Saving $1 million is not easy and, with all of life’s demands, most people would say it’s impossible! But did you know your retirement pension can have about the same value as $1 million during retirement? The need to understand our individual and unique financial wellness was discussed during Financial Workshops for City of Gastonia employees held in December at the Schiele Museum.

Generally speaking, in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System, a final average salary of $60,000 multiplied by .0185 equals 1,110 multiplied by 30 years of service equals an annual pension of $33,300. If you multiply $33,300 by 33.5 retirement years, that equals $1,115,550!

And if you add 401K and Social Security to the LGERS pension, City employees can have an income of almost as much in retirement as their final average salary figure. This is an enviable financial position for any retiree. Death, disability, or quitting or getting fired are the only things that can keep us from getting this retirement benefit.

To understand your unique pension and other benefits with Gastonia, you may schedule an appointment with Bo Cauble at bocauble@cplanning.com or call 980-235-7830. There is no cost or obligation for City employees.

Dec. 14, 2017

The Gastonia Police Department enjoyed two extraordinarily successful fundraising initiatives in November and December: No Shave November and Shop with a Cop.

No Shave November drew 92 participants and raised about $3,680 for Special Olympics North Carolina, the most popular SONC fundraiser of the year, according to Sgt. Scott Norton, chairman of GPD’s Special Olympics Fundraising Committee. Combined with the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Burpee-thon, the committee has raised a total of about $9,000 this year for SONC, a record setting year!

In the Shop with a Cop event on the Saturday morning of Dec. 9, 50 happy children went shopping with 55 Gastonia Police officers. Initially plans were to give the children $250 each to spend at Target, but that amount was increased to $350 after truly amazing fundraising results! About $18,000 was raised through ornament sales, grants and private donations, according to Amanda Neese, GPD’s Problem Analysis & Research Center director, who also serves as advisor to the Gastonia Police Foundation.

TOP PHOTO: Some No Shave November participants gathered recently for a group photo. They are, back row left to right, Officers Phillip Smith and Eddie Lovingood, Chief Robert Helton, Public Works and Utilities Director Matt Bernhardt, City Attorney Ash Smith, Councilman Jim Gallagher, City Manager Michael Peoples, Division Manager of Public Works Dale Denton, and Officer Drew Denton. Front row, left to right, Officers Kevin Putnam, Jason Sarratt, Jordan Reese, and Sgt. Scott Norton.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Officer Carmelitha Whitlock Almond with her shopping companion in the Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 9 at Target.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Officer Dylan Rice with his shopping companion in the Shop with a Cop event at Target.

Dec. 14, 2017

Ground is broken on a groundbreaking sewer project

Construction began in November on the South Fork Phase II Regional Sewer project, a public-private partnership that will eventually replace two aging sewage treatment plants in McAdenville.

The $6 million project will take wastewater from the Pharr Yarns plant and from all municipal customers in McAdenville to Gastonia where it will be treated. A new pump station is being constructed along with more than 2 miles of new sewer pipes. When the project is finished in 12 to 18 months, wastewater from the town and from the textile facility will be pumped through the new pipes to Gastonia. It will be treated at Two Rivers Utilities’ Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, the region’s most advanced treatment plant.

Currently, Pharr Yarns has a 50-year-old, privately operated wastewater treatment plant. The Town of McAdenville has a 50-year-old municipal wastewater treatment plant that serves the community’s 680 residents. The two outdated treatment plants in McAdenville will be demolished in 2019.

The project is funded with grants and low-interest loans. Grants from the county, state and economic opportunity sources, including the Golden Leaf Foundation, cover 45 percent of the cost and do not have to be repaid. The remaining $3.3 million is funded by low-income loans from the State of North Carolina.

Officials from the funding agencies, as well as Pharr Yarns, Two Rivers Utilities, Gaston County, the Town of McAdenville and the City of Gastonia joined in the ceremonial groundbreaking on Main Street in McAdenville on Nov. 15, 2017.

Planning for the project began more than a decade ago. It is expected to benefit both the economy and the environment. Both Pharr Yarns, one of the area’s largest employers, and McAdenville will get increased wastewater treatment capacity. That can boost economic development opportunities for both the manufacturer and the town. The project will also improve water quality in the South Fork River. 

Dec. 12, 2017