ELBA March General Meeting
"Educating the Public, 2008 School Bond Referendum"

Thursday, March 27th, 2008, 7:00PM ... Mark your calendar... meeting location below

Remember, tonight is the ELBA March General Meeting.  The meeting will be on the upcoming School Bond Referendum.  This $44.6 million package will be up to the voters in Lincoln County.   With the recent re-evaluation and the upcoming tax rate discussions, any additional tax burden created by special bonds is of acute interest to Lincoln county tax payers. 

The meeting will be held Thursday, March 27th, 2008, at the Unity Presbyterian Main Fellowship Hall, on Unity Church Road in Denver.   Doors open at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7:00PM.  We expect the meeting to last until around 9:00PM.  Light refreshments will be served.  As always, ELBA General Meetings are open to the General Public and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Verizon, Board of Adjustments Appeal

On Monday, March 24th, Verizon (the white generic moon rock building) appealed  the counties issuance of a non-compliance letter regarding its failure to follow the design and materials as dictated by the project notes of the Catawba Springs Promenade (Lauth development).  The anchor store in this development is the  new Denver Lowe's store.  All structures on this site are required to be in design harmony and material with the Lowe's design and construction materials. 

The Board of Adjustments listened to presenters, both pro and con regarding the failure of Verizon to adhere to the site requirements that all buildings be  primarily faced with brick on all public sides and they all be in design harmony with one another based on the primary anchor building design (Lowe's).  Lauth, Verizon and Auto Zone were issued letters of non-compliance due to their failure to abide by the site design requirements.  Letters of non-compliance with these design requirements were issued to insure the owners and developers bring these buildings into compliance.  The primary structure that dictates the styles to be constructed on this projects site is the Lowe's building.   The Verizon building is white with natural stone and is a box structure and does not coordinate with style, materials or color with the Lowe's brick and stepped facade structure as required.

Lauth and Auto Zone both are in negotiation to make the necessary additions and changes to their structures to bring them into design agreement so the letters of non-compliance may be lifted.  Verizon chose to challenge the counties letters and the projects design requirements by appealing the counties directives to the county Board of Adjustments. 

After the hearing from ELBA representatives, community residents, Verizon and its developer, the Board of Adjustments voted 6-0 to uphold the counties requirements that the Verizon building abide by the projects design requirements and make the necessary changes to bring it into compliance.  The latest information indicates that the developer and Verizon will present the county with a revised plans that will bring the building into compliance. 

  ELBA Recreation Committee to Discuss the
Planning of the Thread Trail around Lake Norman

                                         "More Hiking and Biking Trails for our Region"

Lincoln County is looking into how to participate in the Carolina Thread Trail Project. Our first step was to learn more about this exciting project from Johnathan Rhyne, member of the Carolina Thread Trail Governing Board, and Ann Browning Carolina Thread Trail Project Director at the East Lincoln Betterment Association at the March 27^th meeting. Presentations have also been made to solicit support from the Lincoln County Commission.

The Carolina Thread trail is a project which will link the over 2 million people who live in our 15 County region via a network of trails between our towns, cities and attractions. The vision is to develop trails for hiking and biking that will allow our citizens to explore nature, culture, science and history of our region. The Foundation for the Carolina, Duke Energy, Bank of America and Wachovia Foundation are just some of the major supporters of this project; to date over $14 million dollars has been raised to undertake the effort.

Lincoln County already has numerous trails that may from part of the network, but our first task is to develop a County wide plan that will serve our citizens, connect the attractions in our region, and link up to trails that are planned in neighboring Counties. A lead agency has been designated  to coordinate our County’s efforts and a steering committee has been formed to get citizen input. The Carolina Thread Trail has planning grants available, and an application for these funds will be submitted.  The ELBA Recreation Committee has personnel actively involved in the thread trail process to insure  East Lincoln is well represented in the process.   If you want to learn more about this exciting project visit their website www.carolinathreadtrail.org.  Updated  information may be obtained by contacting ELBA's Recreation Committee Co-Chairs, Ray Holmes or Martha Lide.

April 1st, 2008 is Deadline for ELBA
Scholarship Applications

The East Lincoln Betterment Association (ELBA) is seeking applicants for their $1500 scholarship.  Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and must have taken the SAT or ACT test.  The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior who has made plans to attend a college or university in the fall of 2008.  Please visit www.elbanc.org for complete details.

ELBA is looking for members that would like to serve on the Scholarship selections committee.  Those that have interest in supporting ELBA's scholarship efforts may contact the Education Committee Chair, Rose Marie Poppler.

Applicants will complete an application form, provide a letter of recommendation, and submit an essay explaining what they have done to "Make East Lincoln County a Better Place to Live."  Students may speak with their high school guidance counselors or obtain the necessary forms on ELBA’s website:

The ELBA April Primaries Electoral Forum
is set and ready

Thursday, April 17th, 2008, is the date of the first 2008 Electoral Forum presented by ELBA.  The Forum will be held at the Main Fellowship Hall of the Unity Presbyterian Church on Unity Church Road, in Denver.  The Forum begins at 7:00PM and will continue until around 10PM depending on audience participation.  Please mark you calendar and invite your friends and neighbors.

ELBA's Electoral Forums are among  the best attended public events in East Lincoln.  This is a particularly important election year for East Lincoln. With three county commission seats up for election, East Lincoln could easily loose our representation on the Board of Commissioners.  Only by the ballot box can we be assured our voices and concerns will be heard and respected. 

There is much galvanization in other parts of the county to insure their voices will be heard via the elections, so let's make sure that the strides that East Lincoln have made in the last election are not lost.  Attend these forums and VOTE!

ELBA Fall General Electoral Forum is Set

This is the "Big One".  Held just prior to the November General Elections, this is the last chance to interview those candidates that made it through the Primary elections.

The date is Thursday, October 23rd, 2008.  Location is the Main Fellowship Hall of Unity Presbyterian Church on Unity Church road in Denver.  The doors open at 5:45PM and the meeting begins at 7:00PM.  We expect the meeting to last until around 10:00PM depending on audience participation. 

A catered BBQ Dinner will be available for the first 125 attendees arriving between 6:00PM and 7:00PM.  Cost is $8.00 per person.  As always, ELBA General Meetings are open to the General Public and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. More details will be forthcoming closer to the Fall.