Lake Tillery game room permit decision delayed ♥

As published in the Courier-Tribune on March 2, 2011

By Hugh Martin

TROY – Montgomery county commissioners were scheduled to revoke a conditional use permit that allowed the operation of a game room for the Uwharrie Sportsman at the intersection of NC 24/27 West and River Road.

The action was pulled from the consent agenda prior to the vote at this week’s meeting.

Members of the Montgomery County planning board recommended the revocation last month in the wake of the death of 19-year-old James Walter Freeman in a single-vehicle accident Sept. 9 on Flint Hill Road.

Bartender Julian Garrett Oldham was charged with selling malt beverages to Freeman. A passenger in Freeman’s vehicle, Jon Camden Williamson, was charged with aiding and abetting an underage person in the possession of a malt beverage, aiding and abetting impaired driving, obstruction of justice and resist, and delaying and obstructing a public officer during an investigation.

An investigation by N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement found that Freeman and Williamson were at the Uwharrie Sportsman playing pool and drinking beer prior to the accident.

During the public forum portion of the meeting, Darlene Lucas of Mount Gilead, an aunt of Freeman’s, spoke in favor of the revocation, telling commissioners that she would like to see the removal of alcohol from not only the game room, but the entire store.

Lucas contradicted statements made by Joyce Wright, owner of the Uwharrie Sportsman, during the planning board’s meeting. “She said that the store is always open when the game room is,” Lucas said. “That’s not true. The game room is open until 2:30 or 3 in the morning because my nephew had phoned his parents before to tell them that he was at the bar playing pool.”

Lucas said that Oldham would keep the bar open as long as someone was there playing pool. “The store’s not open at that time,” she said.

In other business before Commissioners Jackie Morris, Jim Matheny, Edgar Morris, Anthony Copeland and Dolon Corbett:

• Public hearings were heard on three different issues.

Following the first hearing, commissioners approved a zoning variance to allow Sabrina Shaw of Serene Lane to build a shed within 10 feet of her property line. Neighbors had no objections.

Following the second public hearing, commissioners voted for a text amendment to the Signage Section of the County Ordinance. The amendment addresses numerous sign restrictions ranging from small church signs to billboards.

The third public hearing was held to start the process for the application for Community Development Block Grant funds to be used for rehabilitation or demolition of scattered housing projects throughout the county. Funds can be applied to a number of uses, included small business expansion and low income connections to water and sewer. Commissioners approved the process and scheduled a second required hearing for March 6.

• County Manager Matthew Woodard said that funds will be available to assist citizens with connecting to the Handy Sanitary District sewer project. The funds are through the U.S. Department of Commerce. Residents that are affected can contact Handy Sanitary District or Montgomery County administration for more information.

* Woodard also informed the board that N.C. Department of Revenue officials have confirmed that the one-quarter cent sales tax that was voted in last year will go into effect April 1. Total revenue is expected to be around $300,000 per year, to be used by Montgomery County Schools and Montgomery Community College.

* Obstruction clearing is taking place around the Montgomery County Airport. Woodard reported that reimbursements for the land acquisitions for the airport had begun.

* Woodard said that the water line installations for the Poole’s Mill Road area in the southeastern part of the county were the number one priority for the system due to dry and contaminated wells. The Bernard Allen Foundation has awarded a grant of $60,000 toward the project.

* The Swift Island convenience site work has been slowed by rain, but officials hope it will be finished in about a week.

• The board approved changes in the Personnel Policy related to travel. Woodard said the changes would save money.

• Ordinance Consolidation is being reviewed for conflict with state and federal laws and will be added to the county website for easier access by the public.