Top Stories for Feb. 12, 2025
Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
1. Check It Out! The Board of County Commissioners received an update on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s strategy for serving residents in the future. The presentation focused on opportunities and challenges related to library staffing and collections, plus addressed growth in programs and outreach. The presentation also highlighted the development of the new main library in uptown Charlotte and its anticipated opening next year. The new facility will be a five-story space with 15 meeting rooms and specialized space for community services. There will also be expanded hours for the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room which holds historical and genealogical collections.
2. Welcome to University City: County Commissioners took part in the grand opening celebration and helped cut the ribbon on Feb. 8 for the new University City Regional Library. In 2022, the Board approved $39.8 million for development of the facility at 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive in Charlotte. The 35,000 square-foot library includes educational space for children and teens, community programming areas, a drive-through book return, and study spaces. Watch the ribbon cutting and view photos from the grand opening celebration.
3. What’s Your Passion? As the governing body of Mecklenburg County, the Board of County Commissioners has the responsibility of adopting an annual budget, setting the property tax rate, and establishing community priorities around health, education, welfare, mental health, the environment and more. Why does a County Commissioner choose to serve their community in this way? As the process of building the FY2025-FY2026 budget got underway, several members of the Board answered the question “What’s your passion?” Watch the Commissioners’ responses, which were presented at the annual budget retreat in January.
4. Apply Now for Property Tax Exemptions: North Carolina and Mecklenburg County offer several property tax relief programs and now is the time to apply so the relief will apply to the 2025 tax bill. Various exemptions are available for senior citizens, disabled residents, veterans, and businesses. Some programs have income requirements. Most applications must be submitted to the Mecklenburg County Assessor’s Office by June 1. To learn more, residents can visit CAO.MeckNC.gov or call 980-314-4226.
5. Race, Religion, and Urban Renewal: In conjunction with Black History Month, Mecklenburg County will host a book discussion with the author of “Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods.” Written by Rev. Greg Jarrell, the book examines the influence of white churches in planning, executing, and profiting from federal urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 1960s. In Charlotte, these projects resulted in the demolition of the Brooklyn neighborhood, which once housed businesses, associations, and thousands of Black families.
6. Let the Games Begin: Feb. 21 is the final day to register for the 2025 Mecklenburg County Senior Games and SilverArts. The annual event promotes health and wellness for individuals ages 50 and older and offers a forum to meet new people, enjoy healthy competition, be creative, and have fun. The games will be held from March 22 to May 31. They typically feature more than 300 participants and feed into the North Carolina Senior Games.