Vol. 10 No. 51
December 18, 2015 www.unioncountyweekly.com
Boards take care of roofing bids, despite tension by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com
The Union County Board of Commissioners (UCBOC) set roofing bids in motion for area schools last week after Union County Board of Education (BOE) members attended the commissioners’ Dec. 7 meeting – a bridge of communication that almost didn’t happen. The relationship between commissioners and BOE members has been testy for years – mostly due to a lack of communication between the two boards, commissioners said at a joint meeting. In an effort to increase communication, the UCBOC enacted a policy that requires the BOE to attend a commissioners’ meeting if they plan to transfer funds from one project to another, regardless of the amount. The BOE’s statutory requirements ensure the UCBOC know the school system’s “needs,” which they said have previously been demonstrated through documents. District staff told the BOE on Dec. 1 they needed additional funds for three outstanding roofing bids, which the UCBOC asks they request in person. BOE member Jason Marton said he saw the policy as a “game play,” but urged the board to send a representative. Michael Guzman felt sending a representative set a “bad precedent.” “You are prepared to give up control of our own budget?” BOE Chairman John Collins asked the board. The board ultimately voted to send a representative in a 7-to-2 vote with Guzman and Collins in opposition. BOE member Melissa Merrell served as representative for the BOE and the facilities committee at the Dec. 7 UCBOC meeting.
State Champs Monroe football capped off a perfect season on Dec. 12, beating Bunn, 38-19, to win the NCHSAA 2AA state title. Junior quarterback Zephaniah Wall was named the game's MVP. Page 13
(see Roofing on page 9)
Ansari luxury home on market Parents of comedian Aziz Ansari listed their luxury Waxhaw home on the market at $2.5 million. Page 3
Katie’s Kidz gives back
Wesley Chapel ‘adopts’ East Elementary
Weddington resident Katie Greene will deliver more than 120 boxes of toys to children in hospitals this Christmas. Page 4
Opinion 7 | Crime Blotter 5 | Education 8 | Faith 10 | Calendar 11 | Sports 12 | Classifieds 15
Students at Wesley Chapel Elementary delivered gifts for teachers and students at Monroe’s East Elementary. Page 8