Feb. 27 - March 5, 2015
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Council, fire department debate best way to raise cap on fire tax The town council wants to put a 5-cent increase on the fire tax cap to a vote, while the fire department feels a fire service district overlay is the better option
by GERRI HUNT STOKESDALE – If all goes as a majority of the town council hopes, a 5-cent increase in the fire tax cap will be put to a vote by Stokesdale citizens in November. The fire tax in Stokesdale is currently maxed out at 10 cents per $100 of assessed property value, leaving no wiggle room if the fire department needs extra funds.
On Feb. 12, Councilman Bill Jones was authorized to send a letter on behalf of the town to state legislators requesting the law be changed to allow a 5-cent increase in the tax cap be put to a vote by citizens versus requiring a petition signed by 35 percent of Stokesdale property owners who also live in the district. Either way, Guilford County Commission-
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief........................... 3 Your Questions ....................... 4 Stokesdale Town Council ..... 6 On a mission: Jake Strauss ... 8 High School Sports .............. 10 Student Profiles .....................11 Crime/Incident Report ........ 14 Community Calendar ......... 15 Letters/Opinions .................. 16 Grins & Gripes .......................17 Classifieds ............................ 19 Index of Advertisers ............ 23
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Town representatives oppose allowing trucks with twin trailers on N.C. 68 NCDOT considers allowing ‘waggle tails’ on two-lane stretch of N.C. 68, between I-40 and U.S. 220 by PATTI STOKES NW GUILFORD – A letter recently mailed out by an NCDOT traffic safety engineer to affected municipalities in Guilford and Rockingham counties is a cause of great concern for Oak Ridge
A two-lane stretch of N.C. 68, between I-40 and U.S. 220, is being considered for use by trucks with twin trailers.
and Stokesdale town representatives. DOT’s Lisa Avery said the letter, which informed affected municipalities that DOT is considering designating N.C. 68 between I-40 and U.S. 220 in Guilford and Rockingham Counties for use by trucks with twin trailers, was in response to a private citizen’s request. According to Avery, DOT’s next step is to conduct a traffic engineering study on this section of N.C. 68.
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For DOT to designate that stretch of N.C. 68 for trucks with twin trailers is dangerous and irresponsible” Oak Ridge Town Councilman Spencer Sullivan