Courthouse security, the future of Color-Tex, and plans to clean up road names and addresses are on the agenda Monday for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Sheriff George Wilhelm will outline his plans to deal with security in the Rowan Justice Center. It would require all people entering to go through controlled entries.
A special committee has been looking at the courthouse security issue for months. The facility is subject to hoax bomb reports.
Incidents at other courthouses in the region and state have prompted concerns by court officials.
Earlier his month, Superior Court Judge Michael Beale called a meeting to push for enhanced security at the courthouse.
At the meeting, Wilhelm said he had a plan and is ready to put it into action.
No bags or briefcases would be allowed, except for court or courthouse employees. Employees would also be subject to mandatory random searches, as would all people entering the Justice Center.
Two bomb-sniffing dogs, costing a total of $20,000, are in the package.
Wilhelm is seeking $409,000 for the startup of the system, including $269,000 for seven additional deputies at a cost to the county of $38,400 each.
Among the equipment that he proposes is two hand-held search devices, $500 each, and two X-ray machines at $20,000 each.
Among other equipment for personnel, he is requesting $51,000 for supplies, weapons, clothing, street gear and radios. A total of $45,000 is included for two new patrol cars.
The annual cost of keeping the plan in place is projected to be $275,000.
In other matters, the board will consider:
n A report from County Attorney John Holshouser related to the defunct Color-Tex, the former N.C. Finishing plant on U.S. Highway 29 North.
The plant closed Oct. 1, 2000, leaving 300 people out of work, a mountain of debt and a contaminated building and equipment.
Holshouser will update the board on negotiations with David L. Risdon, of Boston, a former shareholder in the company, who proposes to pay the tax liens and take control of building and property.
The county has indicated a willingness to turn the facility over to Risdon if he provides guarantees about maintaining control and ensuring the contamination at the plant is cleaned up.
The county seized control of the facility nearly two months ago and conducted an auction. The sale failed to net the nearly $200,000 to satisfy the personal property levy against it.
n The county planning staff is ready to wade into the deep waters of changing road names and addresses throughout the county, starting in the Enochville area.
County emergency response personnel continue to have difficulty finding addresses.
A first step will be to change the county’s road naming and address ordinance.
The revised ordinance will be presented to commissioners with a recommendation to schedule a public hearing.
The board meets at 9 a.m. in the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room of the County Administrative Offices building, 130 W. Innes St.
Contact Jessie Burchette at jburchette@salisburypost.com or call 704-797-4254.
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