LOCUST — The Locust Town Council met Thursday night with space planning and appointments primary on their agenda. Mayor Steve Huber called the meeting to order and Councilman Larry Baucom led the opening prayer. Councilmen J.C. Burris, Harry Fletcher, Roger Hypes and Michael Haigler were present along with City Administrator Cesar Correa and City Clerk Amy Meachum. Councilman Rusty Efrid was not in attendance.
Leading on the business agenda was a new request for office space from the Stanly Community College Small Business Center. The center had been afforded a single office in the Locust Town Hall last year because the center wanted to be closer to businesses in the western part of the county. Thursday night the SBC asked for another office space in Town Hall. There is currently another vacant office in Town Hall.
The Small Business Center provides resources to potential and existing small business owners. They offer free one-on-one confidential counseling, business plan development services, and business seminars.
Alicia Herrin is the director of the SBC and was present to thank the council after the council voted 5-0 approving designating another office in Town Hall to the SBC.
“Looks like it is going to be a great partnership,” said Fletcher about the Town of Locust working with the Small Business Center.
Correa presented the general fund amount as of Sept. 31. There is $326,000 in the general fund.
Correa requested to be nominated as a liaison between the ABC board, local ABC store and the town of Locust. The council agreed and voted 5-0 to nominate him as the designated person.
The mayor presented a request to approve the proclamation to make October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After the council passed the proclamation unanimously, Huber shared how breast cancer had personally affected him, sharing how his mom and sister both had been diagnosed with breast cancer. He also placed an emphasis on the importance on early detection saying, “My sister’s life was saved by early detection.”
The second proclamation passed 5-0 declaring Nov. 7 as Thank You for Your Service Day. Thank You for Your Service Day honors veterans in the area for their service to the nation. Stanly County Register of Deeds Suzanne Lowder and her office facilitate a countywide “Thank You for Your Service” program that provides business discounts to military veterans who obtain a veteran’s ID card issued by the Register of Deeds. The program was created to increase awareness of a Department of Defense form that allows veterans to record their military service records for later use. Once recorded, veterans can obtain their service records at no cost.
The council announced that the Fall Festival will be Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. at the Locust Ball Park and the Christmas parade will be held Nov. 25 at 3 p.m.
The next Locust Council meeting is Thursday, Nov. 9.
