CONCORD FIREFIGHTER MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR THE FIREFIGHTING COMMUNITY AVOID RECYCLING CONTAMINATION SHRED EVENT
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About the cover: Flutter By Earth event at McGee Park; photo by Michael A Anderson
The Concord City Circular is produced by the City Manager’s Office to provide Concord citizens with information about current activities of the City of Concord It contains items that will help make it easier for you to do business with the City Your comments and questions are welcomed . Please send them to:
Concord City Circular
P O Box 308, Concord, NC 28026 or call 704-920-5210 or e-mail publicaffairs@concordnc gov
designed by Granite Sky Creative Group
City Council
Visit
Jennifer P Hubbard District 6 Mayor Pro Tem
Terry L Crawford District 5
John A Sweat, Jr District 7
JC McKenzie District 4
Betty M Stocks District 3
Lori Clay District 2
Andy Langford District 1
From the Mayor Manager’s Notes
William "Bill" Dusch
What's New in Concord
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU maybe haven't heard about yet and where to find more information.
At Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, Avelo Airlines recently began service between Concord and New Haven, Connecticut. With their low-cost fares, they’re making it easier for families to access all that the greater New York and New England regions have to offer and bringing in new visitors to experience our city. Beginning this fall, Avelo is expanding service to 6 more cities across the Northeast and Florida: Albany, NY; Boston/Manchester, NH; Hartford, CT; Orlando/Lakeland, FL; Philadelphia/Wilmington, DE; and Rochester, NY. Visit concordairportnc.com/airlines for more on our commercial carriers, Avelo and Allegiant Airlines.
In Downtown Concord, the new Novi Rise apartments on Market Street opened and began welcoming residents. This is the largest of the three Novi buildings and has 167 residential units. They also announced Salon Lofts will occupy the retail space on Market Street. A new Charro’s Mexican Restaurant and Sawmill Tavern are planned on Union Street, and we’ve welcomed six new small businesses to downtown since the start of the year! You can check out all the businesses, promotions, and events happening downtown at concorddowntown.com. Plus, the new Downtown Concord Social District opened on August 1st. More information is available at concordnc.gov/socialdistrict.
Work is continuing on the voter-approved Parks & Rec bond projects. We’re creating 4 new parks, renovating 5 existing parks, and adding 8 miles of greenway. Join us online or come in person to the monthly City Council meetings to hear a comprehensive update on the projects from our Parks & Rec team or visit our website: concordbonds.com
At the Grounds at Concord, Eli Lilly opened the doors to their new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant – a $2 million investment in our city with 600 new jobs. At the facility, Lilly will manufacture injectable diabetes and weight loss drugs. Lastly, many of us grew up with Lionel toy trains. Did you know that several years ago, Lionel moved their operations to Concord? Last summer, The Lionel Collectors Club of America held their annual Convention at Embassy Suites bringing in thousands of individuals to see these amazing collectibles in Concord.
We are working hard to make our city a great place to live, work and play! •
Lloyd Wm Payne, Jr Concord City Manager
Help us Better Serve You –Download our App
HELLO CONCORD. I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME OF THE ways Team Concord strives to deliver excellent customer service to you and our community. While we are not perfect and do make mistakes, it is truly our goal to continuously improve the quality of life we all enjoy.
Concord continues to be a growing city. Staff work hard each day to enhance public safety as well as the aesthetics of our neighborhoods, parks, and streets. If you see an issue that needs our attention, the Concord Mobile Care App is a quick way to let us know. The app is free, allows you to report an issue, and attach a photo. Once we receive the information, it is routed to the appropriate City department who investigates and responds to the citizen who made the report. If the matter is one which the City can address, we do so as quickly as possible. If you don’t have the app already, I encourage you to get it so you can help us keep our community in tip-top shape. (Scan the QR code on the back cover)
Similarly, we look to recognize City employees who go above and beyond in their daily duties. Our High 5 program encourages citizens to recognize an employee who has provided them with excellent customer service. Each quarter, our City customer service advancement team (CSAT) reviews these High 5 nominations and selects several employees to recognize for their efforts. We then celebrate these employees over lunch. It is a great way to show internal appreciation for their efforts. We also push out to social media these recognitions to further show our community the great work City staff is providing. If you have experienced great service from a City employee, I encourage you to submit a High 5 recognition. You can do so online at concordnc.gov/high5.
As public servants, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance your quality of life and that of our community. I trust we are exceeding your expectations. If not, reach out to us and let us know. If you have ideas about improvements in our City, let us know. •
CONCORD'S TOP 5 OFFENDERS:
Plastic bags
These items often clog machinery at the Materials Recovery Facility and should be kept out of the recycling cart Instead, they should be taken to designated drop-off locations
Styrofoam
While it is technically recyclable in some places, our curbside program does not accept it It's better to avoid using it or take it to specific recycling centers
REMEMBER THESE THREE SIMPLE RULES: 1
The good news is, recycling contamination can easily be reduced.
No loose plastic bags & no bagged recyclables.
Textiles
Clothing, shoes, and other textiles should not go into recycling carts
These can be donated or taken to textile recycling programs
Tanglers
Items like hoses, wires, and chains can cause significant problems at the MRF by tangling in the equipment These should be disposed of properly or taken to designated drop off locations
WHAT IS RECYCLING CONTAMINATION, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER TO ME?
It's simple: When items not intended for recycling are put in your recycling cart, they contaminate the entire truckload .
For example, if plastic bags, clothing, electronics, wires and other tanglers, or food containers that have not been adequately cleaned, are put in your recycling cart instead of your garbage cart, this contaminates the entire load .
Think of it this way: if you have 20 neighbors, and 15 of them are recycling right and five are not, this contaminates the whole load, which impacts not only you and your neighbors but also others on the same route
It’s easy to recycle right, we are all in this together! Help us to keep as much out of the landfill as possible . •
Garbage
Household trash should be bagged and placed in the designated garbage cart
2 Recycle clean bottles, cans, paper & cardboard.
The average rate of recycling contamination is between 17% and 25% by weight, nationally.
3 Keep food and liquid out of your recycling.
Hello, Avelo!
AT CONCORD-PADGETT REGIONAL AIRPORT OUR FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL STAFF MAKE TRAVELING easy, efficient, and enjoyable. We are proud to now offer convenient and affordable travel to destinations throughout Florida and the Northeast thanks to service from Allegiant Airlines and our newest carrier—Avelo Airlines.
The Mayor, Members of Council, and city leaders were joined by the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau to welcome the first Avelo Airlines passengers to Concord. The inaugural flight from New Haven, CT arrived on May 2nd. Since that time, the partnership between Avelo and the City has grown.
In July, as part of the largest expansion in company history, Avelo Airlines announced it will add six new nonstop routes from Concord. Service to the new destinations in the Northeast and Florida will begin this fall. With the addition of these six new routes, Avelo will serve seven nonstop destinations from Concord. These new destinations join Avelo’s current nonstop service to Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN).
Six new nonstop destinations:
Albany, NY (ALB)
Thursday, November 7 Thursdays and Sundays
Boston / Manchester, NH (MHT) Thursday, November 7 Thursdays and Sundays
Hartford, CT (BDL)
Thursday, November 7 Thursdays and Sundays
Orlando / Lakeland, FL (LAL) Thursday, October 24 Thursdays and Sundays
Philadelphia / Wilmington, DE (ILG) Friday, November 8 Mondays and Fridays Rochester, NY (ROC) Friday, November 8 Mondays and Fridays
We encourage anyone looking for an easier way to travel with fewer crowds and affordable flights to consider flying with us. More information about service from Concord provided by Allegiant Airlines and Avelo Airlines is available on our website: concordairportnc.com/airlines. •
SAVE THE DATE
— for the —
4th Annual Concord International Festival
Presented by City of Concord and El Puente Hispano
Back for the fourth year, the Concord International Festival returns to Downtown Concord on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 12-6 p.m. Join us for a day of shopping, entertainment, food, and family fun featuring global flavors, music, dance, and a kids’ zone.
“We are excited to once again partner with El Puente Hispano to transform the streets of Concord with the colors, sights, sounds, and flavors of our city’s diverse cultures,” said Mayor Bill Dusch. “The festival has quickly become one of our most beloved annual events, and we’re proud to honor and celebrate the traditions of the diverse people and places that make our city so special.”
Last year, the festival drew 8,000 residents and visitors to Downtown Concord. More than 62 countries were represented at the 2023 festival, which featured over 61 artists on stage, 55 arts and craft vendors, and 21 food vendors.
“The Concord International Festival is a vibrant and colorful celebration that brings together a kaleidoscope of music, dance, food, and art from around the world. It's a fantastic opportunity to indulge your senses in a unique cultural experience, allowing you to witness the rich diversity and traditions of different countries without ever having to leave Concord. From the lively beats of African drums to the graceful movements of Indian classical dance, the festival is a true feast for your eyes, ears, and taste buds,” said Sandra Torres, President of El Puente Hispano. •
HOW ONE CONCORD FIREFIGHTER STARTED A GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO SAVE LIVES
There are few people who have the drive and passion to see a need more than 4,000 miles away and make it their life mission to make a difference; lucky for Team Concord, Gilberto Meza-Corral is one of those people.
Gilberto Meza-Corral, named the 2024 North Carolina Firefighter of the Year by the American Legion, has been with the City of Concord Fire Department since 2016 His role as Assistant Fire Marshal involves conducting fire inspections, investigations, and advancing community risk reduction through education . However, Gilberto’s influence reaches far beyond Concord’s city limits .
In 2015, Gilberto was moved by the news of a tragic fire incident in Minga Guazu, Paraguay, where three firefighters passed away while attempting to extinguish a fire in a grain silo This tragedy became a catalyst for a project that would span nearly a decade and stretch far past our national borders
Not being able to get the horrific incident off his mind, Gilberto contacted the rural fire department in Paraguay to offer his condolences to their firefighters and ask if there was anything he could do to help Maintaining contact with them, Gilberto assisted them in analyzing the accident and identifying the potential cause of the tragedy – inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and insufficient training . Determined to make a difference, and with the unwavering support of the Concord Fire Department, Gilberto began the mission to send essential equipment to the firefighters of this rural South American city Harnessing the generosity of his own department and their network of partners in the fire community, Gilberto was successful in gaining support and donations from fire departments across North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Indianapolis, and Pennsylvania .
Since 2015, Gilberto has been instrumental in securing the donation of at least 20 fire apparatus and many containers of PPE, hose lines, nozzles, extrication tools, medical supplies, uniforms, boots, gloves, and other needed equipment. One of the most notable donations was a Pierce Arrow 1994 bucket ladder, donated completely free of charge by the Norwood Park Fire District in Chicago, IL.
To retrieve most of this equipment, Gilberto took trips on his days off to travel along the east-coast and Midwest to collect the muchneeded donations Using his driveway as a storage area, Gilberto was able to accumulate all the donations in a centralized location where he would then drive them to Miami and connect with a shipping vendor local to Paraguay who specializes in American exports . For the last 9 years, Gilberto has used this method to send more than 2 million dollars worth of apparatus and equipment to Paraguay In August 2023, Gilberto’s efforts gained formal structure with the establishment of the United Firefighting Training Network, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Gilberto and his like-minded counterparts with Hispanic roots, Rene Soriano with the Concord Fire Department and Ignacio Villa from the Indianapolis Fire Department . Their shared mission is to amplify their international impact on the fire community by facilitating trainings and distributing resources more effectively
All along, Gilberto knew that acquiring and delivering the equipment was just half the battle . To truly make a difference, it was vital that the underserved firefighters in South America receive training on how to use the equipment they were receiving and understand the proper techniques to safely extinguish fires . This summer, Gilberto’s vision finally came full circle . With Rene Soriano and Ignacio Villa by his side, along with Gustavo Chavez from the Indianapolis Fire Department and Phillip Burris with the City of Concord Fire Department, the
much-anticipated trip to Paraguay finally happened . They made arrangements to spent nearly a week with rural firefighters delivering critical training in areas such as PPE usage, rapid intervention teams (RIT), aerial and pump operations, cancer awareness, and the Concord Decontamination Model While their travel expenses were covered by the Paraguay Firefighters Association, the Paraguay Government, and Flytech, the American team offered their training services pro bono, emphasizing their commitment to the international firefighting brotherhood During their visit, they engaged in hands-on training sessions and scenario-based exercises that provided valuable experience to the firefighters They also took time to meet with officials from Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina, fostering deeper connections and broadening the impact of their visit .
When it was time for Gilberto to leave Paraguay and make his way back to Concord, he didn’t say goodbye Instead, he said “see you later” as he and the United Firefighting Training Network have plans to return to Paraguay to help them build a new training facility constructed from metal shipping containers that can be used to train firefighters for generations to come
For Gilberto, this trip was lifechanging It was the grand cumulation of nearly a decade of hard work With a personal mission to leave the world better than he found it, Gilberto isn’t stopping here He aspires to continue extending his reach to Indian nations, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica Gilberto plans use the momentum built during this mission to continue serving underserved populations both locally and around the world .
Gilberto’s compassion, drive, and passion for the fire community has brought hope and support to firefighters in need. His passion project underscores the profound impact that dedicated individuals and collaborative efforts can have on communities worldwide. Through his unwavering commitment, Gilberto isn’t just enhancing safely, he’s also building a legacy of hope and collaboration across international borders. •
All photos for this article courtesy of Richard Aquino.
BEGINNING OCTOBER 7, 2024
COLLECTION FEES FOR LARGER LIMB PILES
Size of Limb Pile
First 6 CY or 1-3 truck bites of limbs
7-10 CY or 4-5 bites of limbs
11-20 CY or 6-10 bites of limbs
Excess of 20 CY of limbs
How will it work?
Crews will estimate the size and cost of collection for residents via door hangers on your regular collection day. Collection fees must be paid before limbs will be collected.
Where do I pay the fee?
Fees can be paid online using the City's online portal.
When will my limbs get collected?
Collection may be scheduled online as soon as the fee has been paid.
What happens if I don't pay the fee?
A compliance team will recheck the items seven days later to see whether the resident has paid and scheduled service or if the limb pile is now under 6 CY. After 14 days, the issue will be reported to Code Enforcement.
Where can I get more information?
Call 704-920-5361 for more information, or visit concordnc.gov/solidwaste.
Corresponding Fee
No additional change, service on regular weekly collection day
$100 per collection, requires payment before scheduling collection
$150 per collection, requires payment before scheduling collection
$200 per truckload (20 CY capacity), requires payment before scheduling collection
What does 6 cubic yards (CY) look like?
Six cubic yards equals about one full-size pickup truck load. It's about 3 bites with our collection truck.
KEEP LEAVES AND YARD WASTE OUT OF STORM DRAINS
DID YOU KNOW?
Leaves and other yard waste can cause issues for our local waterways.
When leaves enter the storm drain, they go directly into the nearest creek, stream, lake, or river. These leaves then degrade the water and can be harmful to plants and wildlife. Leaves and other yard debris like grass clippings can also be harmful to motorcycles and other cyclists on the road.
Leaf covered storm drains can increase the chance of flooding if the water cannot move into the storm drain system.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Collect leaves and other yard waste for pick-up by our solid waste team
Leave the leaves on your grass and mulch them. This is beneficial for your yard.
Add leaves and other yard waste to your compost pile.
If you see a clogged storm drain, clean it out or contact our stormwater department at 704-920-5555.
Remember Only Rain Down the Storm Drain
27TH ANNUAL
Christmas Tree
Lighting & Fireworks
Enjoy an evening of holiday festivities with food, live music, and children’s entertainment!
DAY: Friday, 11/22
TIME: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
LOCATION: Downtown Concord
96TH ANNUAL
Concord Christmas Parade
This is the longest running Christmas Parade in North Carolina.
DAY: Saturday, 11/23
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Downtown Concord
Visit our website for the most up to date holiday event information.
Concern for the Individual • Customer Focus Fair and Equitable Service • Professional Service
Effective Communication • Taking Ownership
Timeliness • Teamwork • Great Service Recovery
High Five recognizes coworkers who make a difference.
Each day City of Concord coworkers are focused on providing the services needed to keep our community moving forward We believe that coworkers who are delivering excellent service deserve timely and effective recognition by their team members, managers, and the community We invite you to help us recognize one or more of our coworkers who have provided excellent service
These nine principles help us deliver a high level of quality services.
There are three ways to submit your recognitions:
■ Call 704-920-6400 to submit your acknowledgment by phone
■ Complete the online form at concordnc.gov/high5
■ Complete a paper form found one of the following public facilities: City Hall; Academy Recreation Center; Brown Operations Center; Concord Regional Airport; Fire Stations 3, 7, 8, and 9; Housing Department Office; Police Headquarters; Rider Transit Center
Quarterly High Performers
The following members of Team Concord were recognized for going above and beyond in providing excellent customer service or for taking actions that best embody one of more of the city’s 9 Principles of Excellent Service The High Performers were selected from among the High Five nominations received from April - June 2024 .
Aviation Michele Amidon*
Buildings & Grounds Jenny Varney
Finance ...................................................................................... April Clark Fire
Richard Roberson ....................................................................................... Marques Cagler
Josh Proper
*not pictured
We believe members of Team Concord who provide excellent service deserve recognition by their team members, managers, and the community Our employees are the city’s most valuable asset and each play a critical role in contributing to the attainment of the city’s goals and mission Thank you, Team Concord! •
Concord
Mobile Care
You can report pot holes, street light malfunctions, and many other nonemergency issues to the City using your smartphone . Visit concordnc.gov to learn about and download the Concord Mobile Care app for your android or iOS device, or access the web-version on any other device, including PC and laptop computers
City of Concord Important Phone Numbers
Police, Medical Emergencies .
Call the Customer Care Center for service requests and inquiries about any of the following:
• Electric Outages/Services
• Water/Sewer Emergencies
• Dead Animal Pick-up
• Drinking Water Inquiries
• Garbage/Bulk Pick-up/Recycling
• Utility Bills
• Street/Traffic Light Issues
• Right-of-Way Issues
• Storm Water/Storm Drain/Flooding Problems
• Yard Waste/Leaf Collection
• Building Material Disposal
• Bulk Metal Collection
• Old Tire Collection
• Vacant Lot Cleaning/Mowing
You can also fax our Customer Care team at 704-920-6953
The primary phone numbers for the various City departments are:
