BY STACIE LETT CAIN

Twenty members of the Mooresville Fire Rescue Swift Water Rescue Team were honored Monday evening at the Mooresville City Council meeting for their heroic and selfless efforts in Western North Carolina following the Hurricane Helene.

“I’m happy to see so many people here to honor these men and women,” Fire Chief Curt Deaton told a packed audience. “I want to take this opportunity to recognize some extraordinary men and women of the Mooresville Fire Department. And I want the citizens and the council to know that these men and women raised their hands. We didn’t tell them to go. We should be proud to live in a community in which these people raised their hands to leave, as well as to fill the spots left by the people who left to help in Western North Carolina. Some of them have been gone for more than two weeks.

Captain Chris Goforth admitted the experience was unlike any other in his past, but he was grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way.

“We took on a crew of 11 people and left for 15 days,” he explained. “I had never been responsible for a deployment so this was a first. We deployed on September 26th and I know people have seen videos on social media of what was happening there, but being there and watching it unfold was very different. It was hard work, a lot of pounding on the ground.

Twenty team members were recognized at the meeting with 11 receiving plaques. Captain Goforth receives a Medal of Merit and Senior Firefighter Eric Keller, Lt. Marcus Perkins and Lt. Scott Hauck all receive Medals of Valor.

OTHER BUSINESS

Public worries about overdevelopment

The city council heard public comments at the meeting. The general concern among speakers was the city’s seemingly uncontrolled growth.

“This community is going through perilous times,” advised Mooresville resident Richard Beck. “Over the past month, there have been numerous applications for annexation and rezoning for new construction of homes and apartments. A citizen denounced the fact that increased development has led to an increase in crime in her area, along Highway 150. It was a moving and remarkable request for help, but it fell on deaf ears. ‘a deaf man. It is the responsibility of this board to earn the trust of the citizens of Mooresville. Upcoming zoning and annexation requests and how they are handled will go a long way in showing citizens if this council really cares.

Jack Benning, also a Mooresville resident, congratulated the city on the 15 consecutive years it has earned Tree City USA recognition. But he also makes a prediction.

“I believe that with all the construction that you authorize, I do not think that you will do 16,” he warned. “There are more trees falling than trees being planted. We amended and amended our Unified Development Ordinance to allow apartments and townhouses to be built and we asked for a moratorium on development, but Mooresville said there was no way to do that. It can do that.

Rezoning and annexation approved for 41-unit development

Amid concerns over excessive development, Council approved the rezoning of a 16.2-acre parcel located off Coddle Creek Highway and Shearer Road. The zoning was changed from Iredell County Residential Agricultural (RA) to Mooresville Condition Residential General (CRG), then the council voted to approve voluntary annexation to the city for the purpose of utility expansion.

The development will feature 41 single-family homes with 7,000 square foot lots, 40 foot lot widths with a proposed number of 2.5 units per acre of land. Five per cent of the homes will be considered feasible housing and the development will include a play area, picnic area and outdoor walking path.

By law, the developer could build 28 units without seeking approval from the board of directors.

The development, named McKenzie Bluffs, is owned by John, Samantha and Nicholas Johnston. The council approved the rezoning and voluntary annexation unanimously.

Commissioners allocate $4.6 million for new police equipment

The council also approved a $4,613,847.46 contract between the Mooresville Police Department and Axon Corporation for new body cameras, in-car cameras and Tasers. The contract, which provides modest growth for the department, will provide state-of-the-art camera systems including automatic license plate recognition and GPS live streaming technology, which will allow supervisors to view officers’ cameras in real time. to determine if additional assistance is needed. The contract also includes virtual reality training and equipment updates during the contract period.