By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – Directors of the MI-Connection communications system agreed unanimously Friday to ask Davidson and Mooresville for a cash infusion of up $6.4 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1 to cover a projected shortfall in revenues.

That figure was the more conservative of two budget scenarios the board agreed to send the towns at a meeting Friday in Mooresville. A second proposal – with more aggressive and optimistic customer growth targets – would reduce cash needed by more than a half-million dollars, but could be harder to reach. Read the full story

The MI-Connection communications system board of directors on Thursday confirmed John Kasberger of Mooresville as chair and voted Ken Essex of Davidson to another term as secretary. Meanwhile, in other news about the system, it turns out Mooresville’s payment to cover a shortfall at the system this fiscal year won’t be a loan, as previously described.
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Town board neighborhood chats continue Wednesday & Thursday.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson Town Board members have been holding neighborhood meetings with residents across town over the past two weeks, discussing everything from streets and sidewalks to trash and recycling to the tight town budget. They’ve also used these informal “Commissioner Chats” to make a pitch for the MI-Connection communications system, imploring residents to take a fresh look at the town-owned TV, telephone and internet service that was upgraded last year.

Growth at MI-Connection has been disappointing since Davidson and Mooresville bought it three years ago. But officials now have a clear goal: selling 4,500 new “triple plays” – a combination of TV, telephone and internet. They say that will help the system break even and keep it from being a drag on the towns’ budgets.

The neighborhood meetings continue this week in River Run and the St. Alban’s neighborhood. (See schedule at the end of this article.) Read the full story

Opal Dotson Wicker, 88 of Mooresville, died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center after a long period of declining health and a brief illness. Visitation is planned Monday, with services Tuesday. Details below.

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Iredell County Commissioners have given their endorsement to the N.C. Department of Transportation’s planned Lake Norman Regional Bicycle Plan. Commissioners voted 4-0 on Tuesday in favor of the plan, the Statesville Record & Landmark reported. 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

The long-vacant Burlington Industries mill on N.C. 115 in Mooresville has been sold to a New York company that plans to open a retail and wholesale furniture showroom in May. Read the full story

As our region plans for more growth, a conflict is emerging between the need for infrastructure to support development and growing desires to preserve open space and protect family farms.

Battles are underway in at least two locations this fall – Barbee Farms in Cabarrus County, where a road project could split the farm in two, and the Alexander farm, off Presbyterian Road in Mount Mourne, where a Mooresville sewer project is planned across the property. Read the full story