Huntersville mayor highlights public safety gains, $50 million transportation bond and new town hall

Mayor (name not specified) delivered a State of the Town address to residents, outlining recent public-safety expansions, transportation investments funded by a $50,000,000 bond and multiple park and planning projects, and confirming the town expects to open a new town hall by year-end.

The mayor said Huntersville converted its long-standing volunteer organization into a municipal fire department and now staffs “100 plus brave full time and part time firefighters” who answered “over 6,000 calls in 2024” with an “average response time of 6 minutes.” The address also noted the police force was expanded in 2024 and that the mayor credited a 17% decrease in crime last year to that increased staffing and community policing.

The mayor highlighted a victims response team that supported 365 residents in 2024 and held a holiday giveaway for nine families and 17 children.

On transportation the mayor cited the passage of a $50,000,000 transportation bond and said Public Works and Engineering are leading 18 town-funded projects while 17 projects are under way with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The mayor framed these projects as addressing “connectivity and mobility concerns,” and referenced Vision Zero work intended to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The address also named specific upcoming amenities: a splash pad at North Mecklenburg Park, an ADA-accessible playground at Abernathy Park and a future greenway tunnel under I‑77.

The mayor announced the town recently launched Katz Micro in North Mecklenburg — a microtransit service the town began Feb. 24 — and said Huntersville is currently the largest user of the service. The mayor said the Katz Micro fare is $2.20 per ride.

On housing, the mayor said the town is partnering with Habitat for Humanity and has contracted the UNC School of Government to perform a comprehensive housing needs assessment to guide future policy. The town also has formed an Environmental and Sustainability Committee and is working toward a sustainability plan and hiring a town arborist; the mayor said the town is coordinating with Mecklenburg County on farmland preservation and support for local farmers.

The mayor said the new town hall—described as a “beautiful, modern” facility that will consolidate most staff—will be completed and have a ribbon-cutting by year end. During a question-and-answer period town staff said the building will include meeting spaces; whether those spaces will be rented has not been decided by elected officials. Staff said parking will be provided behind the site where construction staging currently stands and that the number of additional spaces will be “close to a hundred and more than there are now.”

Staff described possible locations for chiefs’ offices (fire and police): options include part of the current DPK building’s third floor, the new town hall or remaining in current spaces. Discovery Place Kids currently occupies town property under a lease that staff said runs through 2040.

Communications Manager Ethan Smith said the town’s Huntersville 101 public-outreach program will be reworked and that officials expect to announce dates in the next two to three weeks, with sessions likely between mid-May and early July and both afternoon and evening sessions offered.

During the address the mayor reflected on first participating in Huntersville 101 in 2017 and invited residents to watch a new town-branding video shown at the event.

Questions from residents and staff answers during the Q&A clarified several items but did not produce formal votes or binding directions from the town commission at the meeting.