The Catawba County Board of Commissioners next meeting is set for 9:30 am on Monday, October 1, 2007 at the 1924 Courthouse, 30 North College Avenue in Newton, NC.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will consider approving the organization of a Catawba County Youth Council, to provide an organized method for greater youth involvement in public policy and decision-making, and acceptance of State funds for one additional school nurse for both the Catawba County and Hickory Public School systems; and receive a report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the Secondary Road Improvement Plan for Catawba County for fiscal year 2007-2008, approved by the North Carolina Board of Transportation, when the Board meets at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 1, 2007 in the Robert E. Hibbitts Meeting Room of the 1924 Courthouse in Newton.

The Board will also hear details on the awarding of a Federal Economic Development Administration Grant for creation of a simulated hospital on the Catawba Valley Community College campus, and consider an agreement to secure that grant in the event of a foreclosure; consider appropriation of funds to enable the 4-H program to provide additional After School training and programming that will impact a larger, more diverse group of students through increased staffing hours; a Buy Recycled Policy to encourage County employees to procure products that have recycled content, whenever feasible; an amendment to the County Code regarding the filling of vacancies on the Catawba Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees; funds for construction of stairs to connect two parking lots at the Main County Library in Newton; an increase in the dinner reimbursement allowed for County employees traveling on County business, from $15 to $18 per day; and the donation of fifty used County computers to the Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club, which is working to provide computers for school children in need. The Board will also receive a report on the settlement of taxes for fiscal year 2006-2007.  See agenda

A Frequently Asked Questions page has been created with information about the November 6, 2007 quarter cent sales tax referendum.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners has indicated that revenues from the sales tax, if approved by voters, would be used to avoid a 3.6 cent property tax increase over the next three years to address economic development and public safety needs.  The Board will ask Catawba County's delegation to the North Carolina General Assembly to increase the Homestead Exemption, to provide additional property tax relief for seniors living on a fixed income.  See FAQ

Help us make our air quality better...by changing your light bulb!

Catawba County is joining the National Association of Counties' ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign...a call-to-action to encourage citizens to help change the world, one light, one energy-saving step at a time by using Energy Star light bulbs in our homes.   Full story

Upcoming road work will temporarily close a main entrance to the Catawba County Government Center/Justice Center complex in Newton, beginning Wednesday, October 3, 2007.

One of the main entrances into the Catawba County Government Center/Justice Center complex, from Radio Station Road, is expected to be closed for several days beginning on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, while road work is completed to repair and re-pave the existing driveway between the two public buildings. The driveway has deteriorated significantly over the last twenty years and needs to be repaired.  Full story

Catawba County Public Health has been awarded a grant to fund healthy eating and physical activity projects for after school programs

Public Health plans to create healthy after school options for elementary, middle and high school students by offering healthy snacks, fruit and water. Students in these programs will learn about nutrition education through special curriculums. Full story

The Catawba County Library has expanded its genealogy and local history collection.

Much of the new material in the Rhodes Room, at the Main County Library in Newton, relates to North Carolina and the Southeast, with an emphasis on filling in gaps in the North Carolina border areas. Full story

Learn more about gardening in October

This month's Cooperative Extension Successful Gardener newsletter includes information on lawn care and the proper growing of ornamentals and edibles during October. Full story

To learn more about Catawba County Government, go to www.catawbacountync.gov