Catawba County Board of Commissioners next meeting is set for 9:30 am on Monday, May 7, 2007 at 1924 Courthouse, 30 North College Avenue in Newton, NC.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will consider approving an interlocal agreement between Catawba County and Burke County to form a partnership for the delivery of mental health services for one year, with the goal of a full merger by the two counties of the delivery of mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse services by July 1, 2008; and consider authorizing a Public Safety Officers Memorial, to be located adjacent to the flag pole at the Catawba County Justice Center in Newton, when the Board meets at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 7, 2007, in the Robert E. Hibbitts Meeting Room of the 1924 Courthouse in Newton.

The Board will also receive an update from Sheriff L. David Huffman and Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn on issues related to immigration. The Board will hear a presentation from Catawba County United Way officials on the 2-1-1 community information telephone system and will consider an ordinance to outline the procedures to be used for criminal history checks as required by the State Bureau of Investigations; a revision to the current Mental Health Services budget to reflect adjustments in State funding provided to the County; a proposed amendment to the bylaws of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to specify that local governments may appoint a representative of their governmental unit, rather than an elected official, to serve on the council Policy Board; a set of tax refunds; and action to authorize Catawba County Manager J. Thomas Lundy to sign a development agreement finalized by the County, Crescent Resources and Key Harbor Holdings regarding proposed development in southeast Catawba County. The Board will also issue proclamations for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week, Mental Health Month and Older Americans Month, and issue a Certificate of Commendation honoring County employees involved with the Catawba Tax Link program, which recently won an Acts of Caring Award from the National Association of Counties.  Full agenda

Your next opportunity to properly dispose of household hazardous wastes will be on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Government Center in Newton.

Catawba County will hold its spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, May 5, 2007 in the parking lot of the Government Center off Highway 321 Business in Newton.  A wide variety of household products and used electronic equipment will be accepted for proper disposal.  Full story

A Catawba County Social Worker, Joseph Edwards, has won the 2007 Hancock-Settlemyre Award.

Edwards, at left in the photo, was honored for reducing family stress and improving the quality of family life, thereby reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect in Catawba County.  Edwards is a Social Worker based at the HEART Resource Center.  He has embraced his role to reach out to at-risk youth and to be a positive male role model in the lives of children. His genuine and encouraging presence continues to make a difference in the lives of these youth, steering them away from dangerous decisions that can have a negative impact on their entire life.  Full story

The Catawba County Library System is many things to all citizens.  Now in its 76th year, the Catawba County Library serves as a valuable resource not only for the present population but the future as well.

The County Library's collection, valued at more than $5.7 million, is a great asset to the community not only in terms of business resources but education as well, providing reading readiness programming for toddlers and programming and homework help for school-aged children.   Overview of County Library system

Computer classes scheduled for May at County Library  Full story

Interested in searching for your family's roots?  A May 10 program at the Southwest Branch Library will help!  Full story

Catawba County's Oxford Convenience Center, located at 4637 Lookout Dam Road, temporarily closed beginning on Thursday, April 26, 2007 to allow for necessary maintenance work and upgrades at the site. The center is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.  Full story