Union County - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

More fireworks in Indian TrailMayor, council continue feuding aboutrecords request, newspaper articleby Brian Carltonbrian@unioncountyweekly.comIndian Trail Mayor John Quinn’sresponse to a public-records request ledto another round of public squabblingbetween him and town council membersSept. 8.Four months ago, Mayor Pro Tem ShirleyHowe asked Quinn to produce all e-mailcorrespondence with Family Circle magazine,which recently named Indian Trailone of the country’s top 10 family-friendlytowns. Howe and other council membershave questioned the mayor’s conduct representingthe town to the publication.They believe Quinn’s correspondencepainted the town in a negative light, preventingit from earning the top spot.An e-mail from Family Circle’s SeemaNayyar suggests otherwise. “Your enthusiasmand dedication in promoting IndianTrail is readily apparent – from the initialwelcome letter I read on the town Website to the various phone conversations wehad where you espoused the numerousvirtues of your town and its people,” thee-mail reads.Quinn said in August that he’d bring thedocuments to the council’s Sept. 8 meeting.He followed through, preparing a PowerPointpresentation of the e-mails.The council removed Quinn’s presentationfrom the agenda, however. “I don’tWesley Chapel to unveil proposed parks planResidents can weigh in at Sept. 24 meetingby Brian Carltonbrian@unioncountyweekly.comOne year after the idea for a parksmaster plan was born, the Wesley ChapelParks and Recreation Committee is readyto unveil its work.The committee is keeping the plan –and the survey data used to build it – underwraps until a meeting Thursday, Sept. 24,at 7 p.m. at Wesley Chapel United MethodistChurch, 120 Potter Road South.“I think it’s going to help us identify WesleyChapel as a community,” said CouncilwomanSondra Bradford, the council’sliaison to the committee. Bradford andthe committee’s five other members haveworked on the plan since fall 2008.They designed a survey on parks andmailed it with the village newsletter inthe spring. Of the 6,299 surveys mailed,385 were returned. Over the past months,they’ve reviewed the survey data to determinewhat residents want.They also worked with WeddingtonHigh School Principal Brad Breedlove toget students’ input, resulting in an additional139 survey responses. Many studentscommented that they’re interestedin music events. “We wanted to make surethere was input from the entire community,including the youth,” Bradford said.The committee isn’t releasing specificdetails, in the hopes that people will attendthe Sept. 24 meeting to get the informationin person.“Our citizens are looking for a place togather for cultural events – something toCommunitybelieve we have to have any dialogue onthat,” Howe said. “It’s my request for publicrecords. I will review the information at myconvenience.”Councilman Dan Schallenkamp agreed,noting that the town generally doesn’tput records-request information on theagenda.Quinn said it was his choice to honorthe request that way. “I have a right as anelected official to put items on the agendaof public interest,” Quinn said.Quinn also admitted to erroneouslystating at a previous meeting that Schallenkamphad called him “mentally ill” ina Union County Weekly article. No sucharticle was published in the newspaper.“You’re trying to slant these issues. Thisdid not occur,” Schallenkamp said.Quinn said he confused the newspapers’name but wasn’t incorrect about thecomment, adding that Schallenkamp wastalking “like a truly desperate and guiltyperson.”The relationship between Quinn andseveral council members has been contentiousthis summer. In June, citing unprofessionalconduct, the council voted to eliminatethe mayor’s comments from the townnewsletter and Web site, limit his communicationwith town staff, and ban himfrom entering any of Town Hall’s nonpublicareas without the town manager’s authorization.Despite Quinn’s repeated requestsfor information about the incidents that ledto their actions, council members haven’toffered specifics.Howe said it’s time to move forward.“We’ve got to start acting like adults here.(There’s) just paranoia all over this place.” qlink them together as a community,” committeemember Julie Brown said. “Now it’stime to look at the results and determinethe next steps.”That includes determining where tobuild parks. Three potential locations willbe unveiled at the meeting; one already isknown. Developers donated a parcel adjacentto the Target shopping center at 6350Weddington Road when construction beganto serve as future town hall or park site.The committee also is working to put aprice tag on amenities such as soccer fields,tennis courts, shelters and grills to decidewhich are financially feasible. qS E R V I N G W A X H A W A N D W E D D I N G T O NNow open & accepting New Patients!EARLY MORNING, EVENING, FRIDAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCEDR. ANGELA M.HALLERDR. 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