Special to IFN

Mooresville town commissioners expressed their appreciation to recently retired Assistant Police Chief Robert Dyson on Monday and welcomed new Assistant Chief Rhonda Faust.

Dyson, who retired after 27 years of service to the town, was honored for his service to the town at the beginning of Monday’s board meeting.

Then, after Mayor Chris Carney administered the oath, Faust officially became the town’s first female assistant chief of police.

Most recently, she served as administrative captain and exercised direct supervision over key organizational functions including Training & Recruiting, Logistics, and Internal Affairs.

Faust began her law enforcement career at MPD on April 25, 1997, as a patrol officer. She was MPD’s first traffic officer and laid the foundation for the department’s current Traffic Unit. In April 2020, she became the department’s first female captain. She is the first female assistant chief in the department’s history and is also the longest serving female officer at the department to date.

“I think it is important to point out the historical significance of this promotion; however, it is more important for everyone to realize that Assistant Chief Faust was promoted to this position because she was absolutely the best candidate, who just happened to be female,” Mooresville Assistant Town Manager and Police Chief Ron Campurciani said. “Assistant Chief Faust has performed above expectations in the previous roles she was given, and I see no reason why that wouldn’t continue in the future. I value her opinion, and I am looking forward to her input as a key member of the police department’s administration as we move this department forward.”

Faust holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Mitchell Community College. She is a certified N.C. General Law Enforcement Instructor and regularly teaches with Mitchell Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program. She also holds both Intermediate & Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates, is a certified Crash Reconstructionist, and is certified as a Field Training and an Advanced Field Training Officer.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business, commissioners:

♦ Approved a request from the Asset Management Department to adopt a Resolution approving the purchase of one Bucher V65H Sweeper from Vacutek Rental & Sales in the amount of $351,250 in accordance with the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Contract Award Agreement Bid 25-09-0423. Funds were approved in the FY25 budget.

♦ Approved a request from the Asset Management Department to adopt a Resolution approving the purchase of two 2025 Freightliner Rear Loaders from Carolina Environmental Systems, Inc. at $218,938 each, for a total of $437,876 in accordance with Heil/Sourcewell Contract 110223-THC. Funds were approved in the FY25 budget.

♦ Approved a request from the Engineering Department to adopt a Resolution awarding a contract to Blythe Construction, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,615,027.31 for the mill and overlay portion of the annual street resurfacing and pavement preservation program.

♦ Approved a request from Engineering to approve a Resolution to accept the following streets in the Meadows at Coddle Creek community and release associated performance bonds: Cup Chase Drive, Eternal Drive, Coddle Way, Asher Lane, Tribute Lane, East Northstone Road, Wrangler Drive, Chance Road, West Northstone Road, West Americana Drive, East Americana Drive, Stock Lane, Championship Drive, and Candlelight Way. All work has been inspected in accordance with Town standards and is acceptable. The estimated value of the associated improvements is $7,295,701.

♦ Approved a request from the Finance and Water Resources Departments to approve an Ordinance to appropriate Utility capital funds in the amount of $1,815,000 from the Utilities Capital Projects Fund to establish the Barley Park Pump Station Capital Project Ordinance. This project will provide a new submersible sewer pump station on Barley Park Lane. The existing collection system is no longer able to accommodate increased flow in the area.

♦ Approved a request from the Finance and Water Sewer Utilities Departments to approve an ordinance to appropriate Utility capital funds in the amount of $205,000 from the Utilities Capital Projects Fund to establish the Villages at Oak Tree Water Restoration Capital Project Ordinance. This project will replace problematic combined water meters with separate meters per unit with minor 2- inch waterline extensions. This will correct long-standing operational, maintenance and pressure issues in the community.

♦ Approved a request from the Fleet Department to adopt a Resolution approving the purchase of six police vehicles from Wade Ford, Inc. in the amount of $297,510.00 in accordance with State Term Contract 2510A-Fleet Vehicles (All Types) and the purchase of related equipment from Campbell-Brown Inc. in the amount of $115,240.17 in accordance with Statewide Term Contract 4616A-Traffic Control Devices & Accessories. No budget amendment is necessary as these funds are already funded through the Fleet Fund.

♦ Approved a request from Parks & Recreation to adopt a Resolution approving a contract in the amount of $170,000 with Carolina Travel Sports, LLC to provide referees, umpires and scorekeepers for youth and adult athletic leagues.

♦ Approved a request from the Mooresville Public Library to adopt a Resolution to approve a contract with Envisionware, Inc. not to exceed $217,182.00 to purchase a 24/7 Flex Library to be placed at the Selma Burke Recreation Center.

♦ Approved a request from the Public Services Department to adopt a Resolution approving the Municipal Reimbursement Agreement with North Carolina Department of Transportation in the amount of $404,946.00, to adopt an Ordinance to amend the budget in the amount of $1,620,391.00, and to adopt the NC 150 Widening Capital Project Budget Ordinance for the Town of Mooresville’s required participation in bike and pedestrian improvements on the Highway 150 Widening Project.

♦ Approved a request from the Public Services Department to adopt a Resolution approving a contract with Country Boy Landscaping, Inc. for a contract in an amount not to exceed $493,347.70 for the sinkhole repair and site rehabilitation located at 190 W. Plaza Drive.

♦ Approved a request from the Public Utilities Department to adopt a Resolution accepting the Directed Projects grant from the 2023 Appropriations Act, Session Law 2023-134, in the amount of $3,546,000 including all assurances to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and authorizing Tracey Jerome, Town Manager, to execute such documents as may be required by the Division of Water Infrastructure.