BY STACIE LETT CAIN
A few days after the Mooresville Police Department announced the seizure of fentanyl, opioids, marijuana and cash from a suspected drug trafficker, Mayor Chris Carney applauded the MPD for its ongoing drug enforcement efforts.
The arrest of Markeith Kane Phifer on January 29, Mayor Carney said during Monday’s town board meeting, provided a small amount of justice for a loss he felt personally and professionally. Showing those gathered pictures of Hunter Temple and Devin Holder, he expressed his gratitude for the arrest.
“We have come a long way from where we even were two years ago,” the mayor said. “And this particular problem touched my life in a very real way.”
Carney recounted the day his neighbor knocked on his door, asking for his help and explaining that she believed “he” had died. Carney initially believed she was talking about his longtime friend, her husband, and that he had suffered a heart attack. Instead, he found the couple’s 18-year-old son on the floor in their home. He immediately began CPR and continued until first responders arrived, but they were unable to bring him back. The teen had taken a pill he believed was oxycodone but was actually fentanyl, Carney said.
“Look at these pictures,” he told the audience. “These beautiful young men were taken from us because of this problem. This problem was a ripple effect and touches everyone in some way. When you hear people trying to shroud this with politics, don’t let them. I want you to remember the faces of these children. They are the faces of the problem we have to solve. This arrest was a good start.”
MPD Police Chief Ron Campurciani closed the discussion by acknowledging that drug dealers must be prosecuted.
“We understand that addiction is a sickness many face,” he explained. “We focus on the dealers because they prey on the people who are sick and get caught up in these drugs. We go after the people who are supplying those drugs to the people who suffer from this sickness.”
Retired NASCAR driver honored
Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney honored Mooresville resident and retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle for his efforts to assist residents of Western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene in October.
“As we know, there was no question those first few days of Helene that it was like nothing we had ever seen before,” Carney explained prior reading a proclamation honoring Biffle. “Without being asked, he came forward and using his own personal resources he decided to fly much-needed food and water out to the people effected. He just decided he had the ability and resource to do it, so he did it. We all know him as a terrific race car driver, but this is the human being side of Greg Biffle.”
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business:
♦ Commissioners voted to approve the proposed rezoning and annexation requests for two developments that had been before the board before.
The first development, located at 298 Shadowbrooks Lane and 994 Brawley School Road, will be known as Shadowbrooke, was put before the board by ERR Investments and S + S LTDP. After originally proposing 99 townhomes and a density of 6.2 units per acre, the applicant decreased the number of units to 4.05 units per acre with a total of 68 townhomes and one single-family home in order to preserve an existing dwelling on the property. After minimal discussion, the board unanimously approved the annexation as well as the subsequent rezoning from County Residential Agricultural (RA) to Conditional Traditional Neighborhood (C-TN).
The board also unanimously approved the annexation and rezoning of 1614 Azalea Road, 1608 Landis Highway and 116 Knight Lane for a development known as Evolve North Townhomes. The project, which includes the demolition of an abandoned factory building, also previously came before the board with 276 apartments, or 9.95 units per acre, and was denied. On Monday, the developer explained the plan had been revised to 176 townhomes on 27.72 acres, which decreases the density to 5.9 units per acre. With conditions such as enhanced landscaping, height restrictions and providing open space for residents use, the board decided the development would provide a good transition between existing developments and the rural areas surrounding the development.
♦ Erica Martin, director of Planning for the City of Mooresville, asked the board to schedule public hearings for three proposed developments:
– Langtree Road (Known as Regalia @ Langtree) was set for February 17;
– Wiggins Road (Known as the Meadows) was set for March 3; and
– 1554 Landis Highway was set for March 3