CORNELIUS – The financing plan for the proposed Red Line Regional Rail project is not feasible, writes John Edwards, general director of passenger policy for Norfolk Southern.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Feb. 21, Edwards tells Paul Morris, of the N.C. Department of Transportation, that while Norfolk Southern is ready to study the introduction of commuter rail service on its O Line, the company cannot support the NCDOT’s plan.

The letter states the plan is “fatally flawed” and based on assumptions about the amount of freight usage.

“For those reasons, the current proposal is not feasible and does not constitute a starting point for further discussion,” Edwards wrote.

He continued that if the NCDOT wants to continue pursuing commuter rail on the O Line, Norfolk Southern “will be ready to begin the study based upon updated freight operating assumptions, and the correct financial, tax, liability and regulatory models.”

Edwards said that process won’t be short or easy, and it will be expensive.

See Friday’s print edition of Mooresville Weekly for more on this story, including reactions from those leaders involved in the project.

“Percy is an awesome brother in Christ, and we are hoping to encourage him, allow him some time to rest, and learn from him while he is here,” said ministry director Aaron Dumford. “We want to know what God is doing in Africa and what it means to be a more radical follower of Jesus.”

The ministry will sell plates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Lions Club parking lot on the corner of Brawley School and Williamson roads.

The $10 meal will include baked beans, coleslaw and a roll.

Order in advance by contacting Dumford at 704-264-9552 or adumford@yahoo.com. The group will deliver for orders made by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The property includes the Agape Child Development and Learning Center. The center has a small pool and gym, as well as classroom space, which could be used for after-school programs and mentoring, according to Town Manager Erskine Smith.

The town will use $400,000 in leftover money from the 2005 Recreation Bond and $1.55 million from the fund balance to buy the property. Smith anticipates closing on the deal by April and possibly opening the center in the summer.

Town commissioners approved the purchase during their Monday, Feb. 20, board meeting.

Commissioner Thurman Houston praised the project for giving children, particularly in Meadowlark Glen and Piedmont Pointe apartments, a safe, nurturing environment to go after school.

“This is going to be a place where kids can feel safe,” Houston said.

Four residents spoke against the proposal, which would involve the town putting up Mooresville Town Hall and the Charles Mack Citizen Center as collateral and imposing special assessments on the development.

Residents Larry Gregory, George Mullins and Roy Harris told commissioners to let developers get their financing from a bank, so that residents wouldn’t be put at risk.

“If they want to build great things, I say ‘God bless them,’ but don’t use us a bank,” Harris said.

Principals for the project, Rick Howard and David Parker, said bank financing is not available in this economic climate. Howard urged commissioners to step back from the specifics of installment financing and consider the economic benefits of the project, namely increased property and sales tax revenue.

“We’re hung up on little things right now,” Howard said. “There’s a big, big picture here. In my personal opinion, there’s no risk.”

Commissioners will consider approving the proposal next month, according to Mayor Miles Atkins. Meanwhile, the board approved an agreement with Maryland-based MuniCap Inc. for consulting services to research particulars regarding special assessments.

Pick up a copy of Mooresville Weekly from Feb. 24 to March 1 to read more about the project.

Tim Brewer. Courtesy of Mitchell Community College

He’ll assume the role next month. Brewer, executive vice president and chief academic officer at Mitchell, will replace Douglas Eason, whom retires after 22 years as president.
Brewer began his community college career as an instructor at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. That experience led him to pursue a career in community college administration.

Prior to Mitchell, he worked as executive assistant to Martin Lancaster, then-president of the N.C. Community College System. He later became executive director of the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges.

Brewer and his wife, Shannon, live in Mooresville. They have two children.

Town and county commissioners approved similar resolutions this month. Here’s the Lake Norman Transportation Commission’s resolution in it’s entirety:

To Endorse the NCDOT Mobility Fund Application for funding to convert the I-77/NC 150 Interchange (Exit 36) to a Diverging Diamond Interchange for the benefit of reducing congestion along the NC 150 Corridor

Whereas, the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission is a joint agency of the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mooresville; and

Whereas, the sole objective of the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission is to “advocate for any and all transportation improvements in the Lake Norman region;” and

Whereas, the N.C. 150 corridor experiences significant congestion in the vicinity of the intersections with the I-77 ramps creating congestion and mobility problems for the citizens of the Lake Norman region; and

Whereas, the NCDOT Mobility Fund has issued a call for applications to fund improvement projects on the regional and statewide transportation system throughout North Carolina; and

Whereas, N.C. 150 and I-77 are classified as statewide tier facilities by NCDOT in the vicinity of Exit 36; and

Whereas, NCDOT has studied the feasibility of a DDI conversion at this interchange and determined that this interchange improvement would reduce delays in the area by 50 percent; and

Whereas, NCDOT – Division 12 staff is in support of the Town of Mooresville’s application for funding to convert the I-77/N.C. 150 interchange to a DDI; and

Whereas, the estimated cost of this project would be $8 million and the NCDOT Mobility Fund does not require a local match; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission endorses the NCDOT Mobility Fund Application to convert the I-77/N.C. 150 Interchange (Exit 36) to a Diverging Diamond Interchange for the benefit of reducing congestion along the N.C. 150 corridor.

The program offers tuition-free college credits for qualified juniors and seniors in public, charter, private, and home schools.

Students can take credits towards one of two pathways. College transfer credits will transfer to all UNC institutions and many North Carolina private colleges and universities. Technical career credits will go toward an entry-level job credential or diploma.
The Mooresville session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at room 117 in Mitchell’s new classroom building, 235 N. Academy St.

The Statesville session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the Continuing Education Auditorium, 701 W. Front St.

Details: 704-978-5441 or www.mitchellcc.edu/high-school/career-college-promise.cfm.

Carole Moses, a counselor with Samaritan Counseling, will serve as guest speaker for the Feb. 22 program. She’ll talk about the emotional effects of the disease.

On Feb. 29, Tracy Gibson, from Home Instead, will talk about the choice between home or facility care. The series is open to the community.

Details: 704-664-2324.

Rebecca Patt has not yet found her cat, Biscuit. Courtesy of Rebecca Patt.

Mooresville Weekly reported on Patt’s search for her missing cat last month, after learning that she had gone to great lengths to find him, including creating a website, posting on popular Facebook pages and flooding the Brawley School Road peninsula with fliers.

“It seems like everyone I talk to when I am out searching is aware of the search for Biscuit because of the article, all the posters and fliers, and the website,” Patt said. “I wish that Biscuit would hurry up and come home already, or if there is someone who knows something about his whereabouts, they would come forward and give me details.”

She encourages people to call her immediately if they see Biscuit. Her number is 831-332-7322.