I need your feedback! Your input is needed on some issues that I would like to address as a City. One is our

street improvement plan for the future, and the other is the need for public transportation. The following is

the background information along with my proposed solutions:

I think we can all agree that many of our city streets are in need of improvement. The City did a study of all

our city streets by outside experts and they have prioritized our paving needs. The study consists of a 5-year

program to repave streets based on current road conditions. We have allocated about $200,000 each year to

accomplish this goal. The funds received from the State, based upon gas tax revenues, have remained about

the same even though the cost of asphalt has increased significantly. So, paving doesn’t go as far as it used

to. We could do more road projects if we were able to increase funding.

One solution is the state allows us, using state statute G.S. 20-97(b1) to charge an annual tag fee of up to

$30. I would propose a $20 fee per vehicle that is only collected when you renew your tag. It would

generate $160,000. That would mean that we could improve more roads in Kings Mountain. The only other

option is to raise property tax by 1 cent to achieve the same amount or we could do nothing and remain on

the current funding level.

We also have a real need to provide transportation to those that don’t have a way. Where getting to the

doctor, drug store, and grocery store is a real problem. Many of us have a car to get around but some of our

citizens don’t have that luxury. That same state statute would allow us to use $40,000 of that $160,000 to

fund a public transit system to help those without a way. With using it as a 10 % match funding with Federal

and State dollars this would add up to an operational budget of $400,000. My proposal would not only just

set up bus stops, because it will surely fail, because people have a hard time getting to the stops. Riders

could call 24 hours in advance to schedule a pick up. Several communities have done this and ridership is

doing well www.Choanokepta.org. Eventually, we could connect to the Gastonia Transit system to open up

more opportunities to connect to an expanded area round trip. I think it is important that all of the citizens of

Kings Mountain have the chance to have a good quality of life and this would be a step in the right direction!

What do you think?

Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QT3F82B or scan the URL code. Thank you for taking

the time to give me your input. Together we can continue to move Kings Mountain forward!

CITY CALENDAR

OF

SPECIAL EVENTS

4/9 Easter Egg Hunt @

Patriots Park

4/10 Easter Friday

(City Offices Closed)

4/25 Earth Day @

Gateway Trail

5/7 National Day of Prayer

At City Hall @ Noon

www.cityofKM.com

704-734-0333

info@cityofkm.com

101 W. Gold St.

Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Council Meeting

March 31, 2020 6:00pm

April 28, 2020 6:00 pm

Council Chambers at City Hall

ELECTED OFFICIALS

www.fb.com/cityofkingsmountain

March/April 2020

Volume 6, Issue 2

A messAge from THe mAYor’s office

Mayor Scott Neisler

Councilmember Keith Miller, At Large,

Mayor Pro-Tem

Councilmember David Allen, At Large

Councilmember Annie Thombs, Ward 1

Councilmember Mike Butler, Ward 2

Councilmember Tommy Hawkins, Ward 3

Councilmember Jimmy West, Ward 4

Councilmember Jay Rhodes, Ward 5

CITY MANAGER—Marilyn Sellers

Very soon your household will receive notification from the U.S. Census Bureau

regarding the completion of your 2020 Census questionnaire. The Census takes

place every 10 years and has since the very first time the population of the United

States counted, all the way back to 1790! This is a civic duty that is mandated by the

U.S. Constitution. Being counted is your opportunity to help shape the future of

your local community and the State of North Carolina. Your responses are used to

help redraw legislative districts and determine the number of seats the State of North Carolina will have in the

U.S. House of Representatives. It also determines how federal funding is to be distributed, as well as

influencing important economic development planning. The questionnaire is basically a demographic survey,

and it will NEVER ask for personal information such as social security numbers, bank account information,

donations or political preferences. This is VERY IMPORTANT for your community, so be sure to BE COUNTED. (U.S. Department of Commerce – U.S. Census Bureau, 2020)

We are excited

to announce

that due to a

great partner-

ship between

the City and the Cleveland

County School System there are

now two tennis courts for public

use. The courts available are

located at the Kings Mountain

High School, along with

restrooms and also those at the

Kings Mountain Middle School.

These courts are for public use

except for when the schools are

utilizing them for school use or

an event.

HOLIDAY TRASH & RECYCLING SCHEDULE

The City of Kings Mountain Will be closed on Friday, April 10th in

observance of the Easter Holiday. GARBAGE and RECYCLING service

for the week is as follows:

GARBAGE: Regular Schedule

RECYCLING: ROUTES 6, 7, 8 & 9 on Regular Schedule

ROUTE 10 will be picked up on Thursday instead

of Friday

Welcome new businessES

PREMIER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION—114 E. Gold Street

RB’S BEAUTY SHOP—122 S. Cherokee Street

THE TACK SHACK, LLC—828 E. King Street

TURNING POINT ASPHALT & PAVING INC.—315 W. King Street

COLDWELL BANKER MOUNTAIN VIEW—303 S. Battleground Avenue

THIS MONTH @ THE LIBRARY

FLOWER ARRANGING CLASS Tuesday, March 10th from 1:00 pm—3:00 pm

Ages 55 and over

ART NIGHT Thursday, March 19th and Thursday, April 14th

5:30 pm—7:30 pm Classes are open to the public of all ages

Cost is $15.00

TALENT SHOW Monday, March 30th from 1:00 pm—3:00 pm

Ages 55 and over

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY Presentation Tuesday, April 14th from 11:00 am—12:00 pm.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Friday, April 17th from 10:00 am—2:30 pm

Appointments are required

MEDICARE 101 SEMINAR Thursday, April 30th

Time to be announced.

To register for an event or for more information, please contact Karen Grigg at 704-734-0447.

SPECIAL EVENTS

REMINDER from public works

Please remember that loose leaf season ended on FEBRUARY

14th. All leaves and grass clippings must

now be bagged and placed behind the

curb for pick up. It is against the law to

blow debris into the road when cutting

grass or raking leaves, as the grass and

leaves are a danger to motorcycle riders

and bicyclists and the debris washes into the storm drain clogging

the system and ending up in the creeks and streams.

NEWS FROM THE PATRICK SENIOR CENTER

TRASH PICK UP

Please remember that the City Code states that all

trash put in cans for pickup should be disposed of in

plastic trash bags. This will keep the wind from blowing

the trash out of the cans and making a mess on our

roadways. Only trash that will fit inside the garbage

can will be collected. Bags of trash around the can will

be flagged and you can pay a fee of $20.00 to get

these bags picked up, along with any other roadside

trash or debris up to a pickup truck load. Call Public Works for more

information at 704-734-0735 Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00

pm.