Home Care In Belmont, NC

BELMONT, N.C. — A local attorney has filed a lawsuit against the city of Belmont, alleging the removal of LGBTQ+ protections from its personnel policy and violations of open meetings and public records laws.

The lawsuit, filed by Karen Hinkley on Oct. 30 at the Gaston County Courthouse, claims that the Belmont City Council removed protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity from the personnel policy approved on March 3.

It also alleges that council members discussed city business via a private group text, violating open meetings law, and that the city failed to adequately respond to public records requests, according to the Gaston Gazette.

“I was kind of surprised … Hearing Miles’ presentation of the policy that he gave on March 3, it almost sounds progressive,” Hinkley said, reflecting on the initial presentation of the policy.

Hinkley became aware of the changes after other citizens raised concerns, prompting her to examine the policy closely. She discovered that previous protections for LGBTQ+ employees were no longer included.

The lawsuit details Hinkley’s attempts to obtain records of discussions related to the policy change, which were met with inadequate responses from the city. Hinkley claims that the city manager and council members failed to produce complete records and falsely claimed that no records existed.

The complaint also highlights an incident where meeting minutes misrepresented Hinkley’s public comments, making it appear as though she supported the removal of protections, which she did not.

Hinkley is seeking a court order to compel the city to preserve documentation related to the policy change and to conduct business more transparently in the future.

The lawsuit aims to hold the Belmont City Council accountable for its actions and to restore transparency and protections for LGBTQ+ employees in the city’s personnel policy.

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What was once a parking lot will soon be the Charlotte area’s newest outdoor dining destination.

Food Truck Alley is on track to open at 2 Airline St. in downtown Belmont before year’s end, Business Debut first reported. The venue will spotlight diverse cuisines while acting as an incubator for small business owners.

Owner Alex Hostetler said he was inspired by the food truck parks found in cities like Austin, Brooklyn and Nashville and wanted to bring the concept to his hometown.

“Belmont’s community already has a strong appetite for local dining, and this concept gives people a reason to stay local instead of traveling elsewhere for the same kind of experience,” Hostetler said in a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

The outdoor space will feature seven food trucks, each serving a variety of food options, according to the release. Turf, picnic tables and lighting will be added in the coming months, transforming the lot into a place where families will want to gather year round.

“I want to make Food Truck Alley a local destination,” Hostetler recently told The Gaston Gazette. “Not just a quick stop for a meal but more of an environment where local entrepreneurs can thrive and family and friends can come together. More of a relaxed, welcoming space.”

The Belmont native said he hopes the venue will also allow local vendors the opportunity to grow and thrive. A vendor previously stationed at the lot before Hostetler purchased it has since opened a brick-and-mortar just up the street, he said.

The concept still needs final approval from the city before Hostetler can move forward with his plans. Vendor setup will follow — and there are still a few spots left.

“Ultimately, Food Truck Alley is about building community and creating opportunity,” he said in the release. “It’s meant to become a gathering place that feels uniquely Belmont — lively, approachable, and built around connection.”

Food Truck Alley

Location: 2 Airline St, Belmont, NC 28012

Cuisine: Various

Instagram: @thealexhostetler

It's not just people that recognize Amy Bossard when she frequents local farmers markets ? dogs do too, and for good reason. Bossard operates Simply American Dog Treats, a food truck that sells dog and cat treats.

"I am a destination business," Bossard said. "No day is ever the same. I love meeting my customers."

Bossard opened her business in July 2018, and since then, it's taken off. She sells dog treats at the Belmont Farmers Market, as well as other farmers markets in both North and South Carolina.

"It started out as a tent, kind of a pop-up," she said. "And has had several different iterations and several different trucks. This will be the final."

Bossard has worked in the pet industry for years, "and this was just something fun that I've always wanted to do," she said. "It's important to me to give my dogs really good, healthy treats, so I wanted to share that with my customers."

Bossard has four dogs, a Labrador retriever mix, two schnauzer mixes, and a yorkie-poo.

Bossard said that dogs know where to find her at the farmers markets she frequents.

"And they get upset if I'm not in the same spot, because they can't find me," she said.

Bossard makes treats from sweet potatoes, ostrich liver, beef liver, pork liver, chicken liver, dehydrated chicken feet, and pig ears. She gets her meat from local farmers.

"If you come over, don't open my freezer," she said, laughing.

Her recipes are a secret. She has a trademark pending on "livermutt" dog treats, made mostly of livermush, "but dog tummy friendly," she said.

She hopes to have a brick-and-mortar shop sometime in the future.

"But right now, I'm really happy with how the farmers market business model is working," she said.