Monday, December 3, 2012 —
David Brinkley once said, “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.”
With a new project beginning this week, everyone will be entitled to everyone’s opinion on what will be the best steps to ensure a bright future for Stanly County.
A new, three-year planning process has begun called Connect Our Future.
It is an idea that is deemed important because the region in which Stanly County is located has become one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, with the population expected to grow by 50 percent in 20 years and doubling by 2050.
This process allows residents to provide input in building a framework to address the growth in the region and assure the vitality of local communities.
Stanly Countians are asked to help with the first stages of the process by attending one of two open houses being held next week.
The first will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle.
A second open house will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Crutchfield Campus of Stanly Community College in Locust.
Albemarle Councilwoman Martha Sue Hall, who is the chair of the Centralina Council of Governments Executive Board, has reminded fellow council members and the public of its importance at city council meetings over the past few weeks.
“It’s important to hear from residents in communities throughout the region because we are developing evaluation criteria that will help guide this process as we consider how our region should grow,” Hall said in a press release.
“Open houses are designed for people to come in and share what they like about qualities and characteristics of that community. And, what do they want to preserve?” Albemarle City Manager Ray Allen said.
“If there’s a major concern their voice needs to be heard.”
These initial “needs and values” open houses will be followed next year by community meetings to explore various options for meeting the challenges of growth.
A similar process led to the redevelopment of downtown Chattanooga and the building of the Tennessee Aquarium.
The nine counties in the Knoxville, Tenn. area also held a similar visioning process where thousands participated in giving their ideas on everything from improving transportation to preserving cultural icons.
During these initial open houses, residents will be asked to submit their thoughts and ideas on what they like about this region and what they think are the biggest challenges ahead.
Residents are welcome to drop in at anytime, view exhibits, talk to the staff members and provide input.
Stanly County is not alone in this endeavour.
More than 100 local governments, businesses and non-profits in the 14-county region are participating in the three-year initiative.
Stanly County Commis-sion Chairman Lindsay Dunevant says this is an important process and all county residents should take the opportunity to participate.
“This is not a time for our county to sit on the sidelines when planning for the future,” Dunevant said.
“Stanly County needs to be right in the middle of this and be pro-active in determining our needs and the best way they can be met for the benefit of our county.”
Homepage
Public ideas sought for planning for future
- Homepage
-
-
Study confirms PCBs in Falls Reservoir, Lake Tillery
A study released Monday confirms PCB contamination of fish at three separate testing sites along the Yadkin River, according to Sandy Mort, a public health assessor with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
- Forum allows talk on workforce
- Red Cross reviews proposed budget, transportation plans
- Stanly County Sheriff's Office releases name of Groves Street victim
- Man fatally hit in Albemarle
-
Study confirms PCBs in Falls Reservoir, Lake Tillery
- Local News
-
-
GHA Autism Supports offers community supported agriculture program
On June 2, 2003, GHA Autism Supports began construction on Carolina Farms, an innovative program in the Millingport area designed to enable individuals from the autistic population to realize a dream of living and working in a farming environment in Stanly County.
- Building a Movement for Play: Non-Profit Organization KaBOOM! Names Albemarle Among 217 “Playful City USA” Communities
- Community joins for Day of Prayer
-
GHA Autism Supports offers community supported agriculture program
- Around Stanly County
-
-
Stanly County Senior Center has many activities
The following is activity information from the Stanly County Senior Center 283 N. Third St., Albemarle.
- SCC Chorus to perform free concert
- Locust to observe National Day of Prayer
-
Stanly County Senior Center has many activities
- Sports
-
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Update
In local playoff games on Friday, South Stanly hosted Albemarle in a third-round 1A baseball playoff matchup, while West Stanly hosted Piedmont in the 2A softball third-round and Gray Stone traveled to Chatham Central for a 1A third-round softball game.
- Stanly County Baseball / Softball Playoff Update
- Stanly County Baseball Playoff Notebook
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Update
- Letters to the Editor
-
-
We are not the bad guy
This letter is for staff writer Ian Faulkner. You do not seem to think the threat from North Korea is serious. Read your history of war. I’m glad that our country takes it serious.
- Citizens need to participate in health assessment
- New bill would help business
-
We are not the bad guy
- Opinion
-
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
- Google shuts down SMS search, angers people who had forgotten it existed
- Walking by Faith
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
- Lifestyles
-
-
Baird-Poplin
Scott and Sonya Baird of Georgetown, S.C. announce the engagement of their daughter, Katherine Elaine Baird of Greensboro to Matthew Ryan Poplin of Greensboro, son of Louis and Julia Poplin of Norwood.
- Presson-Luther
- Britt-Morton
-
- Features
-
-
Kia Optima is a hit with the buying public
When it comes to midsized family sedans, the Kia Optima ranks high on my list for its good looks, economy and value.
- How to get the most out of your air conditioner this summer
- Slate: New "Facebook phone" is now selling for 99 cents
-
- Regional
-
-
Pirate Excavation Education Launches QAR Shipwreck Expedition
BEAUFORT -- North Carolina students in the 4th through 8th grades can free their imaginations and ask questions about Blackbeard and the wreck of his flagship, Queen Anne's Revenge (QAR), during a live online stream from the Watercraft Center at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort on Friday, May 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. They'll learn how researchers retrieve artifacts from the ocean floor or clean crusty cannon balls after nearly 300 years with project archaeologists and conservators.
- Penick host Senior Speakers Expo “How to Be a Smarter Health Care Consumer” with Rose Young
- Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Announces First in Flight License Plate
-
Pirate Excavation Education Launches QAR Shipwreck Expedition
