.1 million 2013-14 budget, where no citizens spoke. And commissioners approved a revised meeting schedule that includes a board retreat all day this Friday, May 17, at the Foundation for the Carolinas in Charlotte. Read the full story

Civics 101 graduates were recognized at the April 8 commissioners’ meeting, where they received town lapel pins. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Davidson’s Town Board has added a new date to its schedule, an afternoon meeting with town staff on the first Tuesday of every month, beginning this week. Meanwhile, a group of residents recently became the latest class to graduate from the town’s Civics 101 citizens academy. Also, the town will start a series of joint meetings next week with merchants, nonprofits and home-based businesspeople, which it’s calling “Davidson Connections.” Read the full story

MI-Connection’s contribution to debt payments is on the rise, while town contributions are falling. (SOURCE: MI-Connection)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MI-Connection Communications System’s board of directors on Thursday approved a 2013-14 budget that foresees a smaller loss, and higher revenues. More important for system owners Davidson and Mooresville, the Lake Norman-area cable network is asking the towns for less money next year, and contributing more toward the system’s debt payments. Read the full story

Click for a PDF of the budget summary

MI-Connection Communications System, the local cable and high-speed network owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville, will hold a public hearing on its 2013-14 budget Thursday night in Davidson. The proposed budget projects  8.7 percent growth in revenues and expense growth of less than half that.

The system will continue to  lose money, according to a budget summary provided by the company. But the subsidy needed  from Davidson and Cornelius is expected to be 10 percent less than this year’s.

The meeting of the system’s board of directors begins at 6:30pm at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Read the full story

Cable TV subscribers of MI-Connection Communications System will be able to watch all 67 games of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament over the next four weeks – either on TV or on an app for smart phones or tablets. See the details in SPORTS»

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a screen to watch Davidson’s second-round game against Marquette on Thursday afternoon, Our Town Cinemas is offering the game. Doors will open at noon for lunch. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:10pm.

Laurie and John Venzon

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

John and Laurie Venzon, two Davidson residents who traded corporate jobs for early retirement and community service in the Lake Norman area, will move to Kansas City this summer, leaving vacancies on the boards they serve. She’s in her third term as a Davidson town commissioner. He’s board chairman of MI-Connection, the local communications network owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville. Read the full story