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1. Why is the City upgrading my water meter?

The City approved the replacement of manually read water meters with automated read meters in August of 2016 following years of consideration, analysis, and planning. The new meters will more accurately capture actual water usage, so some customers may see a difference in consumption and their subsequent bill amount, due to the improved performance of the new meter. The City selected the Mueller Systems Mi.Net AMI (Advanced Meter Infrastructure) system which will automate the City’s current manual meter reading process. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. City water utility customers will have real-time information on their water consumption and the City will be able to improve service and operational efficiency.

2. How does the new system work?

The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is made up of several “smart” components that communicate using wireless and radio frequency technology. Inside the meter box, a small radio is connected to the water meter that records and transmits a reading on hourly intervals to a collector. These data transmissions last only several milliseconds and are smaller data size than text. Several collectors will be located on existing water tanks and poles located throughout the City. The collector stores all the reads and sends batch uploads twice daily to the head-end software at City Hall.

3. What is the technology that reads my meter and sends it to the City? Is it safe?

The new meters use wireless radio frequencies, similar to wireless Internet and cable TV, to send and receive information from the City Utility Department. The meters and communication system is regulated to meet all federal communications, safety standards and codes. There is no personal identifying information captured by the smart point or transmitted by the meter.

4. How long will I be without water during installation?

While replacement times will vary, replacing a meter should take no longer than 5 minutes for residential meters during which the water will be shut-off for a portion of that time. The installation crew will make every effort to keep the interruption to your service to a minimum. Commercial and industrial customers will be contacted in advance to schedule installation so as to minimize the disruption of service.

5. Do I have to pay for my new meter?

No, the City pays for the costs of the meters and their installation. The City has prepared for the cost of this project as part of its annual capital improvement planning process. This project does not have any impacts to the existing water and sewer rates for the City of Belmont.

6. Have the new meters been tested for accuracy?

Yes, the meters that have been installed have been tested and guaranteed accurate by the manufacturer, Mueller Systems, in compliance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) accuracy standards. Additionally, the design of the installation process includes a pilot phase, which allows a sub-set of the meters to be installed and the billing software to be integrated, so the entire process, from the meter to the bill, will be tested and verified for accuracy prior to City-wide installation.

7. Will my water bill increase?

Your new meter measures the amount of water used during the billing period by measuring how much water passes through the meter, which is the same measurement process as your old water meter. New meters may register lower flows that your older meter might not have been able to capture, which means that although your bill may increase, your meter is now accurately recording your water consumption.

8. Could I have a leak that is causing extra water usage?

If you have an unexplained spike in your water usage or show continuous water flow, it may be an indication of a leak. Customer Service will be able to identify a leak based on your consumption profile and due to the alarms from the smart meter and will notify you immediately if a leak is identified.

9. Who can I talk to about my water bill?

If you have questions regarding your water bill, please contact the City at 704-825-5586.

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1. What happens if what I want to do with my property is different than what the plan shows?

No plan, however thorough, can foresee every aspect of the future nor can it always predict the best way to respond. However, the presumption should always be that the plan is right unless new information can be shown that a different future for a piece of property makes more sense. You will always have the right to demonstrate how what you envision with your property is better for Belmont. Keep in mind, though, that the plan is an aspirational guide that will require interpretation and enforcement through the Land Development Code and other regulatory policies. By itself, it has no force of law.

2. I have a house on a few acres currently zoned residential and the plan shows my property as a commercial use. Will my taxes go up?

No. Property tax is based on current use, not planned use or zoning district.

3. I think traffic in Belmont is bad enough already. I don’t want to see any more growth. Why can’t we have a plan that says there will be no more growth in Belmont?

We live in a country where private property rights are highly valued and government control is limited. For Belmont to stop all future growth, the City would have to purchase existing development rights for all parcels within its planning jurisdiction. Even if everyone who owned property agreed to sell their rights and it was legal for the City to purchase them, the cost would be more than citizens could bear. It is simply not a financially feasible or fiscally responsible option.
Nor would no growth in Belmont stop traffic from increasing. A great number of the average daily trips within Belmont are made by people moving through Belmont and not people living in Belmont. Even if Belmont stopped growing, the Charlotte region will continue to grow and impact our city.
Cities are constantly changing, some by growing and others by declining. Much of the reason for change in Belmont is caused by factors the City cannot control. We could not stop the closure of our textile mills and other economic changes driven by national and global trends. We have limited ability to impact state and federal roads. What Belmont can do, however, is manage changes in land use and how those changes impact our citizens. Our Comprehensive Land Use Plan is one important tool that we use to manage that change.

4. Why should we plan for commercial and industrial growth in Belmont? There is plenty of that in Charlotte, Mt. Holly and Gastonia.

Like other cities in North Carolina, property and sales tax are Belmont’s primary sources of funds to pay for facilities such as roads, parks, and public services—together they make up 75% of the City’s total revenue stream. While residential growth is very important to a healthy Belmont, to maintain reasonable property taxes and provide high quality services and facilities that our residents want and need we need to encourage a balanced tax base that includes commercial and industrial properties. It is also important that we try to provide more jobs close to where our residents live.

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1. Why should our community prepare a comprehensive land use plan?

Everybody plans. Some prepare financial plans, travel plans, or work plans, to help us achieve certain goals and objectives. Cities plan for strategic reasons to improve the quality of public choices and decisions. Planning is a means of preparing for the future, helps the community recognize priorities, and is intended to serve the public interest.

2. How long will it take to update the city's comprehensive land use plan?

The update of the comprehensive land use plan is anticipated to take approximately one-year to prepare. However, since the success depends on community input, available data, and complexity of land use and development issues our community faces, it is important to be flexible so that everyone can be proud of our plan.

3. What is the process for updating the plan?

The process for updating the plan primarily consists of:

1) Data gathering and analysis;
2) Public participation to identify problems, issues, and concerns through meetings, surveys, and workshops.
3) Evaluate the existing community vision and update if necessary.
4) Develop plan goals and objectives.
5) Generate and evaluate plan options. These options will be presented to the community.
6) Select and Develop a preferred plan based on the community input.
7) Adopt the plan.

4. Does the city only have one plan?

No, a city may have multiple planning documents such as a small area plan, recreation plan, or bike and pedestrian plan. However, the comprehensive land use plan is intended to blend all of these plans into one vision plan to implement.

5. What topics or issues are covered in the plan?

The topics or issues covered in a comprehensive land use plan is based on the community's values and priorities. Sections of the plan are typically focused on land use, transportation, city services such as utilities to support land uses, historic preservation, economic development, and park and recreation.

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1. HOW TO SIGN UP FOR BANK DRAFT

BACK SIDE OF THE BILL, ON THE BOTTOM PORTION

2. WHAT DAY IS THE BELMONT CHRISTMAS PARADE?

ST TUESDAY OF EVERY DECEMBER

3. WHEN IS THE LAST DAY TO PAY THE WATER BILL WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE?

BY END OF BUSINESS THE ST OF EACH MONTH.

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1. How often should I change my smoke detector batteries?

You should change you smoke detector batteries at minimum once a year.

2. What is the leading cause of fire deaths?

discarded smoking materials are the leading cause of death in residential fires?

3. Does the fire department install car seats?

The fire department does install child safety call the fire station to schedule an appointment 704-825-0502.

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1. How do I get an alarm permit

Submit an application and pay $20 fee

2. How long before an accident report is ready and is there a charge to get a copy

An accident report is typically ready within 3 working days. You can get a copy for free at the police department or you can go online to policereports.us for an $8.00 fee.

3. How do I get a golf cart permit

Turn in application along with copy of drivers license and proof of insurance. Permits are $25.

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1. Do I Need a Building Permit?

New construction and most alterations required a building permit. Please call the Planning Department at 704.901.2065 to discuss your project

2. Where do I go to pull a permit?

Zoning permits are issued at the planning department located at 37 N. Main Street located behind City Hall in downtown Belmont

3. What is a Variance?

A variance is a permit to allow deviation from the City's Land Development Code. This process requires your request to go before a citizen's board - the Board of Adjustment, to hear and reach a decision on your request. For more information call the Planning Department at 704.901.2065

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1. When is trash pick up at my house?

Refer to the Waste Pro Calendar found on the Garbage Collection & Recycling page or call Waste Pro at 980-255-3800.

2. Can I set up my water and sewer account at Public Works?

No. Water and Sewer accounts are set up by our utility customer service representatives located at City Hall - 115 N. Main Street. 704-825-5586

3. How do I request street maintenance such as repair a pothole?

You may enter your request my selecting "Request a Service" located on our webpages or call public works at 704-825-0506

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1. How do I make a reservation for a facility?

Call 704-825-8191

2. Can I register online?

Currently we are unable to register online.

3. Do you accept credit cards?

No. We only accept cash, check or money orders.

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1. What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rainwater that runs off of impervious surfaces such as buildings, roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks. The more impervious surfaces we develop, the more runoff we create.

2. Where does stormwater go if it runs off of impervious surfaces and doesn’t soak into the ground?

Stormwater flows directly into the stormwater system, picking up everything in its path. It goes untreated to our creeks and streams, which lead to either the Catawba or South Fork River.

3. Why is there a stormwater fee?

The City created a stormwater utility fee to fund the Federal and State mandated Phase II Stormwater Program. The City’s Stormwater Management Program is funded completely through this stormwater fee. This is a separate utility fee, not tax dollars. The residential fee is $3 per month. The nonresidential fee is based on the amount of impervious surfaces on each property at $3 per 2,500 square feet of impervious surfaces per month.

4. How is the stormwater fee assessed?

The stormwater fee for Residential customers is a flat $3.00 per month. Commercial/Non-Residential customers are charged $3.00 per 2,500 square feet of impervious surfaces on their property. Impervious surfaces are anything that stormwater cannot penetrate such as rooftops, parking lots, compacted gravel etc. The Commercial/Non-Residential fees were assessed at the onset of the Stormwater Management Program by an engineering firm using GIS software and aerial photogrammetry to view and measure impervious surfaces located on each parcel within City Limits. The fee is not charged to residents and commercial businesses located outside of City Limits, even though they may have a Belmont address.

5. What is the stormwater fee used for?

The stormwater fee is used for many things; from day-to-day operations, staff, fuel, equipment maintenance, stormwater system maintenance, mapping, and capital improvement projects. The majority of the revenue generated from the stormwater fee is allocated for capital improvement projects (CIPs) which are large stormwater system repairs and upgrades that benefit the community.

6. Why can’t I just put it in the storm drain, it’s treated because it’s part of the sewer right?

The storm drains are not connected to the sanitary sewer system and the stormwater is not treated. They are two separate systems. Storm drains discharge to streams, creeks, and in some cases directly into the river. The only thing allowed to go into the storm drains is rain.

7. Why are the storm drain(s) on my street not draining?

There are several possibilities why the storm drain(s) on your street is not draining properly:
1. The grate is clogged with debris keeping stormwater from passing into the catch basin.
2. The pipe that the storm drain is connected to is clogged or has failed.
3. The rain event was too large for the system to handle causing backups.

Please call (704) 901-2076 to report a storm drain that is not draining properly.

8. I live outside the City Limits. Does the City do any stormwater work outside City Limits?

No, because the City has no jurisdiction and does not collect stormwater fees from properties outside of City Limits. If you have a stormwater related issue or problem and are outside City Limits call (704) 901-2076 and City Staff can help get you in touch with the right people to address your issue or problem.

9. What can I do to keep areas of my yard from washing away or eroding?

Typically yards wash away or erode due to a lack of vegetation. Vegetation, whether it be grass, shrubbery, trees, etc., helps to stabilize the soil and keep your yard intact. Establish a vegetative cover on any bare areas to get them stabilized. For severe erosion issues call (704) 901-2076 so that the issue can be investigated by City Staff.

10. Why do I have a sinkhole in my yard?

There are several possibilities why you have a sinkhole in your yard:
1. When an excavated area is filled in with soil or other material it naturally shifts and settles. Water always takes the path of least resistance and if there are any voids or crevices it finds, that’s where it’s going. Over time stormwater can channel out voids and sinkholes.
2. Utility service leak or failure can cause sinkholes to form. Water/sewer leaks or a separation in a stormwater pipe can be causes.

Please call (704) 901-2076 to report a sinkhole in your yard or on your street so that it can be investigated by City Staff.