Information You Can Use
WINTER 2020
Investments And Partnerships To Improve Community Recreation 2020 Solid Waste Collection Calendar
In this Issue:
City Council
From the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Manager’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Recycling Got You Confused? . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Solid Waste Holiday Collection Schedule . . . 6 Celebrating Concord-Padgett Regional Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Local Rotarians Partner With Parks And Rec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Andy Langford District 1
Brian King District 2
Ella Mae Small District 3
JC McKenzie District 4
City Co-worker Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2020 Census . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Concord 101 Graduates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Public Safety Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Introducing: ClearWater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Important Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Terry L. Crawford District 5
Get Connected: Get connected with Concord through Facebook and Twitter! Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to facebook.com/concordnc and twitter.com/concordncgov.
concordnc.gov Visit our City’s website where you’ll find a wealth of information. Pay bills online, access government and City departments, and discover what’s going on in Concord.
cover photo:
Michael A. Anderson Photography
John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7 Mayor Pro Tem
22nd Annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament Benefits Youth Programs Rocky River Golf Club hosted the Mayor’s Golf Tournament on October 4.
This year’s event raised over $13,000 that will directly support youth in our community. A special thank you goes to the sponsors that help make the event possible, as well as the City and golf course staff members who once again organized the event and volunteered their time and effort. Thank you to our Eagle sponsors:
The Concord City Circular is produced quarterly 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 franzese@concordnc.gov. designed by
Jennifer H. Parsley District 6
Granite Sky Civic
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From the Mayor
Manager’s Notes
William “Bill” Dusch
Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr. Concord City Manager
Remembering Concord’s Aviation History
Celebrating Our Outstanding Team Members
In the 1970s and 80s, there were a number of individuals in our community that were working on the concept of a general aviation airport in Concord and Cabarrus County. One of those individuals was Gene Cook, a local business owner. I can remember taking drives around the city and county with Gene where he would show my father and me suitable land for an airport. His vision in a public use airport for our community was not in vain, and I took a particular interest at the time as a commercial pilot and flight instructor.
Hello Concord. I trust you and your family are doing well and prospering in our great City.
In 1990, Cabarrus County was in line to receive federal funds to start an airport. At the time, the County Commissioners did not have the support but still felt that it was time for an airport in the region. So as to not lose the funds, the County Commissioners approached Concord’s Aldermen (how the City Council was styled at the time) and proposed to transfer the federal funds to Concord. On the November 27, 1990 Board of Aldermen meeting, after much discussion, Alderman Alfred Brown made a motion, seconded by my father, Frank Dusch, to accept the funds thus putting in motion the development of what we know today as Concord-Padgett Regional Airport. Construction of the airport began in 1992, and 25 years ago in November of 1994, then Mayor Liles and his Council cut the ribbon to open the 5,000-foot runway at Concord Regional Airport. Most of our first 20 years were spent as a General Aviation facility, but development took off like a jet. Since 1994, $85 million has been invested in airport facilities covering 750 acres, including lengthening the runway to 7,400 feet, strengthening the runway, taxiway, and apron (parking area), adding hangars, and ultimately adding commercial service supported by a dedicated terminal with parking deck. All this has helped to create an economic impact for our community in excess of $1 billion. Last year, the City Council changed our airport’s name to Concord-Padgett Regional Airport to honor of former Mayor Scott Padgett. Mayor Padgett was instrumental in the continued development of the airport for his 16 years as Mayor and six years before that as a City Council member. Today, Concord-Padgett Regional Airport has grown to be one of the state’s busiest airports and one of only ten commercial service airports. We are a hub for many NASCAR race teams and the location for 3 flight continued on page 16
Recently, the City celebrated the 2nd annual Sid Talbert Finance Team Values Award by recognizing Allen Gayden for his contributions to Team Finance and Team Concord. Allen is a member of our Building and Grounds Department and is an outstanding City employee. Much like last year’s inaugural winner (Greg Neal) of this prestigious award, Allen demonstrates the Finance Team’s core values (Fairness, Dedicated Service, Honesty, and Trust) on a daily basis. If you see Allen, offer a big congratulations to him and learn more about this award on page 10. Recently, Greg Spears, one of our Team Solid Waste members, finished 2nd in the International RoadE-O competition at the Solid Waste Association of North America event in Glendale, Arizona. What an accomplishment for Greg and a tribute to his dedication to hone his skill set for our citizens! Pass along your “thank you” to Greg when you next see him. In addition, Mandy Smith-Thompson, the City’s Environmental Education Specialist, was recently recognized as the Environmental Educators of North Carolina 2019 Outstanding Practitioner of the Year. Mandy partners and collaborates with Cabarrus County Schools, Concord Wildlife Alliance, Master Gardeners, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and other groups to better educate us on the impact of our actions on the environment. One of the City’s Core Values is Culture of Excellence. It is defined as “We respect members of the public and each other and treat all with courtesy and dignity. We rely on teamwork to provide a seamless experience for all customers. We uphold high ethical standards in our personal, professional, and organizational conduct. We continuously improve by promoting innovation and flexibility to best meet the needs of our customers with available resources.” I am a firm believer in ensuring the culture of excellence first begins with individuals within the City who strive to bring their very best to work each day and to take steps to better themselves (and those around them). Allen, Greg, and Mandy epitomize the culture of our City by their daily actions and continual efforts to be a little better today than they were yesterday. We deliberately promote Team Concord, but for this to be a reality, it starts with all of us individually. Team Concord desires to meet your needs and continued on page 16 concordnc.gov • WINTER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3
Recycling Got You Confused? by Mandy Smith-Thompson, Environmental Educator
“It’s got a recycle symbol on it…all plastic’s recyclable, right?...this seems recyclable…? Ehh…I’ll just toss it in.” Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of folks admit to being confused about recycling. I’m Mandy, your environmental educator, and I’m here to help. Let’s start with some background where I break down how this whole thing works.
Where Does It Go? You place your black cart of mixed (aka comingled or single-stream) recyclables by the curb OR you drop off your recyclables at one of Cabarrus County’s convenience centers. A truck empties them and drives them to Metrolina Recycling Center, a material recovery facility (aka a MRF, pronounced merf). For what it’s worth, Metrolina is owned by Mecklenburg County and currently managed by Republic Services.
What Is A MRF? The MRF is the midway point between you, the consumer, and the manufacturer that turns your recyclables into something new, and it does basically three things. 1. Sort your recyclables by material type, basically glass, plastic, metal and paper. This is mainly done mechanically, but humans help, too. 2. Bale the material (yes, like hay). Metal, plastic and paper, that is. Glass is broken and contained in large tubs. 3. Sell the materials to manufacturers that turn them into new products. It’s important to understand that MRFs are designed to separate recyclables into commodities, NOT to separate trash from recyclables.
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Commodities MRFs accept recyclables that have value and pay the bills by generating profit for the work of sorting, baling and marketing the materials. The value of each type of material (commodity) rises and falls just like in other commodity markets. As a result, the MRF gets to determine what it will accept in order to make a profit. This is why the list of acceptable materials sometimes changes.
Contamination Trash or undesirable materials mixed in with recyclables is called contamination, and contamination reduces the value of commodities, threatening the recycling industry. In short, we want our MRF to make profit, because we depend on it for the recycling system to work and serve as an option for diverting waste from our ever-filling landfill.
The Landfill The CMS Landfill, located near the Charlotte Motor Speedway, is a place where household garbage from Concord and the surrounding areas is interred. Because the landfill is within the City of Concord, the City has a franchise agreement with the landfill. The tipping fees others pay to bring in trash are waived for Concord. This is key, because the landfill has an approximately 15-year life expectancy, after which Concord’s garbage will be sent to some other landfill with which we do not have a franchise agreement. The costs associated with transport and tipping fees will result in an increased cost to citizens for waste disposal. This is one of the reasons recycling right (and other methods of waste reduction) are so important.
So, What Is Acceptable For Residential Recycling? The following list of acceptable materials applies to the City of Concord, City of Kannapolis, Town of Harrisburg and unincorporated Cabarrus County. There are a few items (once acceptable in Concord) that the MRF in our area no longer wants, including plastic tubs and shredded paper. Those have been removed from the list.
DON’T TANGLE OR CONTAMINATE
RECYCLE MORE FOR A GREENER STATE
PLASTIC
METAL
Bottles, jugs and jars
All cans
Don’t Be A Wishful Recycler Or A Tangler. Recyclable does not always mean acceptable for residential recycling in your area. The recycle symbol might even be present on, say, plastic containers or plastic bags. Some coffee pods are even marketed as “recyclable.” These items are not wanted by Metrolina Recycling Center. Plastic bags are considered “tanglers,” along with electric cords, Christmas lights and garden hoses because they literally tangle up MRFs’ sorting equipment, causing the MRF to routinely shut down operations so workers can cut bags and other tanglers loose from the machinery. While plastic bags, film and wrap are not acceptable in your residential mixed recycling, they are accepted for recycling at many grocery and big box stores. Well-meaning folks often toss items into residential recycling that they’re not sure about. When in doubt, throw it out to reduce contamination and protect the viability of the recycling industry.
No caps, lids or pumps
Empty and rinse
GLASS
Empty and rinse
PAPER
Bottles and jars
Paper, cartons and cardboard
Empty and rinse
Flatten cardboard
KEEP THESE OUT!
Get the FREE APP Search for CARTology to download our mobile app in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Know your
Collection Day
Sign up for
FREE reminders
Find out
how to dispose of items
All batteries (car, lithium, etc.) Ceramic items Clothing or textiles Diapers Disposable cups (plastic and paper) Electronics
Food-tainted items Hazardous waste Household glass Medical waste Plastic bags/wrap Scrap metal/wood Shredded paper
Styrofoam/peanuts Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires, etc.)
Tires Toys Please don't bag your recyclables
There’s An App! There’s an app called CARTology to simplify things, available for Apple and Android devices. You can find it by searching for CARTology in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). CARTology lets users from Concord, Kannapolis and unincorporated Cabarrus County search the Waste Wizard to learn how to dispose of specific items, to look up their collection day, to sign up for notifications, to report missed collections and even play a recycling game. We encourage everyone to download it. •
Learn More Learn more at concordnc.gov/solidwaste. View a customized solid waste calendar and confirm your schedule at concordnc.gov/whatsmyday. For environmental education questions, you can reach me, your environmental educator, by email at smithal@concordnc.gov or call 704.920.5379. You can also find me on Facebook and Nextdoor.com. For questions about recycling or garbage service, contact Customer CARE at 704.950.5555.
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2020 Recycling & Bulky Waste Calendar Recycling & Bulky Waste is collected every-other-week on your regularly scheduled garbage day. If you are a City of Concord resident, recycling roll-out carts are free. Call 704.920.5555. For 2020, WastePro will collect garbage, recycling, and bulky waste on a normal schedule through each of the City’s observed holidays, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. January
February
March
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30
April
May
June
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
July
August
3 10 17 24 31
4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28
September
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 30 31
October
November
December
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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City Holiday Blue Week Green Week
ü Know your Collection Day ü Sign up for FREE Reminders ü Find out how to dispose of items To verify your collection schedule or to find full holiday collection details, visit concordnc.gov/whatsmyday or download our CARTology mobile app. To download the mobile app, search for CARTology in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Put these items in your recycling cart Empty Aerosol Cans
Glass Bottles & Jars
(no paint cans)
Spiral Paper Cans
Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars (no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap)
Milk & Juice Cartons, & Juice Boxes Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, & their Lids
(with plastic lids detached)
Clean pizza boxes
Large Cardboard Boxes (flattened, cut to 3ft x 3ft sections, placed inside cart for collection)
Paperback Books (without grease or food residue) Mixed Paper, Newspapers Cereal & Food Boxes with Inserts, & Junk Mail Magazines & Phonebooks Gift Wrapping Paper Gift Boxes, Shoe Boxes, & (without foil backing) Small Cardboard Boxes (flattened and placed into cart)
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Bulky waste is anything that won’t fit inside and isn’t allowed in your garbage cart like furniture, construction and demolition debris, tires, scrap metal (including lawn equipment, bicycles, etc.) electronics and appliances. Cart lids must be able to close completely. Extra bags of trash and recyclables placed outside your cart will not be collected. Twice per year, for special occasions, parties and family reunions, the City will collect a small amount of extra bags. Please call to schedule all special occasion collections. Those who consistently have more garbage than the green roll-out cart can hold may call to reserve an extra brown garbage cart for a monthly fee. Recycle cardboard the right way! All cardboard must be flattened and cut down to 3ft x 3 ft sections or smaller for collection. A MAXIMUM of 2 or 3 flattened cardboard boxes can be placed between the top of the cart and the lid. Additional flattened boxes should be stacked neatly beside your recycle cart. Place cart out between 5:00 p.m. day before and 6:00 a.m. day of collection. Retrieve cart by 9:00 p.m. collection day. Place carts for collection with wheels facing your home. Keep carts 2 feet from one another and 2 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, etc. Do not block sidewalks with carts. Please bag your garbage, but do not bag your recyclables. Place them in the cart loose. Register to receive collection schedule changes and other important updates via phone, text, or email at concordnc.gov/whatsmyday. For more information on Solid Waste Services:
concordnc.gov 704.920.5555
Celebrating 25 years and more to come at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
T
he City of Concord held a special ceremony on November 18 to celebrate the renaming of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport and mark its 25th anniversary. For a quarter century, the formerly-named Concord Regional Airport has been a highlight of the City of Concord. The November event was organized to remember, honor, and soar ahead as we celebrate 25 years of general and now commercial aviation, and officially unveil the new Concord-Padgett Regional Airport logo. The name incorporates a tribute to longtime Concord Mayor J. Scott Padgett. Padgett served as Concord's Mayor from 2001-2017, after first serving on City Council from 1995-2001. In addition to 27 years of elected leadership, his service in Concord extends back over 40 years with a career as a public school educator and principal at Coltrane-Webb and Beverly Hills Elementary Schools. He is continuing his public service to North Carolina after being appointed by Governor Cooper to the Local Government Commission. "Scott Padgett played a critical role in the growth of our airport into a community asset and regional economic driver," said Mayor Bill Dusch. Concord-Padgett Regional Airport opened in 1994 with a general aviation terminal and a 5,500-foot runway. Improvements during Padgett's tenure include extension of the runway to 7,400 feet, strengthening of the runway, development of private sector investment in and around the airport, and construction of a commercial service terminal and parking deck. "This is truly humbling," Padgett said. "Our airport was built by visionary people who led Concord at a time when few could see the possibilities in store for our community. Fortunately, the elected officials who preceded me made decisions not for popularity, but because they were critical to the success and quality of life we enjoy today. To be recognized in this way is only possible because my City Council colleagues and I stood on their shoulders." Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Carolinas. Highlights included Padgett's honoring of the many unsung heroes that led to the airport's launch in 1994. NCDOT Deputy Secretary for Multi-Modal Transportation Julie White gave the keynote address, which she found particularly meaningful due to her ten years of close work with Padgett while she served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Metro Mayors' Coalition. See the airport’s 25th anniversary video at youtube.com/ ConcordNC1 and more event photos bit.ly/cpra25th. • concordnc.gov • WINTER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7
photo:
Jen Hedrick Photography
Local Rotarians Partner With City
In Parks And Recreation Investments
T
he need to develop, expand, and improve the City’s
parks, greenways, open spaces, and connectivity for the citizens of Concord is a high priority for City Council. Over the last several years, Concord's elected officials have funded and staff have executed two major planning efforts to address this need: the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2017, and the Open Space Connectivity Analysis in 2019.
The Comprehensive Master Plan contains a five-year action plan that focuses on facility connectivity and land acquisition for future parks and greenways. The master plan also suggests the implementation of individual park master plans, conceptual designs, and cost estimates to include needed recreation investments within the City's overall Capital Improvement Program. City Council further communicated their commitment to these plans by the hiring of a Park and Greenway Planner for the Parks and Recreation Department to focus specifically on implementation of these plans, prioritization of their goals, objectives and strategies, coordination with internal staff, and successful communication with the citizens of Concord to continue to seek their input to achieve these goals. Five park master plans are underway this year. The department hopes to move those plans into detailed design and begin master planning up to three additional park sites next year. The Master Plan and The Open Space Connectivity Analysis also emphasize the need for collaboration with internal departments. Recent examples include working closely with Planning and Neighborhood Development through the completed 2030 Land Use Plan process, and the ongoing Concord Development Ordinance update. The City has also convened a new staff-level Connectivity Committee that includes representatives from Parks and Recreation, Planning, Engineering, Transportation, Transit, and Water Resources. The Open Space Connectivity Analysis prioritized greenway development along five primary creek corridors, and also proposed several strategies
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for advancing the City's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Examples are advocating for and supporting NCDOT's inclusion of multiuse paths and/or bike lanes in future improvements to state roads, accelerating bicycle and pedestrian improvements through a dedicated connectivity fund, and increasing City funding for the pedestrian improvement program. In addition to these longrange goals and strategies, the City Council's priority on parks, recreation, and connectivity improvements has resulted in several projects with more immediate impacts. The following examples demonstrate the variety in facility type and location: • Parks and Recreation is working to install and/or upgrade HVAC in all three Recreation Centers (Logan Multi-Purpose Center, Hartsell Recreation Center, and Academy Recreation Center). This will provide much needed temperature control in gyms for citizens to enjoy, as well as for youth enrolled in Summer Playground programs. This work is on schedule for completion by June 2020. • The Open-Air Learning Center is currently under construction at the David W. Phillips Activity Center on Burrage Road. This 30 by 25-foot shelter will expand the Parks and Recreation department’s outdoor naturebased program offerings and enhance the opportunity to partner with the City's Environmental Educator. This project includes needed storage for equipment and other programming supplies. • New playgrounds at Les Myers, Dorton, and Hartsell Parks are in development. Staff is working to replace playgrounds at all three locations starting with Myers and Dorton this winter and completing Hartsell in the Spring/Summer of 2020. • The Hector H. Henry, II Greenway Riverwalk phase is under construction, which will add a total of 1.3 miles to the existing greenway. This project will connect the Riverwalk neighborhood to existing trail leading to the Weddington Road Bark Park and Embassy Suites/ Concord Convention Center. Once this phase is complete, the Hector H. Henry, II Greenway will provide nearly 3 miles of greenway trails, with many more miles in development. In addition to these improvements, the Concord
Rotary Club recently celebrated the latest of several projects to improve community recreation opportunities with the installation of a shade structure over the Beverly Hills Park playground. Prior projects include the ADA-accessible "Everybody Plays Playground" at McGee Park, the Rotary Square splash pad and farmer's market in Downtown Concord, and a new playground for Concord's public housing communities. The City of Concord appreciates the Concord Rotary Club's continued partnership and generosity to improve our community's recreation amenities. "The Concord Rotary Club has a history of partnering with the City of Concord and Cabarrus County Government," said Concord Rotary Club President Dakeita Vanderburg-Johnson. "We are grateful for collaboration with each governmental agency providing improvements to parks and public spaces in Concord and Cabarrus County. A future playground shade canopy is planned for James Dorton Park in 2020 teaming with the Afton Sunset Rotary Club." "Rotary is an international service organization and The Concord Rotary Club adheres to its motto of 'Service Above Self,'" said Venetia Skahen, Chair of Concord Rotary's Local Project Committee. "Our club holds local fundraisers like the December Boston Butt sale to raise funds and then invests those back into our community with projects such as the playground shade canopy at Beverly Hills Park." Do you have an organization that would be interested in partnering with the City to improve recreation opportunities? If so please contact Parks and Recreation Director Bob Dowless at 704-920-5600. • concordnc.gov • WINTER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 9
Biennial Citizen Survey Underway Thanks to you, Concord continues to receive national recognition as a desired place to live, work, and visit. As we continue to grow and meet new challenges, it is important that we also gather input on a wide range of issues impacting our quality of life. We also want feedback on the public services delivered by over 1,000 professionals working for the City of Concord. A random sample of citizens has been invited to take a few minutes to complete the 2019 Concord Customer Satisfaction Survey. The City has contracted with ETC Institute, a national market research firm that specializes in surveys for local governments, to conduct this survey. Survey responses will help the City's leaders make critical decisions about prioritizing resources and the future direction of our community. The results will be presented at the annual City Council Planning Session at the end of January and published on concordnc.gov.
Everyone Can Make A Difference With Neighbor Helping Neighbor, A Partnership With Cooperative Christian Ministry Hundreds of Concord utility customers struggle to pay their bill each month. Neighbor Helping Neighbor, a partnership of the City of Concord and Cooperative Christian Ministry, is here to help. Neighbor Helping Neighbor provides the necessary funds to keep electricity on for neighbors in need. Through a tax-deductible contribution, you can make an immediate impact. There are three ways you can give: Round up your bill and donate the extra cents, donate a set amount each month, or make a one-time donation. Sign up today at concordnc.gov or call 704-920-5555.
City Coworkers Earn Team And Individual Accomplishments The late Sid Talbert touched many people during his time at the City of Concord. He always had a smile and a kind word for all coworkers. Sid was the purchasing manager for the City of Concord from 2001-2017. During that time, Sid could be counted on to tell a joke or two and he always took time to listen to someone’s problems, often praying for his coworkers. Sid was the true definition of a friend. He was someone you wanted to spend time with, someone who was honest and someone that you respected. Following Sid's passing, the Finance Department established the Sid Talbert Finance Core Values Award so the department could honor Sid’s memory by recognizing one City coworker each year. This coworker should represent the Finance Team Values that Sid helped develop. Sid practiced what he preached and he believed in each of these values: fairness, dedicated service, honesty, and trust.
"This award represents Sid as the simple man that he was," said Finance Director Pam Hinson. "It is not fancy and it is not be awarded in a big ceremony, but what it will do is represent Sid in the best way we know how. We think he would be happy to know we are taking the time to thank those who exemplify the true meaning of friendship in the workplace. It is our way to say thank you for being a friend to your coworkers, and thank you for being fair, honest, trust worthy and dedicated to service." In 2018, Greg Neal on Finance's Customer Care team was named the inaugural Sid Talbert Awardee. This year, Allen Gayden of the Buildings and Grounds Department was presented with the 2019 Sid Talbert Award (TOP – Neal on left, Gayden on right). Both are excellent members of Team Concord and represent the City's Core Values along with those most special to Sid Talbert. Greg Spears (MIDDLE) finished second place in the International SWANA Road-E-O Competition! This competition promotes skill and safety in solid waste and allows front line employees to show off their on-the-job skills operating machinery, driving trucks, and repairing equipment. Mandy Smith-Thompson (BOTTOM) was selected as the Environmental Educators of NC Outstanding Practitioner of the Year for 2019! Mandy was recognized for creating programs that have led to cleaners streams, addressing the need for native plants in Concord, assembling Cabarrus area environmental educators, and more.
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Concord's Water Resources Department Wastewater team was chosen as the 2019 Wastewater Collection System of the Year by the North Carolina Water Works Association. This is the third time the City of Concord has received this recognition. This award was established identify and recognize the municipality that protects the public health and the natural beauty of the environment through pro-active practices of management, operations and maintenance beyond what is required of its North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality collection system permit. The association notes the award honors the collection system personnel that serve their community with a high level of professionalism and diligent work in the operation and maintenance of their wastewater collection system facilities. •
Mayor Dusch Asks Community For Hurricane Relief For Freeport, Bahamas – a Sister City of Concord In August, representatives from Freeport, Bahamas visited Concord as part of our partnership as Sister Cities. Freeport is located on Grand Bahama Island, which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian the first week of September. As we saw in the news, Dorian made landfall over the Bahamas as a category 5 storm with wind gusts up to 200 miles per hour. Pictures and videos from Freeport show the destruction: inundation of seawater, leveling of many homes, and worst of all—the loss of life. The people of our Sister City Freeport need our help and Concord’s efforts to help our Sister City have begun. Following the storm, City officials, staff, and Concord Sister Cities Association members were in nearly daily contact with Freeport to get updates and start the development of ways we can help with the rebuild. We were also in contact with our US Representative Richard Hudson and our state leaders to join us in relief efforts. The City asked for the community's help to raise funds, food, and building supplies as the island rebuild plan is developed. Many have already expressed willingness to provide on-site construction help when requested. It is important that all of our community members stay involved and be willing to help our Sister City as their needs are better known. To start off, a fundraiser has been established at together.bealiv.com/ campaign/29/hurricane-dorian-reliefhope-mobile. Recommended by Sister Cities International, it benefits 700 Partners, a nonprofit started in 2014 by Ginger Moxey, one of Freeport's Sister Cities representatives who visited Concord in August. Mayor Bill Dusch asks everyone in Concord to consider a gift to this cause. We will keep you informed as the recovery plans evolve. Donna Carpenter, President/CEO, Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Concord Sister Cities Board Chair added, "We’re thinking of our friends in Concord’s Sister City of Freeport, Bahamas and praying for them as they recover from the effects of Hurricane Dorian. On behalf of the Sister Cities Board here in Concord, Mayor Dusch is in communication with the country’s representatives and we’re ready to assist however we’re able once we learn what will best support their efforts."
City Of Concord Water Resources Director Passes Away After Illness Christie (Putnam) Huneycutt, Concord’s Water Resources Director, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2019 after an extended illness fought with courage, determination, and humor. Huneycutt joined the City of Concord in December of 2008 as the City’s Stormwater Services Director. Her responsibilities grew over the next four years as the City’s Water and Wastewater services were combined into a single Water Resources Department under her leadership. She played a key role during the final years of Concord’s 16-year effort in partnership with Kannapolis and Albemarle to bring additional water supply to Cabarrus County. “Christie will be sorely missed by all of her colleagues at the City of Concord,” said City Manager Lloyd Payne. “She had a tremendous and positive impact on those she worked with and served. She was known for always fighting for what she believed in and working to make herself and those around her a little better today than they were yesterday. Christie will always be remembered as a friend and valuable member of Team Concord.” Prior to her work in Concord, she served in engineering and leadership roles for Union County Government, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (now known as Charlotte Water), and private sector municipal water consultants. She held a degree in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and was a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina active in professional and community associations. In addition to her mother, Billie Jane Martin, she is survived by her husband, Scott Huneycutt, sons, Will, Walt, and Wes Putnam; stepdaughter, Kayla Huneycutt; stepsons, Adam and Cameron Huneycutt; brother, Craig Martin and wife Hope; and two nieces, Savannah and Grace Martin. The Huneycutt family would like to extend a special thanks to the Levine Cancer Institute at Atrium Health-Cabarrus, for their special care during declining health. Donations can be made to Cancer Services through NorthEast Foundation, 920 Church St., Concord, NC 28025 or givenortheastfoundation.org/donate.
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Get social with your local Complete Count Committee on Twitter at #Count4Cabarrus.
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Members Of The Community Complete 18th Concord 101
T
he Concord 101 class of 2019 was recognized with a graduation ceremony on November 26. This year's class included 43 active community members who were thanked at the ceremony by Mayor Bill Dusch for their involvement in the program. Concord 101 is designed to inform citizens about their local government. Participants met on Tuesday afternoons or evenings and learned about what it takes to run City services such as solid waste and recycling, public utilities, police, fire, parks and recreation, and more. The course also included special sessions about Concord’s history, economic development, and tourism. The free 14-week course began in August. The class was first offered in 2002, and alumni are a diverse representation of the community. Some are now serving in leadership roles in their neighborhoods or on City boards and commissions. Council Members Jennifer Parsley and John Sweat are both graduates of the program.
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2019 participants were: FRONT ROW: Bridgett Williams,
Lauren Bredolo, Carl Russo, Angel Valladares, Bobbie Jo McDonald, Mary Santiago, Kim Hartsock, Marianne Scully, Joy Pinto; 2ND ROW: Karin Lord, Bonnie Ray; 3RD ROW: Elaine Miller, LaWanda Blair-Foster, Blaze Walker, Quinton Locklear, Greg Mills, Cindy Hanson; 4TH ROW: Sophia Cliffe, Bruce McCormick, Sarah McMurry, Claudia Ambersley, Nancy Gilmore, Patricia Moor; 5TH ROW: Rosalind Lawrence, Pete Lawrence, Jane Baker; 6TH ROW: John Pyndus, Judy Taylor, Patricia Swift, Martin Ericson, Dave Gilmore Jesse Aguilar, Laura Aguilar, Carmen Cook, Gricelda de la Cruz, Ivonne Erion, Scott Kerkhoff, Natalie Marles, Edwards Pedrick, Amelia Phipps, CJ Phipps, Celeste Troutman, Steve Troutman
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At the ceremony, City Manager Lloyd Payne encouraged the graduates to take an active role in the community. He also welcomed continuing feedback on City services and programs. The next class will begin in fall of 2020, with applications available in May. Learn more about Concord 101 at concordnc.gov/concord101. •
Sign Up For The 2020 Public Safety Academy The City of Concord believes in creating partnerships with the citizens who live and work in our City. We believe this partnership keeps our quality of life at a high level and allows us to provide the best municipal services possible. To help build this partnership, Concord Communications, Emergency Management, Fire, and Police staff are proud to announce the 16th Citizen Public Safety Academy. This course will allow citizens to learn about the functions of Concord’s public safety departments, meet staff, and help us evaluate the services we provide. The nine-week academy will begin February 4, 2020. Consecutive classes will be held each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Three classes will be taught by Concord Fire staff, including presentations on the various services provided as well as how all of us can be safer in our daily lives. The Concord Police Department will instruct three classes on all functions of the department and give an in-depth look at its evidencebased community policing philosophy. One class each is scheduled with Communications, to explain what happens when you call 911, and Emergency Management, to help you learn how the City plans for and responds to disasters and other emergencies. The ninth week will be a graduation dinner to honor academy participants. Class participants will be urged to participate in an exchange of information that will benefit all involved. Class size is limited to 20, so please visit concordnc.gov/Resident/Public-Safety-Academy
to learn more and download an application. Applications are due January 28. You may also contact Leslie Griffin at the Police Department (email: griffinl@concordnc.gov; mail: P.O. Box 308, Concord NC, 28026; fax: 704-920-6970).
Concord Mobile Care
Introducing: ClearWater In September, the Concord City Council amended the "ClearWater Artist Studios" name to "ClearWater" with the tag line of "Arts Center & Studios" to better reflect the growth and increasing activity occurring at the facility. Over ten years ago the City of Concord, in concert with the Gibson Village Community, envisioned a new use for the former Water Works facility to act as a catalyst for growth and change within Gibson Village. The result was ClearWater Artist Studios. As a community and economic development project, the repurposed buildings transformed into space for artist to rent, a highly recognized gallery, a community room for events and activities, as well as newly completed classroom space. As each phase of renovation is complete, new ideas for activities, expanding interest and or uses have developed. Stakeholders recently suggested that updating the name would avoid the perception that ClearWater is exclusive to studios or steering away from a key goal of being an art center. Having Arts Center within the tag line is expressive of more activities than just renting studio space. The center is now known as Clearwater, and you can find out more at clearwaterartists.com.
You can now report pot holes, street light malfunctions, and many other non-emergency 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. concordnc.gov • WINTER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 15
From The Mayor continued from page 3 schools. There are 180 planes based at Concord-Padgett with an assessed tax value of $139 million. We have 5 community hangars, 67 T-Hangars, and 9 leased hangars. The area surrounding the airport entrance has been prime commercial and industrial property for the community, including FlyRight aviation training offering full motion FAA certified flight simulators. In 2013, commercial service with Allegiant Air started in Concord. Today, Allegiant offers non-stop service to 6 Florida cities and New Orleans, with a total of 1,500 Allegiant flights departing Concord-Padgett this year. With the continued support of the City Council, many partners, and of course the dedicated Aviation Department staff, I know we will have more growth in 2020 and beyond. It was wonderful to be at a special event last month celebrating the last 25 years and commemorating the renaming of the airport for Mayor Scott Padgett. Please turn to page 7 for photos from this event. Congratulations to Concord-Padgett Regional Airport for its first 25 years! I look forward to seeing what the next 25 hold. •
Manager’s Notes continued from page 3 provide excellent customer service. While we aim for perfection, we are not perfect and will not get it right every time. When we err, we will step up, own it, and make it right. We are honored to serve you as your public servants. I hope you will agree with me that we have an incredible City which has yet to reach its full potential. We will continue to partner with you as we join hands in our effort to be the very best City we can be – for you and for each other. •
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About the cover:
Concord’s 22nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks on November 22 was sponsored by Atrium Health and Uwharrie Bank. The Concord Police Department’s ceremonial mounted unit participated in the tree lighting and the following day’s parade for the second year. Pictured are Lieutenant Cydney McGhee on Titan and Lieutenant Lance Brooks on Miss Kay. 16 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2020 • concordnc.gov
City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies .............................. 911 Customer Care Center ................................ 704-920-5555 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: Main Switchboard ............................................704-920-5200 Buildings & Grounds .........................................704-920-5380 City Clerk ........................................................704-920-5205 City Manager ...................................................704-920-5215 Communications ..............................................704-920-5580 Concord Regional Airport ..................................704-920-5900 Electric Systems ..............................................704-920-5320 Engineering .....................................................704-920-5425 Finance ..........................................................704-920-5220 Fire Department Administration .........................704-920-5516 Fleet Services...................................................704-920-5430 Housing...........................................................704-920-6100 Human Resources ...........................................704-920-5100 Meter Reading .................................................704-920-5219 Parks & Recreation ..........................................704-920-5600 Planning & Neighborhood Development ..............704-920-5152 Police (non-emergency) ....................................704-920-5000 Public Affairs ...................................................704-920-5210 Purchasing ......................................................704-920-5440 Rider Transit ....................................................704-920-7433 Risk Management.............................................704-920-5111 Rocky River Golf Club .......................................704-455-1200 Solid Waste .....................................................704-920-5361 Tax Collector ....................................................704-920-5216 TTY/North Carolina Relay ................................................... 711 Transportation .................................................704-920-5338 Water Resources ..............................................704-920-5342 Zoning/Permits ................................................704-920-5152
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