BY JESSIE BURCHETTE
SALISBURY POST

A newly appointed member of the Rowan Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has temporarily blocked a property swap that would provide new administrative offices for the ABC system.

County Commissioner Frank Tadlock, who was appointed earlier this month to replace David Roueche, won’t take office until Aug. 1. But Tadlock and County Commission Chairman Newton Cohen showed up at a special ABC meeting Thursday evening, bent on stopping or slowing the transaction.

Tadlock jumped to his feet repeatedly to object to motions by Roueche related to the project. He cited state law, saying County Attorney John Holshouser had advised it would be illegal for the board to deal with a property transaction at a special meeting.

The planned swap has been in the works for at least three months. Under the plan, the Wallace and Graham law firm, which is on the Main Street side of the block, will get the ABC property at 510 N. Lee St.

In turn, the law firm will provide land and build a new ABC administrative facility to the specifications of the ABC board. The site proposed for the new building is on Klumac Road, adjacent to the C.C. Dixon Co.

Chairman Faye Porter, Roueche and Hank Palmer said the new facility is a must, citing a need for additional space for administration, particularly law enforcement and educational training area.

Tadlock said the ABC board couldn’t go forward with the deal until it got an appraisal of the Klumac Road property. Cohen said the current Lee Street property is three times as valuable as the Klumac Road property.

Roueche countered that the Klumac property is three times as valuable as the Lee Street property.

Palmer said the ABC Board will be trading $500,000 value for $1 million, the cost of land and building a new 10,164-square-foot building.

Cohen interjected to say he was representing the county and wanted to ensure that the county was getting equal value. “This is an undesirable location,” said Cohen, referring to the Klumac site.

Roueche blasted Cohen, asking if the county got equal value in a series of recent property and building projects.

“Did the county get equal value in building Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium?” asked Roueche. In machine-gun fashion, Roueche named one project after another, so quickly that Cohen couldn’t respond.

“I didn’t vote for the stadium,” said Cohen finally, as Porter attempted to get the meeting back on track.

At one point, Cohen said he didn’t know the ABC board was “trying to ram this thing through.”

Porter responded that she had provided Cohen with full details of the meetings and discussions since May, when the project came under consideration.

Looking at Cohen, she told him that in earlier conversations, he had not indicated he was opposed to the site. “We are comfortable with the site,” said Porter.

Cohen altered his position, saying he wasn’t objecting to the location but the “configuration of the lot.” He noted the building would be back off the road a considerable distance, adjacent to a high voltage Duke Power transmission line, and would not have easy access.

Porter responded that the location didn’t need to be highly visible.“We’re not a retail store.”

She said the staff has problems now on the Lee Street location, because of street traffic.

As Tadlock repeatedly said action on a proposed contract would be illegal at the meeting, Porter agreed. She said she had talked with Holshouser earlier in the day and had been so informed.

Roueche then made a motion to run an advertisement in the newspaper to let the public know of the “intent” to make the property swap.

Tadlock jumped to his feet again saying it would be “out of order and illegal.”

“You want to stop it?” asked Roueche.

“That’s not the case,” said Tadlock. “I appreciate the work you have done. What I’m saying is that it has to be done at a regular meeting,” responded Tadlock.

“You are in favor of it?” asked Roueche.

“The concept is good. I’m not there yet, there’s too many unknowns,” responded Tadlock.

“Since you are so supportive, I’ll withdraw my motion,” responded Roueche.

Palmer started to make a substitute motion, but Porter said the board will wait until the next regular meeting to take action.

Both Palmer and Porter said they will vote to approve the property swap. Tadlock will be a voting member at the next meeting.

Near the end of the meeting, Palmer, Porter and ABC Manager Linda Lowman praised Roueche for his service on the board.

Roueche praised Lowman for her 28 years as the manager. He also praised Ray Shuler, the chief enforcement officer for his work.

Earlier in the meeting, Roueche looked directly at Cohen, saying. “You put me on this board to do law enforcement.”

Roueche headed up the effort to add law enforcement and education. He also has led the effort to improve facilities, including a new Kannapolis store and the new administrative offices.

Earlier this month, Roueche and County Commissioner Dave Rowland questioned attempts to replace Roueche with Harry Welch Jr., a former candidate for sheriff.

Roueche and Rowland said some members of the party had promised Welch a job, and that his appointment to the ABC board would clear the way for him to take over an administrative or enforcement role.

Cohen and Commissioner Arnold Chamberlain backed the Welch appointment, but Rowland and Vice Chairman Steve Blount supported Tadlock.