By Susan Shinn

For The Salisbury Post

KANNAPOLIS — The citizens of Kannapolis had a lot to say Monday evening. Not only were there numerous speakers during the City Council meeting, there was a full house on hand to witness recognition from the police and fire departments.

Police Chief Woody Chavis recognized 13 graduates from the second citizen’s academy sponsored by the Kannapolis Police Department. As with the first class, Chavis praised their enthusiasm, interest and patience.

Speaking on behalf of the class, Bill Buchanan described the 10-week, 40-hour class as highly informative and interactive. This group raised $1,000 to provide Loki, a K-9 officer, with his own bullet-proof vest.

“We’re just thrilled,” Chavis said. “They came up with the idea on their own. That just shows how gracious these people are.”

Loki is one of four canine officers, all of whom will now have the vests. He is handled by Officer Scott Crainshaw.

“We consider our dogs officers, too,” Chavis said. “They are a wonderful tool for us to have at our disposal.”

Adrian Turner received the Danny E. Scott Firefighter of the Year award, and Capt. Daniel Mackey received the Larry C. Phillips Office of the Year award. Division Chief Rick Barnhardt presented those awards.

Turning to the business agenda, council voted unanimously to approve the annual action plan for the CDBG program funds totaling $326,534. This plan and a five-year consolidated plan are due this year, according to Sherry Gordon, program administrator. The budget includes $70,000 for infrastructure; $30,000 for demolition; $48,351.50 for urgent repair; $64,882.50 for Section 8 loan repayment; $48,000 for non-profit partnerships and $65,300 for general administration.

Irene Sacks, director of business and community affairs, updated council on the Villas Mobile Home Park, referred to as the Wyrick property. Some 50 abandoned mobile homes are being handled by a bankruptcy trustee, who is having water shut off on the site because of squatters. She said that bids for cleanup are being gathered.

“It’s tremendously worse than what it looks like in the pictures,” Councilman Ryan Dayvault said. “It’s just a bad thing waiting to happen.”

City Attorney Wally Safrit noted that the property would be deeded to the city following extensive environmental assessments.

During a public hearing about the CDBG funds, resident Bobbi Hague asked council whether they had considered asking Boy Scout groups to help clean up the property. Resident Violet Mitchell asked if funds could be used for sidewalks for Little Texas Road.

Mayor Darrell Hinnant responded that sidewalks would be built first nearest and closest to schools, then ranked in order or priority.

“I just wanted to jog y’all’s memory,” said Mitchell, who has made this request before.

Resident Jerry Caldwell asked whether low-hanging limbs could be cut back in his neighborhood. The mayor referred him to Wilmer Melton, public works director, who was already busy jotting down Caldwell’s address.

In a rare split, council voted 5-2 to approve design costs of $24,000 for a gateway branding project on I-85, in partnership with NCDOT and the City of Concord.

With the planned widening of I-85, there is an opportunity to create brick tower structures, much like bridge abutments, at five exits: 54, 55, 58, 60 and 63, according to Annette Privette Keller, director of communications. The towers would typically be 17 to 18 feet in height, and use the same Williamsburg-style design used in Downtown Kannapolis, Keller said.

Councilman Tom Jackson asked whether the City of Concord had responded to the plan.

“They like it,” Keller said. “They are willing to do the project with us.”

Dayvault and Jackson voted against the motion. Dayvault said he would rather the city address the appearance of its own corridors, not the appearance of the interstate.

“Somewhere there’s a happy medium, and that’s what we’ve got to find,” Councilman Doug Wilson said.

During the public comment section, Mitchell presented a long list of concerns to city council. Hague expressed displeasure about the gateway branding project.

“This time, I am with Mr. Dayvault,” she said. “This time, you are not using common sense.”

The meeting will be continued until noon on Monday, May 4, at Kimball Lutheran Church, 101 Vance St. At that time, an initial discussion between the council and Development Finance Initiative will take place. Based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government, DFI is the group assisting the city in its downtown revitalization effort.

Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury.