Published in the Courier-Tribune in April, 2011
By Hugh Martin
CANDOR – Commissioners for the Town of Candor should begin the process of considering an ordinance that would allow golf carts to operate on the town’s streets at their next regular meeting in May.
Candor resident George Myers addressed the board during the public forum segment at their regular meeting, held April 11. Myers stated his desire to see the board reconsider an ordinance that he had requested at an earlier meeting.
“I came before this board last year about allowing golf carts to operate in town,” Myers said. “Since that time the Town of Star has approved a golf cart ordinance.”
Myers said that since Town Management Advisor John Gowan held the same position with the Town of Star he could get a copy of that ordinance and make changes that would apply to Candor, to be presented to the board next month.
Gowan acknowledged that Star had passed that ordinance and that he would adapt the language and send copies to board members for their consideration.
Gowan then presented the board with some other issues that he felt should be taken into consideration by the board.
Gowan and Mayor Richard Britt had met with Cooperative Extension Agent Danelle McKnight about the possibility of including the Town of Candor Farmers’ Market Facility for use by a group of local farmers who have organized a local growers-only market. The Candor Farmers’ Market has been in operation beside the US 220 bypass since it was constructed in the 1980’s.
“There has never been a strong philosophy on how the market has been operated,” Gowan said. “Vendors have been allowed to set up and operate as they wish as long as there are no complaints.”
At issue is the rising interest in the availability of locally grown farm products that are actually presented and sold by the farmers who grow it. The rules of the new Montgomery County Farmers’ Markets Association do not allow the sale of products that are not grown by the vendor.
Currently, vendors at the Candor Farmers’ Market are allowed to travel out of state and truck in produce for resale.
Commissioners Phillip Hearne and Leslie Thomas both expressed a desire to see upgrades and better publicity for the facility.
Construction for the Candor Marketplace, a new facility to be located in downtown Candor, is scheduled to begin immediately. Gowan and Mayor Britt have met with the contractor to sign the contract for the facility, which will be constructed for $110,000.00. That amount falls within the $111,000.00 amount that was approved by the board during a special meeting held in March. It is hoped that the facility is completed in time for the NC Peach Festival, which is the third Saturday in July.
Gowan stated that Commissioner Tim Smith had requested the development of a personnel policy for town employees. Gowan said he hopes to have a policy ready by July 1.
In other business, Mayor Britt and Commissioners Hearne, Thomas, Smith, Tim Privett and Layton Booker:
• Approved the construction of a walking trail at Fitzgerald Park, to be paid for by a $4000.00 grant from First Health of the Carolinas;
• Approved the solicitation for bids to harvest pine needles on town-owned property;
• Heard a report from Police Chief Randy White on a recent DWI checkpoint in Candor during which several individuals who were wanted by law enforcement were apprehended, along with charges made for DWI, no operator’s license, and possession of controlled substances.
No comments:
Post a Comment