County Commissioner Karen Bentley Update

Happy New Year. Thank you for taking the time to browse through the newest edition of my monthly newsletter. I will be sending out a monthly newsletter by email in the coming months to keep you informed of the Board of Commissions here in Mecklenburg County. There are many important decisions on the horizon. Please subscribe to my newsletter (below) so that you can stay informed of County issues that may affect you. Feel free to forward my newsletter to your friends and family. As the 2008 election cycle is now upon us, I want to encourage your active participation in my campaign efforts. Thank you for your continued support.
Best Regards,
Commissioner Karen Bentley
CMS UpdateEarlier in the month, the Board of County Commissioners met with the Board of Education. The meeting included discussions about the role of Public-Private Partnerships in school construction, the process by which CMS estimates student enrollment and the potential impact on funding, and the state lottery and how those funds are used locally.

Mecklenburg�s Drought

Still in the midst of a stage 3 drought since the beginning of October 2007, the county is teetering on the border of being in a stage 4 water crisis. A stage 3 restriction imposes on a community a reduction in the usage of water by 10% to 20%. From all estimations available, it appears that if there is little to no rain in the coming weeks we will soon see ourselves in a Stage 4 situation within the next two months. The drought could cause Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities to lose $20 million in the usual budget because as less water is being consumed due to the restrictions not as much revenue is being made on behalf of the utility company. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will continue to monitor the situation and take the steps necessary to effectively manage our drought situation.


Mecklenburg Sheriff Special Election

There has been a firestorm of drama over the process in which Nick Mackey was poised for the position of Sheriff. The NC Democrat Party will hold a hearing on February 2 regarding the process through which Mr. Mackey was selected. The Republicans on the BOCC continue to believe that state law gives the power to the Board of Commissioners to appoint the Sheriff rather than to a local political party. Stay tuned for further developments in the coming days.

Police Chief Search

Charlotte is actively searching for its next Police Chief. Candidates are urged to apply up until February 15th. City Manager Kurt Walton will be seeking the help of many city and county officials including the Board of Commissioners in his decision process. Walton is organizing a committee of individuals that will be instrumental in guiding the choice of the next police chief.

Social Services Strain in Mecklenburg

The population of Mecklenburg�s low income and homeless is on the rise. Local social service offices report a huge influx of requests for assistance. Many people are making their way to Charlotte with the notion that jobs are plentiful only to find out once they arrive and begin their job search that it is not as easy as they anticipated. The social services agencies are clamping down tighter on eligibility restrictions for their services. People from rural areas and smaller cities are flocking to Charlotte to find opportunity because of the unemployment rates in their particular location. Many labor-intensive jobs are being outsourced or made obsolete with the use of machinery. County money is allocated to social services agencies to assist individuals having trouble making ends meet. As it is impossible to help everyone that en ds up on Charlotte�s doorstep asking for help it is important for assistance agencies to establish and implement their guidelines for whom they can help.

North Mecklenburg Crime

I attended a meeting last week to listen to many residents in the Mountain Island Lake area. They explained that neighborhoods are suffering due to foreclosures, unkempt rental houses and increasing crime. According to law enforcement, many of the burglaries are carried out by teenagers who are skipping or are suspended from school. CMS is working closely with CMPD to monitor and respond to this situation. I have committed to working through County Code Enforcement to ensure that these concerns are appropriately addressed.

Meck County Park and Recreation May 7 Commission Vote
Our Greenways and Parks are part of what makes Charlotte unique. In the last week of February, PROS Consulting of Indianapolis will host a series of meetings open to the public to unveil its plans for Mecklenburg. The February 28th meeting will be held in District 1 at the Cornelius Town Hall at 6:30pm. I encourage your attendance at this meeting. A final plan is due by April 4th from the consulting firm and the Board of Commissioners is slated to vote on the plan on May 7th.