BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Despite an increase in homicides and rapes, the violent crime rate in the City of Statesville declined in 2024.

Police Chief David Onley presented the annual crime report to the Statesville City Council on Monday evening.

The decline in the violent crime rate is largely due to a decline in the number of aggravated assaults, Onley said. The total number of violent crimes dropped from 210 in 2023 to 150 in 2024.

There were 111 aggravated assaults in 2024, down sharply from 178.

Meanwhile, there were four homicides in 2024, up from one in the previous year. There were 10 rapes last year, up slightly from nine in 2023. There were 25 robberies in 2024 — up from and 22 in 2023.

Overall crime numbers were down in 2024.

The chief attributed the downward trend to a decline in criminal activity during the summer months. The usual spike that occurs during the summer did not happen in 2024, he explained.

The SPD responded to 69,000 calls in 2024, up from 65,000 a year earlier.

The number of cases assigned to investigators did rise in 2024 due to an uptick in fraud-related cases.

“Those take more time,” the chief said.

Community Outreach

Onley reported a significant increase the number of children served by the SPD’s Fill the Trailer Toy Drive. The effort helped 654 children in 2024. When the department launched the drive in 2018, 250 children received Christmas gifts as a result of the SPD toy drive.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council votes to rescind tax increase in downtown district

During Monday’s meeting, council members reversed a decision it made during last week’s retreat related to the downtown district.

Council members voted last week to increase the additional property tax that property owners in the district pay from 10 cents per $100 valuation to 15 cents. They also voted to make two Downtown Statesville Development Corporation employees city employees.

Johnson said on Monday that he wants a memorandum of understanding between the city and the DSDC board to allow DSDC to continue to approve grants as it sees fit. “I want to let them maintain as much autonomy as they can,” he said.

City Manager Ron Smith said the two positions, with salaries and benefits, would cost the city in the neighborhood of $200,000.

One of the positions — the executive director — is currently vacant but being filled on an interim basis, Smith said.

The decision to absorb the two positions was set to take effect on July 1, when the proposed tax increase would have taken place. Since the tax is not increasing, the personnel changes could be made immediately, City Manager Rob Smith said.

“If you’re not changing the tax rate, we could do it now, but I don’t think we’re ready to do it now,” he said.

Steve Johnson said advertising for the two positions could begin as soon as possible and, if the right candidates were found, that could take effect at that time.

Councilwoman Lisa Pearson asked if the city could afford to take on the additional costs.

“We have so many other needs,” she said.

Steve Johnson said another decision from the retreat that was rescinded just prior to the discussion on the DSDC situation would give the needed budget boost.

That decision was to allow the county to retain the building and standards process rather than the city having its own division.

“The county is doing a good job. Let’s leave it like it is,” Jap Johnson said.

Steve Johnson said the decision not to fund a building and standards division would save $400,000. “I think we can afford this,” he said.

The motions to allow the county to continue the building and standards process and the DSDC decision were approved with Councilwoman Kim Wasson casting the lone no votes on both.

Council approves changes for The Reserve at James Farm

A request to allow a new townhome development to include vinyl siding divided Statesville City Council members.

The request presented Monday night asked for approval to amend the wording on the text concerning a new townhome development called The Reserve at James Farm.

Originally presented as an apartment complex months ago, vinyl siding was not allowed due to it being on a public-facing right-of-way, said Herman Caulder, assistant planning director.

Caulder said the project had been before City Council many times to make changes, and one of the alterations was from an apartment complex to townhomes.

Chris LaMack of Elevation Real Estate Group explained that with the much-smaller facade of a townhome complex, combining vinyl with other materials was a better fit. He said the cost to those buying the homes would be between $5,000 to $6,000 higher if the mixture of masonry materials and vinyl was not allowed.

After discussion between several council members concerning whether to specify a percentage of vinyl siding allowed, council approved the change in wording to allow the siding by a 4-3 vote. Council members Joe Hudson, Amy Lawton and C.O. Johnson voted against the change. Council members Kim Wasson, David Jones, Steve Johnson and Lisa Pearson voted for the change. Councilwoman Doris Allison was not at the meeting due to a death in the family.

In other action Monday:

♦ Council heard a presentation from Lisa Pearson recognizing the Statesville African American Heritage Preservation Committee. Pearson said the commission is seeking to create a Black historical district and recognize Black landmarks within the city.

♦ Approved the first reading of an ordinance to demolish a home at 1117 Fourth Street

♦ Approved the first reading of an annexation request for Pressley Farm at 116 Victory Lane. The plan is to build two warehouses on the property.

♦ Approved the closures of Cameron Street and a portion of International Drive.

♦ Approved a second reading for annexation of properties along Mocksville Highway near Warren Road for a subdivision called Warren Woods.