Morning Minute: Monday, May 13, 2019

News About Town: We’ve already mentioned the Budget Presentation and the Town’s motion to rezone several properties. The evening will be action-packed (read: long) at the Board of Commissioner’s meeting. There’s a public hearing for rezoning property adjacent to Butler High School, an update from the Planning Board followed by council members voting on (or deferring) a few rezonings, technology reimbursements, and discussion of a hairy issue about the Town taking over a private street at the residents’ request.

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News Around Town: Beach Fest was called off early this year due to rain. Matthews has received 1.72 inches of rain in the past week. The heaviest rainfall for the month fell on Saturday, when the rain gauge at Matthews Elementary calculated 1.17 inches. The rainfall for May thus far is nearly 3 inches.

One Fun Thing:  Save the date for the last Matthews Concert Band of the season: Around the World in 60 Minutes. (Taking wagers on whether it'll end in an Andy Rooney impersonation.) This free concert is this Thursday, May 16, 7:30 p.m., at the Matthews Community Center (100 McDowell Street) in the Fullwood Theater. The 60+ member band fills the stage with talent and fills the auditorium with incredible sounds. Don't miss out.

Morning Minute: Friday, May 10, 2019

News About Town: At 5:30 this Monday, prior to the regular town council meeting, Town Manager Hazen Blodgett will present his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2019/20. Creating a municipal budget is a lengthy process that typically starts in February when individual town departments generate a budget to meet their needs. Those budgets are then submitted to the Assistant Town Manager and the Finance Director, who advise the Manager. The Town Manager, as Budget Director, creates a recommended budget to present to the Town Council. As of November 30, 2018, the town has had a vacancy in the Finance Director position.  

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News Around Town: Speaking of budgets, County Manager Dena Diorio presented her recommended budget yesterday. We haven't studied the budget in depth (at all), but the graphic (seen above, click on the image to see it in full) explaining the budget is a great introduction. Of note, the budget doesn't fulfill all of the budget requests made by CMS, but does increase salaries for locally funded employees.

One Fun Thing:  Saturday, May 11, 2019 (That's tomorrow) the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market (8:00 AM -12:00 PM) is having herb day! The Charlotte Herb Guild and bringing their Herbal A-Game with plants, crafts, and all around planterly fun. Herbs not up your alley? The regular vendors will be there, too, providing the high-quality, super-local goodies you expect.  

Morning Minute: Thursday, May 9, 2019

News About Town: During Monday's (May 13) Board of Commissioner's meeting, the Board will hold a public hearing for three properties the Planning Department noted as "may not be appropriate from either a current or future land use perspective." These three properties under consideration include the Stronghaven warehouse on East John (I-1), the AMF Bowling Alley on Brigman Road, and a vacant parcel adjacent to the Woodspring Suites on Matthews-Mint Hill Road. The parcels are currently Industrial and Highway Business. The motion would downzone the properties to R-12 and R-15. Two properties are within the ENT zone, which calls for higher density residential than R-12 and R-15.

News Around Town: Atrium Health and the Greater Charlotte YMCA have partnered to create the Wellness on Wheels program (@WOWCLT). WOWCLT covers territory all over the greater Charlotte area and “provides health screenings, nutrition education and lifestyle management to prevent high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases” for free. The unit will stop at Mount Moriah Church (381 Crestdale Rd., Matthews) from 3 to 6 p.m. on May 16 (and the third Thursday of every month at that same time). No appointment is necessary.

One Fun Thing:  Tomorrow (evening we’re partnering up with Good Cup Coffee and The Loyalist for a Mother's Day Twilight Artisan Pop Up Market. Stop by the Loyalist for dinner, enjoy a Good Cup coffee, find a gift for a mom or yourself, then head on up the road to enjoy some beach music at Beach Fest. We’ll have all your favorite Matthews gear, other artists will have an assortment of handcrafted wearables, hand-poured candles, and more. Consider your Friday night planned!