BY STACIE LETT CAIN
After a lifetime of service as a firefighter, Shane LaCount was sworn in Monday night as the Town of Mooresville’s fire chief. After beginning his career in the fire service in Gastonia, LaCount served in Richmond, Ky., while also working as an associate professor at Eastern Kentucky University. After pairing his education as a fire safety consultant and being credentialed as a chief fire officer, he anticipated his career path would eventually lead to a position as fire chief. That road brought him to the Town of Mooresville in 2008. He was promoted to deputy fire chief in 2013.
“This has definitely been a lifelong career path for me to achieve, and I am so blessed and thankful,” LaCount said after he was sworn in. “What an amazing department we work for. There is no better fire department — sorry Virginia and South Carolina — than here in Mooresville, North Carolina.”
LaCount’s children, Avery and J.P., held the Bible as he took the oath. Battalion Chief Pete Rhodes of the City of Fairfax, Va., Fire Department, pinned on his chief’s badge.
LaCount succeeds Curt Deaton, who retired in March.
Experience & Engagement Team
This year has been a banner year for the Town of Mooresville’s Experience and Engagement team. In February, Director Christine Patterson was named the 2026 N.C. Association of Festivals and Events (NCAFE) Director of the Year. During Monday’s board meeting, Patterson presented the NCAFE 2026 Sponsor of the Year Award to deBotech Inc., the presenting sponsor for the Bands, Brews and BBQ Festival.
“We just want to say thank you so much for your partnership with the Bands, Brews and BBQ Festival each year. Since 2023, deBotech has been the presenting sponsor of the festival and if you haven’t been you have been missing out,” Patterson said. “Over the past three years they have helped us to elevate the event, not just monetarily, but also by elevating the experience. Getting the U.S. Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton Team so our kiddos can interact with the Olympians and that is truly an incredible opportunity.”
Other Business
In other business:
♦ The Board voted to approve a demolition request for 145 Rinehardt Road for housing violations associated with the house being dilapidated and in a state of disrepair. The action followed complaints filed and a demolition order was entered in December of 2025.
♦ The Board approved a rezoning request for .19 acres on Williams Street, brought by owners Habitat for Humanity with the goal of incorporating the parcel into another parcel already owned by Habitat. The property will be used for three duplexes. The town staff recommended the approval of the request.
♦ A request to rezone 23.65 acres at 2255 Statesville Highway by Bowman Development Group was postponed to a later date.
♦ The Board also set the Land Use Schedule for upcoming meetings. The EnergyUnited Lake Norman Operations Center rezoning request for 48 acres was set for May 4. Rezoning requests for 713 Faith Road and Cornelius Road Industrial were set for the May 18 meeting.