Top Stories for Jan. 3, 2024

Double Oaks Pool a few weeks after opening

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and from the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. The agenda will be available online. View the meeting at Watch.MeckNC.gov. 

1. It’s a New Year. Let’s Get to Work! The Board of County Commissioners’ 2024 meeting calendar is available online at BOCC.MeckNC.gov. Agendas are available ahead of each Board meeting. Key dates this year include: 

  • Jan. 17: Budget Public Hearing #1 
  • Jan. 24 – 26: Annual Budget Retreat 
  • May 16: County Manager’s Recommended FY2025 Budget 
  • May 23: Budget Public Hearing #2 
  • June 4: FY2025 Budget Adoption 

2. Meck Time Machine: You don’t need to go 88 miles per hour to go back in time in Mecklenburg County. Celebrate the new year by visiting the GIS Time Machine. It’s a photo viewer that allows users to zoom into a location and view land use changes over time. It’s been updated, users can use a single view or split view of a location through the years. The application is one of several provided by Mecklenburg County Geospatial Information Services (GIS), which oversees a variety of mapping and data resources.

3. Pick Up a Whistle, Learn Skills for Life: Park and Recreation is hiring seasonal lifeguards to keep our indoor and outdoor pools safe and fun for everyone. No experience is necessary; Park and Rec will offer free training. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Email [email protected] to apply.  

WATCH our video on Mecklenburg County lifeguard recruitment and training. “It’s an essential job, it’s an important job, and I think it’s rewarding...These are skills you can use in everyday life.” – Ferida Bravo, Aquatic Specialist. 

4. Don’t Be Delinquent: Property owners must submit their tax payments by Friday to avoid delinquency. Real estate and personal property tax payments must be paid or postmarked on or before Jan. 5, 2024, to avoid interest charges. Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after that date will be charged 2% interest for the month of January, and an additional three-quarters of one percent every month thereafter until paid. Tax payments can be made online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

5. Bars and Bites: A new law went into effect Jan. 1 where Public Health will issue permits to more bars that serve food.  Any bar that prepares or serves food requiring temperature and time control must obtain a permit for food service. For bars receiving a permit, Environmental Health staff is providing training or guidance on the new requirements. Learn more about food safety at Health.MeckNC.gov.