Published: July 29, 2009

Despite the sluggish economy, Statesville business leaders still want to celebrate the city’s achievements this year and prepare for the challenges ahead, particularly with the United Way of Iredell County’s community campaign.

“We need to also remind people of the good in the community,” said United Way Executive Director Pat Stewart. “What a wonderful community we live and work in.”

Stewart and leaders from the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Mitchell Community College and the Greater Statesville Development Corporation highlighted the area’s achievements at the “State of Our Community … Celebrations and Addressing Our Challenges” community leaders forum Tuesday morning at the college.

The meeting highlighted Statesville’s recent All-America City award, Mooresville-Statesville again being ranked the No. 1 micropolitan by Site Selection magazine and Mitchell Community College’s recognition for “Exceptional Institutional Perform-ance.”

However, much emphasis was placed on the United Way and what successful campaigns can mean to a community. Agencies under the United Way umbrella will receive a total of $890,056 if the campaign goal is met.

Fundraising Chairman John Snow said the 2010 campaign season is going to be a challenge, but it is the perfect time for people to donate to help these agencies provide valuable services.

“Statesville has been recognized a lot over the past six months,” said Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Bradley. “We are doing things right. I think it’s a symbol of a collaborative effort that we are here.”

In addition to introducing people to area businesses, Bradley said the chamber focuses on local issues, such as the Troutman mixed-drink referendum, an upcoming shop-local campaign and creating a sense of community downtown with the Piedmont Healthcare Friday at Five concert series.

The chamber is also doing its part to prevent what some refer to as the “brain drain,” an idiom used to describe educated young people moving away from their hometowns after graduating from high school and college, Bradley said. The chamber holds Youth Leadership Iredell classes, which teaches leadership skills to outstanding high school juniors.

Mitchell Community College President Doug Eason said education will be the cornerstone of the economy once it is rebuilt.

GSDC Executive Director Mike Smith said Statesville is known around the state for doing a lot of things right.

For example, the partnership between GSDC and MCC to fund the existing industry program — Business Retention and Expansion Director John Marek’s job focus — is considered a best practice in the N.C. Community College System.

“That has been huge for our community,” Smith said.

Iredell County has also been able to maintain a steady tax rate because it has a solid base of residential, commercial and industrial property.

Among the GSDC’s achievements, Smith noted the recruitment of Doosan Infracore, which brought more than 500 jobs to the area, and Brazilian-based nonwoven fabrics manufacturer Companhia Providência, which chose Statesville for its first North American facility.

“What used to look like an empty football field is now full of people working,” Smith said, referring to the Doosan building near the intersection of U.S. Interstates 77 and 40

Published: April 6, 2009

One interesting process the founding fathers included in the U.S. Constitution is the requirement that “the government shall conduct a census of the people every ten years.” Little did they know that in 2009, the task of counting each and every individual in the United States would involve a tabulation of more than 350 million people in 50 states.

As we prepare for the 2010 census, I hope you recognize the importance of participating in the process. The census is one of the most important planning tools our community has. It is also used to determine the distribution of congressional seats to states and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

Many federal and state programs are tagged to population. The results of the census may mean a gain or loss of real dollars to many Iredell County programs.

As population changes, communities are eligible for different federal and state programs. As populations increase, the public health sector may collect higher reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid. This significantly lowers the losses that hospitals take when providing indigent care. Cities and counties are eligible for urban programs not offered to smaller communities. One of the formulas for the state sales tax is based on population.

As you can imagine, it is extremely important for the community to work with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that each and every individual is counted.

On Friday, local mayors, county commissioners and city and county managers met for lunch and discussed forming a “Complete Count Committee” coordinated by the regional staff of the U.S. Census Bureau. The group discussed the importance of the census and the challenges we face in Iredell County in achieving a complete count of our residents.

Many people misunderstand the U.S. Census and believe their information will be shared with the IRS, the Department of Social Services or the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They are reluctant to respond to the census or cooperate with a door-to-door census takers for fear of being “reported.” The individual information received by the Census Bureau is protected by law from being shared with any other agency of the federal or state governments. It is a felony to release the individual information of a census participant.

The job of the “Complete Count Committee” is to help the community become comfortable with the census process and to quell fears that different groups have that the census is a means of “keeping track of them.”

The Census Bureau is extremely interested in an accurate count and asks localities to help them reach all segments of society — from the single family homeowner to the homeless person living under a bridge. This attitude is very helpful to communities because many times the groups that are hardest to count are also the groups that require the most expenditure of public money for care.

In the coming months all of the governments in Iredell County will begin an effort to educate the county’s residents in the purpose of the census, its confidentiality and especially, the benefits to the community when everyone voluntarily participates. Through the work of the “Complete Count Committee” we hope to reach all segments of the Iredell County community and prepare them for the upcoming census.

The Census Bureau has streamlined the process for this decade and will no longer use the cumbersome “long form” that confused and threatened many citizens in the past. The new form is quick and easy to fill out and is intended to count people rather than intrude into every facet of their personal life. Officials say it will only take 10 minutes to complete.

The opportunity for higher federal reimbursements, grant opportunities afforded to larger communities, and the knowledge that the proportion of our sales tax dollars is commensurate with our population will aid our local elected leaders in keeping the local tax burden as low as possible.
On April 1, 2010, our nation will be counted — every person, whoever they are, wherever they live.

Statesville and Iredell County depend on you to not only take part in the census, but to encourage others to fill out their forms. For some, the census may just be numbers, but these numbers actually tell our story — about who we are and how we are changing.

Rob Hites is Statesville’s city manager.

Just above Charlotte, at the heart of the beautiful North Carolina Piedmont, is a unique County- Iredell County. Our List of  Well known city’s are Barium Springs,  Harmony,  Mooresville,  Mount Mourne,  Olin,  Statesville, and Troutman.

Combining the good graces of the South with the proper amount of city savvy, Iredell County  has character and personality envied by many, but enjoyed by few. The past is alive along shady streets where majestic Victorian homes take their rightful place among the oaks, magnolias and dogwood.

Agriculture thrives along the hillsides and throughout the valleys, yet makes way for modern technology found among thriving manufacturing concerns. Neighborhoods are warm and welcoming with the familiar sounds of family and friends.

The air is clean. The streets are safe. The living is easy.

Iredell County offers opportunity unparalleled by cities of similar size. A medical mecca, a recreational haven, a commercial center – all these things describe the Greater Iredell  area.

We welcome you to our community and hope you find good fortune at every corner, success at every turn, and fun along the way.

Two real estate firms with a major presence in the Lake Norman area – Coldwell Banker United, Realtors and Century 21 Hecht – will merge, creating a combined operation with about 165 agents.

Mergers and cutbacks are becoming more common in the local industry as residential brokerages struggle to survive the housing downturn.

Tom Martin, senior vice president for Coldwell Banker United, Realtors characterized this announcement as “pushing forward” with expansion.

“When two powerhouse brands combine market share and streamline resources, we are able to expedite our plans for growth in the greater Lake Norman area,” he said.

Century 21 Hecht founder Bob Hecht said, “In today’s market and with real estate in general, you need every tool and support system possible.”

Among the belt-tightening locally, Allen Tate, the Carolinas’ largest real estate firm, said about two weeks ago that it will close 12 offices.

Earlier this year, Cottingham-Chalk & Associates merged with Bissell-Hayes Realtors, and two Sperry Van Ness franchises merged.

Hecht will become part of Coldwell Banker United, which operates in six states, including the Carolinas.

Century 21 Hecht was founded in 1971.

The firm has 55 agents in the Mooresville/Cornelius office and 59 in the Denver office. Coldwell Banker has 49 agents in two Lake Norman locations.

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors will keep its new Lake Norman-South office in Cornelius and move its Mooresville office from Williamson Road to the Century 21 Hecht building on River Highway.

The Denver office will remain at its current Century 21 Hecht location.

The merged offices will serve communities in Catawba, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Lincoln counties and increase Coldwell Banker United, Realtors’ total number of locations in the Carolinas to 25.

Published: March 19, 2009

In response to Washington’s call for banks to improve lending using the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program funds, First Bank is introducing a new builder finance program to assist local builders and homebuyers in making ends meet through the economic crisis.
“When we decided to participate in the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program, we saw an opportunity to help our customers weather this economic storm,” said First Bank President and CEO Jerry Ochletree. “Our new builder finance program will help in that effort.”
“These mortgages, offered through builders that bank with First Bank, offer much better rates than the secondary market and remain fixed for the next decade,” said Teresa Nixon, First Bank executive vice president and chief lending officer. “We look forward to working with customers that can benefit from more secure and reliable lending options.”
As a healthy bank, First Bank was eligible to participate in CPP in order to improve the flow of credit in the regional financial system. From that capital infusion, First Bank has been able to extend credit to customers with programs like builder financing.
“Many people may think that banks that accept Treasury funds are part of the problem, and we want to assure people that is not the case for First Bank,” said Ochletree. “We see participation in this program as a vote of confidence and we’re privileged to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our customers.”
Last fall, the bank received national recognition as one of the top performing small-cap banks in the country by investment firm Sandler O’Neill & Partners. The firm’s analysis focused on growth, profitability, credit quality, and capital strength.
“First Bank is in very good financial standing,” said Ocheltree. “By making the decision to work with the Treasury, we are more capable in a volatile market to meet the needs of our customers and our community.”
First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, announced its participation in the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program late last year and completed the sale of $65 million in preferred stock this January.
For more information about First Bank, visit www.FirstBancorp.com.

Published: March 17, 2009

Dwayne F. Bell, Adam C. Lasarsky and David S. Sherrill of Bell Construction, Statesville, were among 12 national finalists for Contractor of the Year 2009, sponsored by leading national trade magazine Equipment World and construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc.

Bell represented the three owners at an awards banquet Feb. 28 in Las Vegas where the top honor of Contractor of the Year was announced.

Each Contractor of the Year finalist is selected on the basis of company achievements, endorsements from customers and vendors and the contributions the company has made to the construction industry.

Bell Construction handles a variety of construction projects including subdivisions, roads and municipal utility work. Equipment World editors heard a variety of accolades when considering Bell, including “they’ve got an excellent reputation,” “their handshake is as good as a contract” and “they are one of the best companies to work with.”

All finalists received a four-day trip to Las Vegas and attended the NASCAR Nextel Cup race courtesy of Caterpillar, sponsor of No. 31, driven by Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing.

“Equipment World magazine is honored to recognize the integrity, hard work, and dedication of these exemplary men and women,” said Dan Tidwell, publisher of Equipment World magazine. “This group of finalists represents the best of the construction industry. Their success is evidence of the perseverance, drive and strong values they embody.”

“The percolation tests are designed to simulate conditions in a septic system. The percolation test consists of a hole 6-12 inches in diameter dug in the area of the proposed septic system. The depth of this hole varies depending on the soils encountered but it is generally not greater than 24 inches. The hole is initially filled with water (presoak) in an attempt to saturate the soil, allowed to drain away and than refilled with approximately 12 inches of water. The rate at which the water drops in the hole is measured at intervals over a period of time ranging from 30-60 minutes. The uniform slowest rate of drop of the water level over a measured time interval is converted to minutes per inch and used as a basis of design in determining the septic system size”.

Any unimproved lot will require a perk test to determine if it can qualify for a septic tank and if so, how big a house will the septic system handle.  The size of the house is actually the number of bedrooms so, if a lot perks for three bedrooms,  the maximum number of bedrooms that a house on that lot can have is three.

When buying raw land that is not in the town limits and thus does not have sewers, it is critical to know whether it will perk as this will determine not just how large a home you can build but IF you can build a home at all.  Sometimes in subdivisions you will find oddly shaped lots which many times are bigger than the average.  This is probably due to the septic system requirements.

 The process usually goes like this:

• You/your builder sting or flag off where the home is to be placed on the lot itself
• Apply for a septic permit at the Planning Department followed by a trip to the Health Department
• Draw an initial site sketch
• The county will come out to the site and perform a perk test
• If the soil does not perk, then you will not get a permit
• If it does perk, you will be given the limitations by number of bedrooms

Another important step in any plans for expansion of an existing home is to pull the septic permit to find out how many bedrooms it allows.  You would not be allowed to add a fifth bedroom to a home that perked for four!

Finding the property for the house that fits your needs is important. You may even want to get a perk test before you purchase the property. In my area (Statesville, NC) it will run you about $540.00 for the test itself and maybe $500.00 more or less to clear the area needed to get your perk test.  You will need to go to the Planning & Development Department to get your permit first, then off to Environmental Health office to fill out some important paper work and to make an appt. with an inspector. And they will give you some instructions in how to set up the property for the perk test.

Always consult an Accountant!