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Volume 137 • Issue 30
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
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Eleven citizens City of Kings Mountain registered to fill 3 city council seats water supply update By Loretta Cozart
By Loretta Cozart
Candidate filing ended July 18, with many new citizens tossing their hats into the ring. The seats in question are in Ward 2, Ward 3, and the councilperson-at-large position. City council member Tommy Hawkins chose not to run again in Ward 3, and three candidates stepped forward: Heather Lemmond, Chris Pullen, and Ke'Shawn A. Strong. In Ward 2. Incumbent Mike Butler filed for re-election, with two other citizens stepping forward: Tyler Fletcher and Tim Sanders. Last December, Phil Dee was appointed by the city council to fill the empty At-Large council seat vacated by Dave Allen. Dee has filed to run,
For more than a month, citizens of Kings Mountain have reported an earthy taste and unpleasant smell in their water. This concern was addressed in both the June 24 and July 8 city council meetings. Despite the taste and odor issues, the city's water is reported to be safe to drink and continues to meet all primary state and federal water quality standards. During the June 24 City Council meeting, Shearra Miller requested clarification from City Manager Todd Carpenter regarding the water issue. He explained, “In some areas of the city, we are experiencing some smell and taste in our water. It is due to an algae bloom due to high temperatures and heavy rain.” In response, the city typically treats the water with carbon at a usual concentration of 3 parts per million; however, in June, the treatment was increased to 12 parts per million. Complaints persisted, prompting another request for an update on the situation during the July 8 City Council Meeting. Carpenter reiterated the city's com-
with Bruce W. King, Jason Nail, Scott Neisler, and Curtis Pressley also registering. Who ultimately sits in those seats will be determined by the citizens of Kings Mountain. In the 2023 city council elections, 1,426 people determined the outcome for the city council at-large seat, and 160 votes were cast in Ward 1, 432 votes were cast in Ward 4, and 473 votes were cast in Ward 5.
Perfecting your elevator speech
Kings Mountain City Council listens as City Manager Todd Carpenter shares plans to improve the taste and smell of water through the city’s water treatment facility. Photo by City of Kings Mountain mitment, stating, “We have spent a lot of time on this; it is a priority for us. We are going to get this figured out. Our water meets all primary standards for testing and safety.” He also shared that the city met with representatives from the DEQ’s Division of Water Resources for an extensive discussion about the issue. Carpenter identified an increase in organics in the water supply, attributing this to various factors: “The nutrients in the water are causing the organics to rise. This can be due to an algae bloom due to the significant rain we had a month ago,
the heat, the runoff from the rainfall, the dredging we have done going back to 2023, and the rain, all occurring when fertilizers were being applied. All are possible causes for the organic levels rising as they are.” According to the DEQ, the accepted treatment method for this issue was carbon, which led the city to increase the concentration to nearly 30 parts per million. In addition to carbon treatment, the city has opened a fourth basin, allowing the water an extra day to be treated. The city also announced the hiring of experienced part-time staff
to operate a third shift at the water treatment plant, which will help reduce water flow and allow for extended treatment time. The city is collaborating with DEQ on long-term solutions. It is awaiting approval for further measures, such as the installation of baffle walls and aeration. DEQ’s response is expected within approximately two months. In last week’s press release, the city explained, “The City of Kings Mountain is actively addressing elevated levels of organic matter in the municipal See WATER, Page 5A
KM Forward – Next Level: Young Professionals Clev. County partners with Housing
Attention, young professionals of Kings Mountain! It’s time to connect with your peers. Join KM Forward – Next Level for its next meeting on Monday, July 28, at 7 p.m. at The SOCIAL HOUSE by Royal T, at 212 S. Railroad Avenue. All are welcome! This is your opportunity to connect with ambitious young professionals aged 21-41 who are eager to make a positive impact in this community. Don’t miss your chance to expand your network, share insights, and explore new collaborations that could elevate your career. This month’s topic is how to craft an effective, personal elevator speech (also known as an elevator pitch) about yourself in 30 seconds. Your pitch provides the tool to share a concise and compelling summary of yourself, your ideas, or your business, which can be delivered. It gets the name from the time it takes to ride an elevator,
Need Project to survey residents typically 30-60 seconds. It’s a quick way to make a strong first impression and spark interest in what you have to offer. It’s a great tool to have prepared to share at a moment’s notice, because you never know when you might need it through an introduction, at church, in line at the grocery store, and, yes, even in an elevator. Come join us as we gather for networking, perfecting your elevator pitch, and socializing afterwards. RSVP using the QR c o d e NOW to guarantee your spot! Let’s m a k e strides together and redefine what it means to be a young professional in Kings Mountain. Let’s network, learn, and socialize. See you there!
According to WSOC-TV, officials in Cleveland County are keen to understand the housing needs of their residents. Cleveland County officials have partnered with the Housing Need Project to gauge public opinion on the current housing supply, evaluate housing affordability, identify gaps in the market, and plan for future housing development based on community input and data. The Housing Need Project in Cleveland County, NC, is actively working to understand the housing needs of its residents. The organization collaborates with local housing authorities to gather insights on the current housing supply and affordability. This initiative aims to collect homeowners’ thoughts on the current housing situation and identify what is needed for the future. The project encourages residents to participate in anonymous surveys, providing valuable feedback on their housing needs and experiences. The project includes anonymous surveys available in both English and
Kings Wood Apartments, 200 Spruce Street, Kings Mountain. Photo by Google Maps Spanish, allowing residents Two housing authorities Mountain Care Center, to share their experiences serve the area: the Kings Kings Mountain Hospiand concerns about hous- Mountain Housing Author- tal SNF, Life Enrichment ing in the area. You can ity, which serves the Kings Adult Day Care, Summit respond to the survey anon- Mountain metropolitan Place Assisted Living, and ymously by submitting your area, and the City of Shelby White Oak Manor – Kings opinion through an online Department of Housing. Mountain. Nearby, Boiling questionnaire in English at Currently, the Kings Springs has two affordable https://arcg.is/q0Xjv1 and Mountain Housing Au- housing complexes, featurin Spanish at https://arcg. thority manages 249 units. ing 32 Section 8 apartments is/09aSWO0. These low-income housing and 13 approved low-inAccording to HudHous- units consist of Section 8, come housing units. Rental ingNetwork.com, as of July public housing, and low-in- rates vary from $195 to 20, 2025, Kings Mountain come housing tax credit $404, catering to low-inhas nine affordable housing properties. Housing is sup- come individuals who complexes. These include ported by Kings Falls, Kings satisfy the income criteria 42 Section 8 apartments, Row Apartments, King- and other qualifying con170 public housing build- swood Apartments, Kings ditions. Rent estimates are ings, and 370 approved Mountain Manor, Heavenly calculated using Cleveland low-income housing units. Touch Care Home, Kings See SURVEY, Page 5A
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