What do you say, Salisbury, is it a deal?
What would you call a businessman that bought a business for almost $5 million that had operating expenses of $1.1 million and cleared not even enough profit for one employee position paying $33,588? He could be certain that no one would ever call him smart.
Salisbury’s annexation report shows a profit of $33,588 on 948 parcels; this comes to only $35.43 per parcel per year, while it will cost most of the homeowners over $1,000 per year just in city taxes. So I propose something that in previous times would be called a tribute. I will give the city of Salisbury $50 just to leave me alone for the next 12 months. I am sure at least 95 percent of the 948 parcel owners would be willing to do the very same thing. This would bring over $42,000 into the city coffers to pay for all the asphalt we wear off of city maintained roads, and not cost the city a thing.
The council should also consider that the 1,699 potential new city residents will be quite motivated voters during the next election. This may seem like a small group, but one member of the current council was placed on the board with only 1,572 votes in the 2007 election. Well, city of Salisbury, deal or no deal?
ó Trent Allman
Salisbury (Homestead Hills)
Law no model for fairness
Some Salisbury city officials have said that involuntary, forced annexation is “fair.” They applaud the current 50-year-old N.C. statute that gives municipalities repressive powers with little recourse by the average citizen. They say this antiquated statute is the “model” for how it should be, even though only four states in the nation now allow such forced annexations.
Is it fair that neither existing city residents (whose taxes will likely increase due to annexation) nor annexed residents have a vote or say in the annexation? Is it fair that annexed residents will pay full city taxes for years before they receive city services? Is it fair that some annexed residents may be forced from their homes because they can’t afford the high initial costs to connect to city services or the ongoing double taxation? Is it fair that there is no real accountability for the city to provide comparable services in a timely manner? Is it fair that the only recourse left to the annexed citizen is a costly and time-consuming legal battle which few can afford? Is it fair that the current N.C. statute is misused to force annexation on more valuable properties that already have adequate services, while bypassing less valuable properties that could benefit from city services?
What do you think?
ó Vance Meek
Salisbury
Smoky work at Freightliner
I’m an employee at Freightliner. This plant employs well over 2,000 people. I am grateful for my job and work hard, as do most of my fellow workers.
I try to stay as physically healthy as possible and believe that I have the right to work in a safe environment. I think that most people would be surprised to know that the smoking policy at Freightliner is that you can smoke anywhere you want. Science has proven second-hand smoke to be deadly. We spend one-third of most of the days of our lives on the job, and I do not feel safe when smokers are constantly lighting up next to me.
I cannot take Freightliner’s policies on environmental safety, a safe and healthy workplace or even cleanliness seriously when this huge, easily avoidable hazard is ignored.
If I were a customer looking to buy a Freightliner truck, taking a tour of the Cleveland plant, I would be very unimpressed with the constant smell of burning cigarettes and stinking ashtrays. I would be disturbed by the sight of employees smoking next to and while working on a brand new truck. This is unprofessional.
This is a case where the addictions of a minority of smokers have overridden sane thinking and policymaking.
ó Reggie Moysan
Spencer
No such thing as a moderateThe most important constitutional amendment is the Second Amendment. Private ownership of firearms is the only thing that keeps the government from trampling our other rights. “The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Understand it and apply it to all decisions in our county.
There is no such thing as a moderate politician. You are either liberal left or conservative right. A moderate politician is rubber legged, yellow bellied or has no spine to stick to one position. Moderates will waver back and forth until they don’t know what they support and the voter surely does not. Never elect a moderate, and you will have a better chance of understanding your representative’s views.
Our county commissioners need to recognize that Rowan County should not be a bedroom county where people live and travel to jobs elsewhere. We need industry in our county, not more houses. People who lost their jobs in textiles need a new job source. Folks around here are used to working for what they want (conservative). Many of our past commissioners have tried to build a give-away program by offering everything you want for free (liberal).
Liberalism should be classified as a mental illness. Liberals want higher taxes, more government regulations, abortion as birth control, homosexuality as a standard life style, same-sex marriage and gun control.
Conservatives have worked for lower taxes, smaller government, to outlaw abortion, expose and stop the homosexual lifestyle, to not support the misguided same sex marriage and stay away from gun control.
Rowan County is a conservative county and we need people like Sides, Deal and Ford to put us back on the right track and keep socialistic liberalism out.
ó Steve Karriker
Salisbury
headilne headilne On the morning of Friday March 14, between 7:50 and 8am our family pet a Black Miniature Schnauzer was hit and killed on 7th Street in front of our home. We didnt realize that she was out of the house and more than likely was trying to follow us to the schoolhouse. She was the sweetest puppy not even a year old yet. She was was my 1 year old sons playmate and my daughters best friend. Whomever hit her didnt even stop they just left her lying in the middle of the road to die. When I returned home I found her laying lifeless. My heart is breaking right now and I dont know how I will break the news to my daughter when she gets home. To whomever did this I wish that you would have a least stopped to see this beautiful little animal who was full of love, and move her out of the road. Now my family and I must greive in our loss.
ó Ashley Hartwell
Salisbury