Tuesday, November 17, 2009 — Monday evening's meeting of the Stanly County Commissioners was a short one in minutes spent, but a long one in matters discussed.
Stanly County Extension Agent Lori Ivey presented a short summary of the Stanly County Farmland Protection Plan, then two farm families were represented as they spoke in favor of the plan before the commissioners.
Farmer Franklin Lee from Norwood commented, “Our farmlands are very important to the quality of life we have here in Stanly County. Once farm land goes into an alternative use, it is lost for good.”
Jan Lee Watson said her father moved to Stanly County in 1946 from Anson County, buying farm land on the county line, and if she gets her wish, “it will always be a farm.”
Both Lee and Watson spoke to the strong economic impact of farming on the Stanly County economy and Watson discussed the projections of continued population growth in North Carolina and the need to protect farm land from becoming new sub-divisions.
Next, Carl Helms and Chris Story updated the commissioners on the Community Inn – Stanly County's homeless shelter. Story, who is its director, said that on three occasions he has had to turn people away because the Community Inn was full.
While keeping homeless fed and warm is one goal, assisting them back to a productive life is the deeper goal. To date, two men have been helped with finding jobs in Charlotte and Helms and Story are hoping for financial help from the commissioners to expand their efforts.
Finally, Economic Director Kevin Gullette reported on the Federal Contracting Symposium, The event had 430 people register and 320 attend, all in search of how to do business in part of the economy that is flourishing – the military.
On this seemingly quiet night, there was deep passion for making life in Stanly County better for all of us.
