‘Historic’ library?

To the Editor:
I laughed out loud when seeing the full page ad in reference to saving our “Historic Clemmons Library”. To the creators of the ad I want to ask them a couple of questions:
1. How does a building become historic when it is only 32 years old?
2. Where did you get the ideal for the marble fountain? I for-one could care less about a library fountain, especially one made out of marble.
Furthermore, I got on the Save the Clemmons Library Facebook page the same day the ad came out. I expressed my concern in the comments under the ad posted on Facebook. My comments originally posted, but then after about 30 minutes they were entirely deleted and I was unable to make any other comments.
I plan on attending the July 13 meeting concerning the library. I just hope nobody slaps duct tape across my mouth!
Chris Billups
Lewisville (Forsyth County resident who is also paying for the new Clemmons Library)

 
Old site doesn’t pass tests

To the Editor:
Our family are frequent users of the Clemmons Library so it is with thoughtful deliberation that I write this letter. Both my wife and I are opposed to the expansion of the Clemmons Library at the present site.
In 1988, I was a member of the steering committee for the current site of the Jerry Long YMCA in Clemmons. The two primary considerations that we used in the selection process were; first ingress and egress, and; second the 30 year rule. When you are investing millions of dollars, you have got to make sure that you are not making a mistake.
According to NCDOT 2013 traffic counts, the traffic at the intersection of 158 and Lewisville-Clemmons Road is 21,000 per day; 18,000 per day in front of the Post Office, and 15,000 per day at Stadium Drive. Wal-Mart is scheduled to open in the fall and the traffic is going to increase significantly. So much for meeting the ingress and egress test.
If the current location is selected, the Clemmons Library will not meet the 30 year rule and will have painted itself into a corner with no options for expansion being bounded by the school, Hwy 158, Security Engineering and Broyhill. Not a smart position to be in for future expansion.
The decision making process for the new Clemmons Library needs to be careful and thoughtful using critical analysis devoid of politics and emotions just as the steering committee used for the YMCA 27 years ago. The YMCA is now a centerpiece for our community because the steering committee carefully exercised the ability to look at both the current and long range needs of our Clemmons community.
The Jerry Long YMCA would have not achieved this tremendous success if it were not for the location. The location met the critical tests of the steering committee. Let’s make the Clemmons Library another centerpiece.
Chuck Lott
Clemmons

 
Voting for Nelson

To The Editor,
Two years ago, our village was in the hands of a mayor and a council determined to bring the solutions of Washington to Clemmons. Though Clemmons had been debt free for many years, they wanted to believe a $6 million bond and new taxes onto the taxpayers was our only choice to have “public improvement”.
Fortunately, the voters of Clemmons raised their voices and cast their votes and sent that crowd packing. Instead they elected Nick Nelson as our Mayor.
Now, it has been reported that Mayor Nelson has filed for re-election and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved.
Nick Nelson and the current Village staff has had more impact on improving the quality of life here in Clemmons than anything I have seen in a long time. And based on what I have read recently in the Clemmons Courier and the a Journal West, what we have seen is only the start of more good things to come.
Thank you Mayor Nelson for running for re-election. I hope we have the privilege of calling you “our Mayor” for another term and possibly many more terms.
Looking forward to,the new Krispy Kreme this fall.
Judy Yarbroughs
Clemmons

 

Moving forward

To The Editor,
I have attended most of the council meetings over the last two years and have been encouraged to see what our Mayor has done to improve our Village. While no one particular person can take credit for the improvements I’ve seen, Mayor Nelson has helped move several projects, along with the council, toward completion. I now see several future developments that will make Clemmons even a better place to live in.
Consequently, I am very pleased to hear that Nick Nelson is running for re-election as our Mayor. An overwhelmingly number of voters decided to “Pick Nick” in the last election and I for one look forward to getting out to support him again. I would also like to thank him for running again and as a reminder, it was he and his staff who were able to get the future road into development near Novant Hospital without a bond or increasing taxes. So let us continue on a smart, responsible course.
Art Frauenhofer,
Clemmons

 

Nelson’s road victory

To The Editor,
Until two years ago, the citizens of Clemmons were being told by their prior mayor and council that we were in a desperate place, that Clemmons had overgrown its capacity and only one measure would rescue it – more bonds and taxes to build a vague set of roads to relieve traffic on Lewisville-Clemmons Road.
Luckily, voters didn’t buy into that gloom and defeatism. Instead, they elected a new mayor to lead the way with a new vision.
The voters have been rewarded.
Three months ago, Mayor Nick Nelson announced that a new road to connect Town Center to Morgan Elementary School and Clemmons Medical Center had been approved by the state – and was to be paid for by the state and Novant Health. 50/50. At no cost to the Clemmons taxpayer.
Let’s not take any chance that a returning to the political regime of the past won’t reverse this victory.
Let’s make sure that we re-elect Mayor Nelson in November.
Harvey Draughn
46 year Clemmons Resident

 

Bitter pens

To the Editor,
A steady flow of letters to various editors have come from the bitter pens of Larry McClellan and Al Harbury, two former Clemmons councilmen. They find the choice that the voters made to turn them out of their seats to be wrong-headed if not downright worthy of their mutual condescension.
Four years ago, while the American economy was still on its knees, while hardworking men and women were struggling to keep their jobs, and while some Washington types were piling up debt at frightening rates to finance gaping deficits, these two councilmen looked at Clemmons and thought – “Why not more? Wouldn’t we be so much better if we could take our debt free Village and pile $6 million of bonds onto the backs of its homeowners and small businesses? And for good measure, let’s include a tax hike.”
Those are the facts. These two former councilmen may or may not try to dodge their past, but it’s part of the public record. They have encouraged others to run this November yet they have not stepped up to spend the time, effort and money to do so—they know they are not electable. When they were voted out, the citizens of Clemmons told them loud and clear that their spending, unnecessarily raising taxes, and issuing debt was not welcome in Clemmons. I’m confident that any candidate they support will subscribe to those same principles. Until then, they will continue to write nasty letters based on half truths trying to divide Clemmons instead of trying to unite.
Tiffany Blackburn
Clemmons Resident

 

Library needs extra land

To The Editor,
As an advocate for a new library, at a new a location, rest assured that I will work towards selecting a site that will serve our county well into the future. A library is more than a storage facility for books, it is a meeting space, a community center, a learning place, and a collaborative center for community minded people. This facility must be designed and planned to last well into the future. Lets not sell our selves short and accept less than what we expected when we voted to tax ourselves (bond) for a new library. There are several issues with the current location that are well known and have been expressed by many in our community. Parking, traffic congestion and the small size of the facility and the property that it sits upon. Future expansion capability and open space is essential for the long term use of a new facility and the current property (1 acre) does not allow this.
Mike Rogers
Clemmons Council