Published in the Courier-Tribune on April 14, 2011
by Hugh Martin
STAR – The Star Board of Commissioners met Monday, April 11 for their regular meeting and heard plans for the first annual Gold Rush 5K Race to be held in their town.
“This will be an annual event to be held in different sites across the county. We decided to hold the first years run in Star, ” Tricia Webb of the Montgomery County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) told the board.
The 5K Fun Run for runners and walkers will be on May 21.
Webb asked the board to assist the TDA to recruit volunteers to help with water stations, directions and to cheer for the participants. She wants to encourage local businesses to become involved by supplying items to include in the gift bags to be distributed to the runners. Entry forms are ready and banners are being prepared for the event. Commissioner Alice Clemens suggested that in future years, a 5K could become a part of the annual Star Heritage Festival, which is held the first Saturday in June.
“We can hold the run the Friday evening before the festival, the same way Candor has theirs for the Peach Festival,” Clemens said.
Commissioner Richard Hinson said he had been approached by a new citizen who had concerns about recycling opportunities in the town. Mayor Eggleston noted that the nearest recycling facility was at the convenience center in Ether, three miles away.
Clemens reported that she had learned on a recent tour of the Uwharrie Environmental facility that the only items recycled were those that were placed in the bins across the county. “Everything that is picked up by garbage trucks goes directly into the landfill,” she said.
Town Management Advisor John Gowan took the opportunity to inform the board that there may be some issues with the amount that the town is billed for garbage service.
“We are charged by the number of customers,” Gowan said, “and I’m not sure that the count is accurate.” Gowan said that a count was being conducted over a period of several weeks to determine the actual number of garbage containers that are being serviced in the town.
Cooperative Extension Agent Danelle McKnight gave the board an update on developments with the Rural Advancement Foundation International USA (RAFI) grant that had been awarded for use in developing the town’s Heritage Center. McKnight reported that a ceremony for awarding the grant would be held June 4 during the Heritage Festival.
McKnight introduced Shelia Menendez, manager of the Montgomery County Farmers’ Markets Association, who addressed the board about plans to begin a market in Star on May 31. Menendez told the board that the initial opening day for the group’s first market, which is held in Troy every Thursday afternoon, had been very successful and that they were excited about starting the Tuesday afternoon markets in Star.
In other business, Commissioners Clemens, Hinson, George Kivett, James Parker and Mayor Susan Eggleston:
■ Heard that the police department was back to full capacity and there are no longer any issues with officers needing to work overtime.
■Were told by Commissioner Kivett that the main street through town had deteriorated considerably. “The State of North Carolina is not doing what they should do, but they don’t have the money to do it,” he said. Public Works Director Wesley Brown said the state had been doing some surveying and he believed it was in preparation to begin work on the road.
Mayor Susan Eggleston reported that the medical clinic building owned by the town would be appraised by a local real estate agent; that the town is still in the running for a grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation, and that projects are moving forward.
Tentative dates were scheduled for 2011-2012 budget workshops.
Eggleston urged board members to become more involved with the town’s STEP Committee, which meets on April 18, and to try to attend the Montgomery County Commissioners meeting on April 19 to show support for funding of recreation programs.
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