Top Stories for Oct. 2, 2024
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, Oct. 1. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m.
1. Behind Every Number Is a Person: At its Oct. 1 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Mecklenburg County, and Oct. 12 as Domestic Violence Survivors Day. With more than 25,000 calls to Charlotte-Mecklenburg law enforcement agencies each year, the proclamation recognizes the many organizations and partners that support those affected by domestic violence. Mecklenburg County and its partners will host a Domestic Violence Community Resource Fair on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The fair will include speakers who have survived domestic violence and resources from local agencies and vendors.
2. Renaming Kuralt: The Board scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 15 on the proposed renaming of the Wallace H. Kuralt Center in honor of the late Catherine M. Wilson. Wilson, who died in 2007, was a long-time social worker and become Mecklenburg County’s first African American program administrator when named as director of Youth and Family Services in 1978. She also led efforts to preserve Little Rock AME Zion Church during the city’s period of “urban renewal” of the Brooklyn neighborhood. The Kuralt Center, located at 301 Billingsley Road, has housed offices for social and economic services for several decades. The building is scheduled for renovation, for which the Board on Tuesday began the process by approving the selection of an architect to prepare the design work.
3. After the Storm: Park and Recreation cleanup crews continue to work to clear debris in Mecklenburg County parks and greenways. With more than 70 miles of greenways, they’re removing trees, branches, and flooding debris as fast as possible. Residents are asked to use caution when venturing into parks and greenways. After serving as an emergency shelter for residents along Mountain Island Lake, Tuckaseegee Recreation Center has reopened for recreational use by the general public.
4. Lawn and Garden Clean-up: Many homeowners have spent the past few days picking up sticks and limbs left behind by the storms. If you live in Charlotte, place your yard waste by the curb for regular pickup. Mecklenburg residents can also bring their yard waste to a full-service recycling center where fees vary depending on the size of the load ($8 for a small load and larger loads weighed at $38 per ton). Yard waste is processed into high-quality mulch and compost products available for use in your plant beds, flower gardens, and lawns. More information is available at MeckMulchMadness.com.
5. Labor Secretary Recognizes County’s Workforce Development: Mecklenburg County is getting national attention for its workforce development efforts, especially in preparing incarcerated people for jobs after their release. Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su visited the Mecklenburg County Detention Center to recognize its job readiness training. She met with members of the Board and other community leaders. Workforce development is a stated budget priority of the County Commission, which seeks to support initiatives that connect job seekers with employment opportunities. In this year’s budget, the Board invested more than $12 million in new dollars for workforce development. Plus, many other programs across County government help prepare and educate residents for employment.