GASTON SOURCE

A chance to take a hand in Mount Holly’s future

PLANNING The first round of community forums about planning Mount Holly’s future begins Monday.

Charlotte architect and developer Ron Morgan will lead the sessions, to be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays this month.

In November, Morgan led a city-sponsored forum to discuss ways of enhancing the city’s image, which is expected to be affected by a new section of Interstate 485.

Morgan will guide three committees through a four-meeting process to produce recommendations for a possible referendum June 3. The committees will focus on parks, greenways and riverfront; downtown and center city; and restaurants and entertainment.

Meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. as follows:

Parks/greenway committee – Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27, at the First Presbyterian Church, 133 South Main St.

Downtown/center city – Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28, at the Mount Holly Fire and Rescue headquarters, 433 Killian Ave.

Restaurants and entertainment – Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, also at the Mount Holly Fire and Rescue headquarters.

To join a committee, come to its first meeting or call City Hall at (704) 827-3931.

Committee, delegate

nominations on tab

GOVERNMENT The Belmont City Council on Monday will consider committee and delegate appointments.

Also on the agenda is consideration of a recommendation from the Belmont-Mount Holly Soil Erosion Ordinance Committee.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 115 N. Main St.

Lincoln health board

will elect officers

ELECTION The Lincoln County Board of Health will elect new officers at its meeting Tuesday.

The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Blue Room of the Lincoln County Health Department, 151 Sigmon Road, Lincolnton.

Property-tax penalty

kicks in on Tuesday

TAXES Monday is the last day Gaston County residents can pay their property taxes without being penalized.

Payments postmarked after Jan. 6 are subject to a 2 percent interest fee. Beginning Feb. 1, .75 percent is added each month until the account is paid.

The county can collect delinquent taxes by garnishing wages or foreclosing on the property.

To pay with a credit card online, visit: www.co.gaston.nc.us/TaxDept/index.HTM. Or, mail payments to: Gaston County Tax Department, P.O. Box 580326, Charlotte, N.C. 28258-0326.

The tax office, at 212 W. Main St. in Gastonia, also accepts hand-delivered payments.

Citizen panel asks

no-tax-hike pledge

TAXES The Lincoln County chapter of Citizens for a Sound Economy is asking county commissioners to promise not to raise taxes.

The organization wants at least three commissioners to sign a “no tax” pledge to prevent a tax increase in fiscal year 2003-04.

The pledges will be mailed to commissioners and are due by Feb. 10.

In 2001, commissioners raised the tax rate by 22 percent, to 62 cents per $100 of valuation.

Last year, commissioners voted to keep the same tax rate.

But commissioners are now saying they may have to raise taxes to pay for an additional $1.1 million in needed school improvements.

Applications invited

for food, shelter aid

GRANT Local nonprofit or community organizations may be eligible for federal money for emergency food and shelter programs.

Gaston County received more than $165,000 from a national board headed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A local board made up of volunteers will determine how the money is distributed in Gaston County.

Applicants must be private nonprofit organizations or government agencies, have an accounting system, be capable of providing emergency food or shelter, and have a board if they are a volunteer group.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 17. Call Mary Ann Walker at the United Way of Gaston County at (704) 864-4554 ext. 14 or e-mail mwalkeruw14@hotmail. com.

LOAD-DATE: January 6, 2003