The Badin Villager is a free monthly newsletter available on the first of the month at the Badin Post Office, the Badin Town Hall, the Badin Library and West Badin Community Center. It is also published online at www.visitbadin.com. For more information contact info@visitbadin.com

Many residences in Badin are nearly 100 years old and while old houses are often charming, they sometimes fall short of  current safety requirements. Over the years, many Badin townhouses have become rental properties owned by absentee landlords, who, in some cases, make little or no effort to upgrade them. Others are owned by residents with limited incomes who have neither the means nor the ability to upgrade to minimum safety standards.

Similar situations have persisted in the town since before its incorporation in 1990. To address those needs, Ordinance 05-6 was implemented to define minimum housing standards. That means homes in Badin must meet basic safety and habitability requirements to be lived in. Potentially hazardous situations such as faulty wiring, rotting structural elements and other issues frequently top the list. With Badin’s unique row houses, enforcing such safety requirements is even more essential. For the past decade or so, the town has contracted code enforcement services to ensure safe housing.

However, a recent change in local code enforcement, prompted the town to seek alternative sources. Subsequent research revealed that Stanly County Central Permitting offers code enforcement services to Stanly County towns through Officer Tim Swaringen working under Stanly County Planning and Zoning Director Michael Sandy. Rates are favorable, in-house staff requirements are reduced and the office is easily accessible and on call any time.

The Town of Badin signed on becoming the first town in Stanly County to take advantage of a newly instituted opportunity.

In the long term there should be benefits to Badin and its citizenry that include more than just up-graded appearances. As properties that fail to meet legal minimum housing standards are gradually brought up to code, home and property values throughout the town should begin to increase.

“While appearances will improve, the main objective of this program is really to maintain safe sustainable housing conditions for all of Badin’s residents,” Town Manager Jay Almond says.

Old, Charming, Safe Inside and Out

We have a saying where I come from: “An Englishman’s home is his castle.”  And so it is in America. No one can enter your home without permission except in extreme cases, and this includes a code enforcement officer. If violations are visible from the outside of a property, that’s a different matter. But inside violations can go dangerously undetected if renters or owners refuse to allow inspection when it is obvious there are safety issues. In my neighborhood, a departing renter allowed an inspection of his townhouse after the landlord refused to fix myriad problems. The inspector found three pages of violations and the property was closed until the problems were fixed. If you think you have safety issues, call the Town Hall. With your permission an inspection can be scheduled to see if you have a problem. 

Bridget Huckabee, Editor

A town’s history is best told through its people. From its inception in 1913, Badin has had its share of colorful personalities, people whose influence on the town will be long remembered. Badin Museum has honored these folks with an exhibit featuring their images and a brief history of their accomplishments. Their faces smile up at the visitor from the archival photos the museum has lovingly preserved.

Here is Johnny Palmer who brought golfing fame to his home town. There is Jim Cozart with the first Badin taxi and car rental service. And there is our own Major General, “Rudy” Rudisill pictured not far from little Clyde McCray, caretaker at Badin Clubhouse.

There are fishermen and hunters and Boy Scout masters. There’s H. M. Doerschuk, pioneer of the Hardaway Indian site, and Jim Vann for whom the Badin Library is named.

There are many more, too numerous to list here. Do yourself a favor and drop by the museum to take a look at these personalities who helped shaped the hometown they loved.

The Semi-Annual Town Clean-Up

 The semi-annual town clean-up is scheduled for Monday, October 18, 2010 through Thursday, October 21, 2010.  Anything not put out by the last day of pickup at 12:00 noon will not be picked up.  We will pick up appliances, tires and rims only if separated, and old furniture.  The town will not pick up cardboard or other items that are accepted at the convenience center.  Please have these separated and on the curb by 8:00 am.  Examples on how to separate items are posted at Badin Town Hall, Badin Post Office and Ike’s, and on the Badin website at www.badin.org. Items not separated will not be picked up.  If these items should remain on the curb longer than 7 days after the clean-up, you will be in violation of a town’s ordinance and could possibly be cited.

The Sunshine Club

Badin’s ever popular inter-denominational seniors club announces new meeting days for the coming year: 10:30 A.M. on the second Tuesday of November and December, and the fourth Tuesday of the month from January to October. Bring a covered dish, one dollar and a friend and enjoy the programs and fellowship of this cheerful group.

Best of Badin Festival

The main street was packed, the music good, the fireworks a blast and the vendors offered enough variety for the pickiest of people. Once again, Better Badin volunteers put in countless hours to make our town’s annual festival a success.  Go to visitbadin.com for photos of the event.

Below, Ivonia Mills, Gwyn Culp and Doug Hinson share a peaceful moment on the porch of the museum’s quad as they wait for the next influx of visitors: