[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6567577,"mediaKeyId","3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94","parentId",3290548,"title","Votes at a glance: Monroe City Council actions, May 13, 2025","audioSeconds",602,"startMs",2250000,"endMs",2852000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94&start=2250&end=2852","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94/thumbnail_2250000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567577/Monroe-City/Union-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Monroe-City-Council-actions-May-13-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567577-d70b8e0a03b8e59ac393c218762fb6e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154058&Signature=YkpVe45AkxLGOII~JW9WqyXZNj~TzG-Bi0o9l3nUoV9ogc2WscyM63Wu4EY3jtXlf1dMp35Vy8A0tHeYfc3byjmfhT73zK6d5WGqJzwxbENxidygTS1VLEyzAyYwqlvRkwPQcD5fR4tUYU0TuiDx~sGeCZ8Z7rqP4kE0zVvzSoNXYEwvtGkqAhFTpVaLHDB3JK5nKDN7pMdApDcnzbKCD6TR189TcYjsg8omjmBuGNHuFdZAuuhECb3MEHwo1QKc5KszJ4n1VtUEBrLHN3kisTs5iXMsLVpYMRbzPaHA2mRzE63vcyGCWyNt1JASp75JhZ9FXwqWEKu6T4DH7Tzjpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe","date","2025-05-14T02:43:37Z","article","Key votes and formal actions from the Monroe City Council meeting of May 13, 2025.

• Project Nickel (economic development incentive grant): Motion to table the request for an Economic Development Incentive Grant to a confidential company codenamed Project Nickel to the June 10, 2025 council meeting without further advertising — Motion carried (tabled to 06/10/2025).

• 1001 South Parker Street: Ordinance declaring the dwelling unfit for human habitation and ordering repair or demolition within 90 days — Motion carried (ordinance adopted / land-use enforcement action).

• 1371 North Rocky River Road (Jose Sanchez / Gals Masonry): Approve outside‑city customer water service — Motion carried (approved). Public Enterprise Committee recommended approval; council asked staff to revise policy for commercial outside‑city service requests going forward.

• Repurpose DEI committee funds: Council approved moving the FY25 DEI line item (approximately $23,338 originally budgeted for consultant work) to the Winchester Revitalization project / capital line — Motion carried (funds repurposed to Winchester Revitalization project).

• BRIC and GrowMonroe downtown grant programs: Adopt BRIC (Building Rehabilitation & Improvement) and GrowMonroe grant policies and repeal eight existing downtown incentive policies — Motion carried (policies adopted; previous policies repealed).

• Repeal of Section 71.07 (roller skating and the like in Central Business District): Council repealed the existing ordinance as written and directed staff to draft an enforceable ordinance and to research designated areas or skate lanes for downtown; motion passed (repeal adopted; staff directed to return with options.)

• Position statement on law-enforcement cooperation and immigration enforcement: Council adopted a position statement clarifying Monroe is not a sanctuary city and that the Monroe Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law but will cooperate with federal law enforcement regarding violent offenders — Motion carried (position statement adopted).

• Resolution opposing state bills: Council adopted a resolution opposing proposed state bills (Senate Bill 688 and House Bill 765) that staff said would affect local development review authority — Motion carried (resolution adopted).

• Fee schedule (Ordinance O-2025-16): Council adopted the FY2025–2026 fee schedule (O-2025-16), including changes to utility deposits, building and permitting fees, airport facility fees and a modest increase in solid waste monthly service rates; museums, recreation and other departmental fees were updated — Motion carried (ordinance adopted; effective 07/01/2025).

Notes: Many motions were passed by voice/hand vote without roll-call tallies recorded in the meeting transcript. Several items included council direction for staff follow-up (policy revisions on outside‑city services, publication and implementation steps for downtown grants, and research on skateboarding accommodations).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting of May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A compact list of formal council actions taken May 13, 2025, including tabling action on Project Nickel, a property condemnation order, utility and grant approvals, policy adoptions and a position statement on law-enforcement cooperation.","taxTitle","Monroe City, Union County, North Carolina","taxId",55173,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567582,"Council adopts BRIC and GrowMonroe downtown incentive grants and repeals prior policies",1476,4277000,5753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94&start=4277&end=5753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94/thumbnail_4277000.jpg","/articles/6567582/Monroe-City/Union-County/North-Carolina/Council-adopts-BRIC-and-GrowMonroe-downtown-incentive-grants-and-repeals-prior-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567582-2c701d0ab0d7d013196abecb995d2204/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154058&Signature=Dxmgn56ykGgUgbBPsQ4vgcMwdRPaQ50DrtekBBCyZ6KWYvM~FWO6Y3rkyv2T51de18I5Lb06SibXxRm9XAdYXiCCf9uQ8tAnW1y6YSzMzPD1c6GdhpbpDBQ5qY5ucg~jx-9kc7fBMT~l9iQOxO2VbHjA01xpP8Yqg95i2Y4oDfmZAc~FVvLvo~pQ-iUwak7BdAdCZxkibwlmpvqW6uO91YSjijWhgJqrrl~~e-5IITOtCf47uM3mVUOMwgheQZgRHFSbHEKRgcp~bDEz56QWAXLRPlC-dkaMSXQ0ic8PcLCFt8o1ICTPrOrCm6bOUBOTIMz8xipq3TUHYVN5asNwLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe City Council voted to adopt two new downtown incentive programs—the Building Rehabilitation and Improvement Grant (BRIC) and the GrowMonroe grant—and to repeal the eight older downtown incentive policies currently on the books.

Donna O'Keefe, downtown manager, described BRIC as a 50/50 matching program designed to encourage interior and exterior building improvements in the downtown business district. \"The BRIC program provides matching grants, so they're 50/50 grants that encourage improvements and or upgrades to interiors and exteriors of buildings in the downtown business district to make them more attractive for new, existing, and expanding businesses and residents,\" O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe walked council through eligible and ineligible work. Eligible projects include structural repairs, masonry restoration, roofing, HVAC, accessibility work, facade and window repair, and limited pedestrian amenities. The program also includes \"escalators\"—additional percentage increases to a grant award—to incentivize desired outcomes: an extra 10% for applicants that create at least three new jobs and 10% for projects that activate upper‑floor space, and an additional 20% where projects create residential units above street level.

The GrowMonroe grant is a 50/50 matching program aimed at supporting new and existing businesses with eligible expenses tied to opening, outfit costs or expansion. Awards are determined in part by a square‑footage formula (different per use type) and include a rent-subsidy feature (50% of new business rent for the first 12 months, paid in two installments after 6 and 12 months).

Council members praised the programs' emphasis on second-floor activation and simpler, consolidated eligibility rules. After discussion, a council member moved to adopt the BRIC and GrowMonroe policies and repeal the prior eight downtown policies; the motion carried by voice vote.

City staff recommended the changes as a way to provide consistent, transparent incentives for a range of downtown development scenarios while preserving council oversight through public hearings and application reviews.","Monroe City Council approved two new downtown incentive programs—BRIC (Building Rehabilitation and Improvement) and GrowMonroe—to replace eight older grant policies and encourage building improvements, second-floor occupancy and new businesses downtown.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567587,"Council approves outside-city water hookup for masonry business after annexation debate",559,2943000,3502000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94&start=2943&end=3502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94/thumbnail_2943000.jpg","/articles/6567587/Monroe-City/Union-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-outside-city-water-hookup-for-masonry-business-after-annexation-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567587-3fafac093e63a7d928e11361ea8a57b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154058&Signature=a~WlP7njYP0pIh~GTb1lonqhHNaeI~1q3bWTA-mMCjoZ4Yu9Xiz8IntAgsT8r82jJkiRX32M1b6JYrVQtEWDD8GyLjBTvB9ykqwPmttSRFauxhhGnkNgk3a8dd376uiQB3~4ENp5C3hFNrDCCDc-rpW2uT1znr7DdeEk~5jY6XRuHAQPlbnHPl701Ec510IertbM9ZMDxYHdQKwFTCPm9ATPSm69tuzLqK0iDSR~nSW43iTpm77U70pkyz-8kfJ6MncheGlxUBccVae~uc12w~s-1q05d9HLFq3V0B~NhZjY41ukyQBkzl65A4SPUghQk1A7xBoTpkWVaiYf4gjizw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe City Council approved a request for outside-city water service for property at 1371 North Rocky River Road, a commercial site associated with Jose Sanchez of Gals Masonry, following a lengthy discussion about annexation and the long-term fiscal impact on the city.

Assistant Director of Water Resources Rich Reiser introduced the item and noted the public enterprise committee had approved the request at its May 8 meeting. \"As a matter of policy, outside-city water and sewer customers pay double tap and double customer or monthly customer base charges,\" Reiser told the council.

Mayor Pro Tem David Dodson (speaking in the discussion) urged broader consideration of the fiscal impacts when staff makes outside-service decisions. \"For me, this is sort of like a test case,\" he said, arguing the council should see an analysis comparing the near-term revenue from an outside connection with potential long-term tax revenue if the parcel were annexed.

City Manager Watson described a complicating factor: the parcel is a single parcel split between the city and Union County, with about one-third of the land inside the city limits and two-thirds in the county. \"The property is actually split. It's one parcel with about a third of the property lying within the city limits of Monroe and two thirds lying within Union County,\" Watson said, noting that split ownership complicates annexation and revenue calculations.

Council members debated whether the city should require or encourage annexation before approving service, and several asked staff to return with an amended policy to address commercial outside-service requests. Staff said the water-resources policy typically handles outside-service requests but recommended policy changes to account for commercial taps so council would have fuller information in future cases.

After discussion, a council member moved and a second was made to approve the water service request; the motion passed without recorded opposition. The city also directed staff to consider policy amendments and bring commercial outside-service recommendations through the Public Enterprise Committee and back to council.","The City Council approved an outside-city water service request for property at 1371 North Rocky River Road after extended discussion over annexation, long-term tax revenue and policy for commercial outside-service requests.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567592,"Monroe orders repair or demolition of long-vacant house at 1001 South Parker Street",505,2347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94&start=2347&end=2852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290548-6f19ce5c837c2dc3e5e710db334f8f94/thumbnail_2347000.jpg","/articles/6567592/Monroe-City/Union-County/North-Carolina/Monroe-orders-repair-or-demolition-of-long-vacant-house-at-1001-South-Parker-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567592-b8d5fb1970915065a0f78ec57d724d1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154058&Signature=SCpPf~Ykc1Ku~PtJc3HJ18XfIA98FgXGGzmJlg2AiVR7-Gs6zTFn8GVC5jPPV5gMD4rxarOeCpg0V-1OZ9Rtt8PdBXlPMAFMAmqY7VVaYMU-w6y4EWGvz0EM5r-es0tjrSPY2zPzTAmsILAiFJ-PikiZDE~j6xR9Pp-01k6atUkKUO80lHtsp65-wD2bMS~sdnORZaP1fWekpS-UGUE3IkALccD4JQ1y3ykKJZx55Y8b6ruZm8pRVr0QKC6PZbPOTZ~7P6aGGrKZtyjKROltIHTz5r33C~QRmWbwdvX6t0STDXOTgJUmc1sv-LtkEbCntaLzADvgvHryMRf3-8zeaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe City Council on Tuesday declared the single-family dwelling at 1001 South Parker Street unfit for human habitation and ordered that it be repaired or demolished and removed within 90 days.

The action followed a public hearing during which Lisa Stauwinder, director of planning and development, told council the property has been vacant since 2015 and shows multiple code violations. \"Some of those violations include rotten damaged roof showing signs of leaking, missing broken windows, rotten exterior wood, exposed wiring throughout the home, holes in the interior walls and ceiling, floors that do not have adequate support for safety, missing plumbing throughout the home, and front and back door needs to be weathertight,\" Stauwinder said.

The property is approximately 0.17 acres and contains a roughly 1,239-square-foot dwelling that city staff said has been abandoned for more than a decade. Stauwinder told council a licensed general contractor estimated repairs in 2015 at $18,963; the tax value of the parcel has since risen to $97,000 because of recent county reappraisals. Staff said no permits to repair the structure had been applied for as of May 12, 2025, and a recent title search showed the recorded owners are deceased and no heirs could be located.

Under North Carolina law cited by staff, if a dwelling has been vacated and closed for one year or more and the owner appears to have abandoned repairs, the council may declare it unfit and require repair or demolition. Council moved to adopt the ordinance ordering repair or demolition; the motion carried with no members recorded as opposed.

Council members and staff noted the 90-day compliance window leaves open the option for a willing owner or other party to come forward and undertake repairs. If no one responds and the city proceeds with demolition, the action could affect the parcel's value and neighborhood appearance.

The council did not identify any heirs during the hearing and staff said the public notice was advertised and posted on the property in accordance with state law. The council's order provides the city with a clear enforcement path if the structure is not made safe or removed within the 90-day period.","City council declared a vacant house at 1001 South Parker Street unfit for human habitation and ordered the owner to repair or remove the dwelling within 90 days after staff said the structure poses safety and nuisance risks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Monroe City Council actions, May 13, 2025

Council adopts BRIC and GrowMonroe downtown incentive grants and repeals prior policies

Council approves outside-city water hookup for masonry business after annexation debate

Monroe orders repair or demolition of long-vacant house at 1001 South Parker Street