Firing of Guns (June 1, 2007):

The Town has, over the last several months, received numerous complaints of target shooting at the Colt Mini-Warehouses.  Because of Sunday and night shooting the Town has enacted an ordinance, effective March 11, 2007, making it unlawful to discharge a firearm within the incorporated limits of the Town of Red Cross on Sundays and between the hours of 1/2-hour after sundown and 1/2-hour before sunrise during the week.  The Town Council voted for this approach in an effort to meet the needs of both the residents wanting quiet and the residents wanting to hunt on their property.

Town of Red Cross Purchases Land (September 21, 2007):

The Town has purchased 28-acres of land, with structures, at 176 East Red Cross Road (directly across from Dollar General).  The purchase price was $850,000.00 with the Town paying down $300,000.00 and financing $550,000.00 for 15-years.

As can be seen from the arial picture, the land has a house, four ponds, a barn, and a free-standing garage with finished apartment.  The house is about 1,800 square feet (including garage).  The Town intends to modify the house into a Town Hall and, hopefully, the renovations to the house will be complete by January 2008 so that the Town Council can start the new year in the new Town Hall.

Discussion is presently underway with the Sheriff's Department about the possibility of using the free-standing garage with finished apartment as a satellite Sheriff's Office for the purpose of serving western Stanly County.

It should be noted that the projections stated on the arial picture for future use are only long-term hopes of the present Town Council and may be altered at any point by future Town Councils.  Even if everything listed is implemented it will still be some years before parts of it becomes reality.

Town Hall renovations underway (November 22, 2007):

The Town Council has allocated $60,000.00 for renovation and furnishing of the Town Hall. Work is well underway under the direction of Councilman Larry Wayne Smith.  Councilman Smith is hoping to have the building ready for the Town Council hold it's January 2008, Town Council meeting in the new Town Hall.

See photos of the construction at the Construction Photos Page.

The attached garage is being converted into the meeting hall.   The garage has been enclosed and the interior walls framed in and the sheetrock will be ready to be put up once all the wiring is in place.  A platform has been installed for the Council and Councilman Heath Hahn is overseeing instillation of tables and floor covering.  An additional HVAC unit has been installed for the meeting room.

Celling lights have been installed in all rooms, wallpaper removed, the bathroom converted into a handicapped accessible bathroom, all doors widened to ADA requirements, and the dining room converted to the Town Clerk's office.  The carpeting in the house is in good condition and should serve for Town Hall use for many years.

A parking lot has been installed in back of the house.  Presently it is gravel but plans are to shortly put hardtop on it.  The widening of the drive to accept two-way traffic is presently under study but no action has been taken to-date.

The Sheriff's Department has looked at the free-standing building and is interested in using it as a satellite Sheriff's Office.   The County presently has this opportunity under review.

Town Hall renovations almost completed (February 2, 2008):

The Town Hall is almost complete and should be ready for the February, 8, 2008, Town Council meeting.  As can be seen in the Construction Photos the furniture is being brought in.  The people of Red Cross owe a debt of gratitude to both project leader Council Member Larry Wayne Smith and Council Member Heath Hahn.  These two men have donated hundred of hours of their personal time to the successful completion of the Town Hall renovation.  Because of their efforts the work is outstanding and the cost has been kept below expectation.

 

The parking lot has been graveled but still need to be paved.   The drive needs to be converted from a single-lane to a two-lane.  Tentative hopes are to make changes to both the parking lot and the road at the same time.    These two itmes are tied into a study of town growth and land use plans.   Hopefully, this study can begin shortly and completed by summer.  We are holding discussions with UNC-Charlotte's School of Civil Engineering to see if they can do the study for us as a graduate project.