Mint Hill Times Online

HAWK: keeping Mecklenburg for the animals

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Derek Lacey

Mecklenburg County can lose up to 41 acres per day to development, and one organization has started in their own backyards to get some of those acres back for the Mecklenburg area’s wildlife.

Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, or HAWK, is a grassroots organization of like-minded individuals who share an interest in conserving the environment and wildlife in the area.

HAWK is a chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and is the first national chapter of the wildlife federation in North Carolina.

Their territory is Southeastern Mecklenburg County and parts of Union County, but they are based in Matthews, where the organization has done extensive work.

“We are an enthusiastic group of wildlife lovers,” said HAWK treasurer and co-founder Carol Buie-Jackson.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged environment, Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, HAWK, Matthews, Mint Hill, wildlife | Leave a comment

Goose Creek Moratorium lifted

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Derek Lacey

By Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

The moratorium on new water connections in the Goose Creek basin has been lifted after more than a decade.

The moratorium, first established in 2002 to protect the federally endangered Carolina Heelsplitter Mussel, was lifted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission by an unanimous vote Thursday, May 9.

The mussel lives in the Goose Creek Basin, but none have been found in Mint Hill.

The Goose Creek Basin covers the southeastern portion of the town, an area where roughly 30 percent of the Town of Mint Hill’s population resides.

The moratorium has kept a large number of Mint Hill residents from receiving water service from Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities.

“I’m really excited that folks that have been in town for many, many years now have the option of tapping onto Charlotte Mecklenburg water,” said Town Manager Brian Welch.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Brian Welch, Carolina Heelsplitter mussel, Charlotte Mecklenburg utilities, Goose Creek Moratorium, Mint Hill, North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, water rights | Leave a comment

The Rain Exchange: saving water, saving money

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Derek Lacey

Water is expensive. It’s a necessity. It’s a commodity. And it falls right out of the sky.

Mark Hazen and Michael Helms realized this, and realized that water shortages can be a serious problem and expense to homeowners, and have worked for nearly the past year to establish The Rain Exchange.

The Rain Exchange installs a system to catches the rainwater that falls on a homeowner’s home or property, and stores that water in an underground storage tank for later use.

“We’re starting to see that water is getting more and more expensive, and we have customers who spend $800-900 per month on their water bill,” Hazen said, adding that this system could save 60-65 percent of that water usage.

The way the system works is simple, The Rain Exchange will install downspouts on the house’s gutters, collecting all runoff rainwater from the roof and diverting it into a buried storage tank.

Connected to that storage tank is a pump, which allows that water to be used in a number of ways, depending on what the homeowner would like to use it for.

Mainly the water is used for irrigation, washing cars, and general outdoor water use, but it can also be piped back into the home and used in toilets and washing machines, and if a special filter or purification system is installed, could even be used as drinking water.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged grey water, Mint Hill, The Rain Exchange, water conservancy | Leave a comment

It’s Your Business: Cottage Yarn

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Derek Lacey

By Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

Lyn Millward, owner of Cottage Yarn in Mint Hill. Photo by Derek Lacey

Lyn Millward first learned to knit as a teenager, an exchange student in Sweden between her junior and senior year in high school.

But as life happened, she drifted away from the art, until her daughter received yarn and knitting supplies for her eleventh birthday.

She relearned how to knit to help teach her daughter, and it wasn’t long until she was knitting, crocheting, learning new skills and even teaching classes at her LYS (local yarn shop), Cottage Yarn in Mint Hill.

Her daughter, Chloe, worked at the shop on weekends, and one day,the previous owner called to let Chloe know she was retiring. Lyn was concerned about the future of the store, and would eventually take over as owner.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged business, Cottage yarn, crocheting, It's Your Business, knitting, Lyn Millward, Mint Hill, supplies, yarn | Leave a comment

Mint Hill board holds budget workshop

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Derek Lacey

Mint Hill commissioners and staff meet to discuss the 2013-2014 town budget. PHOTO BY DEREK LACEY

The Mint Hill Board of Commissioners met with other town leaders to discuss and plan the 2013- 2014 budget at a workshop meeting Tuesday, April 23.

Budget requests were presented from Mint Hill Fire and EMS, public works and police department, and commissioners approved special requests from nonprofits in Mint Hill.

David Leath, Fire/EMS Director presented the Fire Department’s budget report to the commissioners. The budget will stay much the same as the 2012-2013 budget, requesting more money for uniforms, turnout gear and office supplies.

Leath requested $20,550 for new uniforms, a cost that breaks down to $925 per employee, as well as $12,500 for five complete sets of new turnout gear, and $2,000 for a new computer for the department.

Tim Garner, public works director, presented the budget request for the public works division, which included four items: a backhoe at $93,500, two mower decks at $12,800, lettering and decals for trucks at $2,964.00, and repair costs for the town’s street sweeper, at $58,659.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Brian Welch, Budget, Chamber of Commerce, Levine Senior Center, Mint Hill, Mint Hill Board of Commissioners, mint hill historical society, Mint Hill Youth Football, Ted Biggers, Tim Ledford | Leave a comment

Submit your Mother’s Day story!

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Derek Lacey

Mother’s Day is May 12 and we want to hear why your mother is special. E-mail us in 100 words or less what your mother means to you. You may also send us a picture. Email: news@minthilltimes.com or post it on our Facebook page. You may also mail us your story to PO Box 690577, Mint Hill, NC 28227. The best story will receive a gift card and will run in our Mother’s Day issue May 9.
The deadline for submissions is May 6, 12 noon.

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Mint Hill, mint hill times, Mother's Day | 1 Comment

Adventures and history in herbs

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Derek Lacey

by Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

The herb garden at the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village. The doctor’s museum is in the background. PHOTO BY DEREK LACEY

At the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village, right next to the Doctor’s Museum, which showcases historical medicinal techniques, there sits a small herb garden.

Roses, Foxglove, Thyme, sage, lavender, oregano, peppermint, and even catnip all grow in the garden, and all have medicinal properties and were once used by doctors.

In 1997, Virginia Frazier helped a Girl Scout, Blair Gutledge, with her project, an herb garden at the Mint Hill Historical Society.

After Gutledge grew out of girl scouts and moved on, Virginia and her daughter Brenda Dills would resurrect the neglected herb garden every year, to keep the plants growing and healthy. They decided it would be smarter and easier to just maintain the garden themselves, which they still do today.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged adventures in herbs, Carl J. McEwen Historic Village, doctors museum, gardening, herbs, Mint Hill, Mint Hill herb guild, mint hill historical society, Union County Herb guild | Leave a comment

Mint Hill hears from Tarte, Brawley at Town Hall

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Derek Lacey

by Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

State Rep. Bill Brawley and Sen. Jeff Tarte answered questions from residents about state matters. PHOTO BY DEREK LACEY

State representatives Bill Brawley, House District 103, and Jeff Tarte, Senate District 41, stopped by the Mint Hill Town Hall Saturday, April 13, to field questions from residents and give insight into pressing state matters.

Less than 20 people attended the meeting, but among them were Mint Hill Mayor Ted Biggers and town commissioners Lloyd Austin and Mickey Ellington.

The meeting began with discussion on the proposed formation of an airport authority fot the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Brawley is the primary sponsor of House Bill 104, which is creating the airport authority, and cited that the Charlotte airport is sixth in the nation for number of flights, and twenty-seventh by number of passengers.

“We hit way above our weight class, as far as number of flights,” Brawley said. “Part of the reason is because of the low cost to operate out of Charlotte Douglas, and that has been because of the way the airport has been managed for a number of years.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Bill Brawley, Charlotte Douglas Airport authority, Jeff Tarte, Mecklenburg County Revaluation, Mint Hill, Ted Biggers, Town Hall | 1 Comment

Board of Commissioner hear proposed change to sign ordinance, set summer schedule

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Derek Lacey

by Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

The board hears from Stephen Jackson, who requested changes to the town’s ordinance con- cerning lighted signs. PHOTO BY DEREK LACEY

The April 11 Mint Hill Board of Commissioners meeting began with a quarterly developers’ workshop, regarding sign ordinance in the town.

Stephen Jackson presented a proposed text amendment to town code, one that would allow for lit signs, and allow them to change messages, something that is prohibited by current code.

The existing ordinance regarding lighted signs states that the signs shall employ only devices emitting light of constant intensity and that no sign shal be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light.

Jackson proposed changing the ordinance so that the police and fire departments, as well as local businesses, could convey messages to the community, and could change those messages if need be.

He did not advocate for signs to be able to flash, rotate, or move, but used as an example the Town of Matthews’ ordinance, which states that signs may change only once every 12 hours.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Board of Commissioners, lighted sign ordinance, Mint Hill, sign ordinance, Stephen Jackson, town of mint hill | 1 Comment

Discover Mint Hill celebrates history and culture for sixth year

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Derek Lacey

by Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

Gold panning, double-decker bus tours, and Wilgrove steaks come back to Mint Hill this weekend for Discover Mint Hill, the annual celebration of the town’s history and culture.

This Saturday, April 20, marks the sixth year for Discover Mint Hill, and Historical Society Executive Director Sue McDonald says nearly everything is ready for the day of activities, fun, and learning about Mint Hill at “Discovery Square.”

The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm at the intersection of Bain School Road and Matthews-Mint Hill Road, in front of the Historical Society’s Carl J. McEwen Historic Village.

Civic and cultural organizations from Mint Hill will host booths, where attendees can learn about those groups, participate in activities and win prizes.

Sixteen community organizations will be represented, including the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Police and Fire Departments, library, Mint Hill Arts, and the Mint Hill Women’s Club, all with booths showcasing their involvement in the community.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged Discover Mint Hill, Discover Mint Hill 2013, historical society, Mint Hill, Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce | Leave a comment

Remembering our environment: Earth Day 2013

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Derek Lacey

This Monday, April 22 marks the 43rd annual Earth Day, a day of support for our natural surroundings.

It all started in 1970, when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed the devastation of an oil spill in 1969 Santa Barbara, Calif. He coordinated the effort with other politicians, the press and schools, and by April 22, 20 million Americans rallied coast to coast for the sake of the environment.

This event led to the modern American environmental political agenda, spurring the foundation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Since, the movement has gone global, and Earth Day itself is largely credited with birthing the modern environmental movement worldwide.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town, Good deeds, History | Tagged 2013, awareness, Earth Day, environmental, Mint Hill | Leave a comment

MHPD renovation on track

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Derek Lacey

by Derek Lacey / Staff Writer

Renovations are underway, and soon the Mint Hill Police Department will move across the street into their new station in the old town hall.

Work began in March at the old town hall, 7151 Matthews Mint Hill Road, by Charlotte-based general contractors Edifice Inc., who is handling the renovation.

Mint Hill has worked with Edifice before, as they led the project to build the new town hall.

At the March 14 Board of Commissioners meeting, the board adopted the capital projects ordinance for the police department renovation, which appropriated funds for the project totaling $2,043,036.

The ordinance sets aside the most, $1,758,036, for general construction, with smaller amounts for contingencies, design, furnishings, and moving costs.

“No. Hopefully less,” said Town Manager Brian Welch, when asked if he thought the town would spend more than the allotted monies. “That ($2,043,036) contains some contingencies and some estimates for furniture and the like, so I fully anticipate to bring it in a little under that.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Around Town | Tagged government, Mint Hill, Mint Hill police department renovation, police department | Leave a comment