By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE ó Aldermen will consider applications for the vacant manager’s job at a meeting later this month.
They will hold a special meeting on March 1 for their annual retreat.
The retreat is set for 9 a.m. at the China Grove Roller Mill Museum and is expected to take half a day.
Interim Town Manager Bill Pless said the retreat needs to focus on some long-term planning and setting priorities, not on budget items.
Mayor Don Bringle had said earlier he wanted a representative of the N.C. Department of Transportation to attend to discuss some issues, including the traffic situation at the entrance to Carson High School.
But Bringle later acknowledged that holding the session on Saturday may make it difficult to get a highway official to attend.
The board set a special session for Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. to review applications for the manager’s position.
The town has received 11 applications, including one from as far away as Colorado.
Pless noted the deadline for applications is Feb. 22.
Some additional advertisements may be placed in area newspapers.
All American Associates of Mount Airy, which employs Pless, is also assisting the town with the manager search.
Advertisements have been run in various municipal trade publications.
In other matters, the board:
O- Agreed to look at bids on grading, compacting and graveling a half-acre lot near the Little League Field at the March meeting.
Town officials have drawn repeated criticism for buying the lot nearly three years ago for parking, but never fixing it to allow parking.
“The price tag may shock you,” said Pless, who said the lot requires substantial preparation with equipment the town doesn’t have.
– Received its second check under the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance adopted nearly two years ago.
Gary Knox of Joe Knox Properties gave town officials a check for $54,284 for lots in his Millers Grant subdivision. The money will be divided among the fire, police and parks and recreation programs.
The board also approved a $160,000 security guarantee for Millers Grant Phase 1, which is on N.C. 152 west. That will allow Knox to record the plat and begin selling lots.
– Approved transfer of easement on the McMahan property on U.S. 29 at Bostian Road to the city of Salisbury. The easement provides access to provide a second connection to the Salisbury-Rowan Utilities water line.
– Declared several dozen items as surplus property. Most of the items are from the police department and include bicycles and weed trimmers which have been found or turned in. A 2002 Ford Crown Victoria police car will also be sold.
All surplus property is sold on the Web site GovDeals.com.
– Agreed to spend $2,446 for new picnic tables at the Little League Field.
The Department of Correction will build 16 new trash cans for the area.