Top Stories for Oct. 9, 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. 8. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. 

1. Response to Helene: The Board of County Commissioners received an update on the local response to Hurricane Helene from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office. There was one reported fatality in Mecklenburg County and 89 structures with water in the living space. The report included a timeline of warnings and alerts, an update on the recovery in western North Carolina, and efforts by Mecklenburg County agencies to support North Carolina’s recovery. Mecklenburg County on Oct. 8 received FEMA’s disaster declaration, meaning homeowners and renters with uninsured damage or losses are eligible to apply for assistance. The Board also heard from leaders of Public Health, Land Use and Environmental Services, and Park and Recreation on their staff’s work in the community during and after the storm.

2. County Manager Search: The Board received an update on the process that will lead to the hiring of a new Mecklenburg County Manager in 2025. In late August, the County put out a call for executive search firms. Of the 14 firms that responded, the County’s Procurement division determined that six met the minimum requirements. The Board is now charged with reviewing the six proposals and providing feedback. Each Commissioner is asked to complete a personal scorecard, evaluating each firm’s proposal on qualifications and experience; approach; and cost effectiveness and value. The Chair requested that each Board Member complete their scorecard by the end of Tuesday, Oct. 15, after which procurement staff will aggregate the scores and determine if there is a clear choice based on Commissioners’ independent feedback.  

3. Open House on County Resources: Mecklenburg County residents are invited to two open houses in October, hosted by County Commissioner At-Large Leigh Altman. Attendees can learn about the wide variety of resources available through Mecklenburg County. Featured topics will include mental health, services for older adults, HOMES economic assistance program, small business assistance, and other topics. Join us:  

4. Age Is Just a Number: Wednesday, Oct. 9 is Ageism Awareness Day, a day to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in society. Mecklenburg County is home to more than 150,000 residents over the age of 60. In that spirit, the County’s Age-Friendly Mecklenburg initiative and AARP invite residents to join a new monthly webinar series: Age-Friendly Fridays. The series begins Friday, Oct. 11, with a focus on ageism awareness and voter registration. Participants can connect with the Board of Elections and community resources to get answers to voter questions. 

5. WATCH: A New Beginning for Leeper-Wyatt: The historic Leeper-Wyatt building completed its journey around the block in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood. With the pending redevelopment of the block, the Historic Landmarks Commission, Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, and other partners worked together to orchestrate the relocation of the building to Cleveland Avenue, where it will be revitalized as a restaurant. The Leeper-Wyatt building, designated a historic landmark in 1989, was once the oldest surviving retail brick commercial building in Dilworth’s original South Boulevard business district. Watch this video produced by Mecklenburg County’s Sean Siemon that demonstrates the complex process of relocating a building and the dedication of its new owners. 

Watch the Oct. 9 episode of What's Trending Mecklenburg