Cathy Rhuberg

News-Topic Correspondent

Financial hits were on the agenda for September's meeting of the Hudson Board of Commissioners

A report from the Recreation Committee by Commissioner Jimmy Hemphill revealed that the town did not receive a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant. The PARTF grant was needed to make repairs to the aging Redwood Park pool. According to the North Carolina State Parks Web site, the PARTF program provides dollar-for-dollar grants to local governments that can be used to acquire land and/or develop parks and recreation projects that serve the general public. Grants are awarded in six geographic regions in the state, with Caldwell County being in the Northwest Region with 19 other counties.

In the Northwest Region, Caldwell County received a grant for $206,450 for the Yadkin River Greenway project, but no other projects were funded in the region. Twenty-one grants were awarded statewide totaling $8,238,736. Chuck Raby, recreation director, will investigate ways to repair the pool for next summer. Repairs are estimated to total $158,000.

Another financial blow came to the town in the form of a proposed rate increase from Duke Energy to take effect in January. The rate increase will mean approximately $11,500 in additional unbudgeted utility bills for the period of January through June. The Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to request a reduced rate increase to a more reasonable level in order to help municipalities continue to provide outdoor lighting to insure the safety of residents. The average expected rate increase is 12.6 percent.

The multi-family development Pine Mountain Trace is slated to go before the Board of Adjustments in November. The six-acre project has received state approval.

Hudson will play host to the Foothills Pottery Festival Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission to the festival is free to the public. Quality vendors and food will be available. Contact Bill Warren at The Gold Mine for information about becoming a vendor. He can be reached at 726-1009.

Other upcoming events in Hudson include the dinner theater presentation of "Smoke on the Mountain" planned for Sept. 17-19 and 24-26. Tickets are available at Hudson Town Hall. The Hudson Community Development Association annual barbecue fund raiser is Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Hudson Bank of Granite parking lot. The Man and Woman of the Year Banquet is scheduled for Oct.15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hudson Uptown Building. Nominations for the awards are open until Oct. 9 at noon. Contact Hudson Town Hall at 728-8272 for information on the banquet and nominations.