Top Stories for Sept. 25, 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, Sept. 24. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.
1. I-77 South: The Board of County Commissioners heard an update from the N.C. Department of Transportation on prospective toll road options for Interstate 77 in south Charlotte. NCDOT told the Board that a public-private partnership, where a private developer would build and manage the toll lanes, is the most financially feasible option over a traditional State-funded toll road. The next step would involve a decision by the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) on whether to pursue a public-private partnership for future development of I-77 South.
2. Preserving Green Space: The Board heard a presentation on a proposed “Conservation and Preservation Framework” which outlines steps to preserve park land and open space purchased by the County from FY2022 to present. During that period, Mecklenburg County has spent more than $118 million on about 1,346 acres of green space across the county. The framework is intended to ensure that the land is preserved for its intended use under the Board’s Environmental Leadership Action Plan, plus outline a process for addressing changes to the land’s use.
3. Partnerships for Nonprofits: Nonprofits provide an array of services that make our community a better place to live. That is why Mecklenburg County gives them the opportunity to help support County goals. Nonprofits can apply for FY2026 Community Service Grants from Oct. 17 to Nov. 15, 2024. To share more about the grants and other funding opportunities, Mecklenburg County will host an information session on Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Valerie C. Woodard Center, 3205 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. Learn more at Budget.MeckNC.gov/Grants.
4. Keep on Trucking: Solid Waste and Recycling will host its second annual Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Compost Central Disposal and Recycling Center, 140 Valleydale Road in Charlotte. Entry is free. Kids, and kids at heart, can explore the heavy vehicles—trucks, a tank and even a helicopter—used by public service agencies, including Solid Waste and Recycling, the National Guard, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. While touring the facility, residents can pick up brush mulch in bulk for free, and purchase compost and dyed mulch. Learn more about the event and the County’s mulch and compost products at WipeOutWaste.MeckNC.gov.
5. Encontrar Comunidad: In Mecklenburg County, about 15% of the population identifies as Hispanic. From Sept. 15 to Oc. 15, communities across the United States honor the history and culture during Hispanic Heritage Month. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is embracing this special time with a series of engaging events and programs that showcase the diversity and vibrancy of our Hispanic community. More than a place to borrow books, the Library is a hub for community connection and cultural enrichment and invites the Hispanic community to “encontrar comunidad” or “find community.”