Photo by Jason Benavides

July 18. By Dave Vieser. Cornelius voters will get to decide whether the terms for the mayor and the Town Board will remain at two years, or change to staggered four-year terms. The decision, made at the Town Board July 17 meeting, was unanimous (4-0), and will place a special question on local ballots this November.

As the town researched the question, it became clear that the process of changing terms would be quite detailed, including a proposed amendment to the Town Charter. Eventually, a special election would be needed in addition to the 2023 General Election ballot for the citizens to vote, since the resolution required that the change be approved by a vote of the citizens.

All of the commissioners were strongly in favor of at least having a public hearing first on the issue, but when the time came in June, only one citizen spoke out and he favored the current two-year system. Nonetheless, they decided that the final decision should be up to the voters this fall.

In other action, the commissioners:

—Approved a resolution which will initiate a traffic mitigation study for Bailey Road. “This study will evaluate possible mitigation that may be applied at both Bailey Middle School and Hough High School” said Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron. “In addition, if we find any additional mitigation steps for the Bailey Road/NC 115 intersection that could alleviate congestion related to school traffic, that too will be considered.”

—Ratified an agreement between the Cornelius Police and Mecklenburg County to use the facilities at Blythe Landing to promote boating safety and education.