WEDDINGTON, NC – The Town of Weddington Planning Board met via Zoom on Monday, May 11 and had many events to discuss. Officer Shawn Dodd spoke of illegal dumping going on in Vintage Creek. They are currently investigating the matter to find out who is behind the issue.
Weddington’s total budget for the year is $2,388,250. A Public Hearing will be held on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 7pm at Weddington Town Hall for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Proposed Budget and to set the tax rate.
Dr. Ronak Bhatt of the Telra Institute gave a presentation for a public elementary charter school on Weddington Matthews Road. Telra Institute, a tution-free public school proposed to open in August 2021, offers a rigorous, accelerated, and differentiated K-5 experience for advanced learners, which “could be gifted students or highly motivated students, or sometimes students who just learn differently,” said Bhatt, the Chair of Telra Institute. He agreed that these students deserve to be recognized in an academic setting and “need full-time exposure to a special curriculum to reach their full potential.”
Any child can enroll in the program and the institute does not require any form of gifted certification to attend. Telra Institute shares the same values with the Town of Weddington of the importance of education in high quality schools. This would be the only charter school in Weddington limits, 3 minutes from Town Hall, and more than sixteen miles away from similar schools. Telra would be a shorter commute for families enrolling their children. Overcrowding may be a concern with schools, and Telra could possibly alleviate this problem. Based on the 2018 Executive Summary of the Weddington Community Survey, Weddington Elementary is at 107% capacity and Antioch Elementary is at 117% capacity. Telra’s capacity is 387 students in grades K-5. The proposed development is on Weddington Matthews Road on approximately 16 acres with about 700 feet of road frontage. The property will also include 1-2 school buildings, parking for cars and about 5 buses, a playfield, and playground. The Board will come back to this proposal in later dates to discuss this option it further.
Two alternative designs for the intersection of Forest Lawn Drive and Potter Road were presented. There have been many traffic incidents at this intersection and the removal of a stop sign for a safer alternative is preferrable. Options were a roundabout and a signalized intersection. Board members approved the roundabout for this intersection.
The Board approved the Title VI Nondiscimination Plan and Implementation in compliance with a request made by NCDOT in reference to The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal government requires that recipients of federal funds must have these policies in place. Although the Town of Weddington had already implemented this nondiscrimination policy, it is now official and formal.
The Board approved entering into a contract with Diversified Demolition for an amount not exceeding $2,500. Wesley Chapel Fire Department will be conducting a practice burn on a house meant for demolition, located at 6924 Weddington Matthews Road. Prior to the burn, Diversified Demolition will need to remove asbestos from the house. After the practice burn, Diversified Demolition will return and clean up the site. The Board approved entering into this contract.
Finally, since most summer events will be cancelled, the Board like the proposed idea of a drive-in movie night at Hunter Farm. About 52 feet wide, the movie screens sit about ten feet off the ground. Due to COVID-19, the company will offer a discount costing $1,500 that will include setting up the screen, and two people to stay and project the movie. An FM transmitter will also be included to allow viewers to listen to the movie in their cars. It would take place possibly on a Friday in June. The Board will discuss this more in the future in regards to weather and location if a drive-in movie night comes to fruition.
