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Local News - April 2002 |
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Incorporation debate still being waged East Lincoln By AL DOZIER, Staff Writer April 24, 2002 - DENVER — Forget about West Norman, what about incorporating Denver into a city? A year after state lawmakers turned down a bill which would have allowed eastern Lincoln residents to vote on forming a town, the topic is again floating around among incorporation supporters, and even came up during recent Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce meetings. But at this point, it’s just talk, said Jack McCachern, a proponent of incorporation who has a Denver address. The name might make incorporation of an east Lincoln town more acceptable to the opposition said McCachern. He said the idea surfaced among a group of people in the east Lincoln area, and hasn’t been formally drafted or recommended by any organization in the area. Larry Olmstead, who would have served as interim mayor had the proposed town of West Norman been incorporated, said the name “Denver” would have been more acceptable. “A lot of people just didn’t like the name West Norman,” he said. But Olmstead said many people who live in the Denver area don’t want it consolidated with other areas into something different. Jerry Lackey, who heads up the East Lincoln Relations committee for the chamber said the name Denver reflects the history of the area and would be more acceptable to long-timers. “Just feeling the heartbeat of that community, Denver is a good name,” he said. The proposed annexation area included SailView, Cowans Ford, Verdict Ridge Westport and Waterside Crossing, encompassing a population of 9,000. A bill that would have given eastern Lincoln County residents a vote on becoming a town designated as West Norman was defeated by lawmakers last year. The legislation was opposed by members of Lincoln County’s legislative delegation. McCachern said it doesn’t matter to him what a new city is named, the need in the area is for more services and more long-range planning, which now falls on the shoulders of Lincoln County commissioners. “If it’s left to grow on its own, it’s not going to be something we are proud of,” McCachern said. McCachern said there is no organized effort currently under way to launch another incorporation effort, and he doesn’t know when another will be started. “Frankly, I’m 74-years-old and I won’t be here when things start happening. But it’s what I feel is the best thing for this area.” Both McCachern and Olmstead predicted a city will be incorporated in east Lincoln, later if not sooner. “The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be,” Olmstead said, noting that new incorporation regulations will likely require more services. He said a new incorporation effort is at least a year away.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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