By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
Rowan County commissioners have appointed an 11-member Land-use Steering Committee Monday night with most of the seats filled by unanimous voters.
A few nominees were rejected on 3-to-2 votes.
Under the plan devised by Chairman Arnold Chamberlain, each commissioner ended up nominating two of the 10 township representatives. Rick Hudson, the 11th member, will represent the Rowan County Planning Board.
Heres the list of representatives by township:
Salisbury – Jeff Morris, chairman of the Spencer Board of Adjustments, nominated by Chamberlain.
China Grove – Paula Holte, lives in China Grove’s ETJ, nominated by Chad Mitchell.
Locke – Steve Poteat, initially seated on a 4-to-1 vote with Jon Barber against. The board revoted after Chamberlain apologized for telling Barber he would not support Poteat. On a revote, Poteat was seated unanimously.
Steele – Ben Knox who applied as a China Grove resident, nominated by Barber, seated unanimously.
Cleveland – Richard Shaver, nominated by Commissioner Tina Hall, won on a 3-to-2 vote. Chamberlain and Barber voted against.
Franklin – Chris Cohen, nominated by Chamberlain, seated on a 3-2 vote, with Sides and Hall against.
Planning Board – Rick Hudson, nominated by Mitchell. Sides voted against.
Mount Ulla – James Rollans, approved on a 3-to-2 vote. Mitchell and Sides voted against.
The Mount Ulla seat drew the most discussion and debate.
Mitchell initially nominated Richard Parker, the farmer who proposes to lease property to Davidson Broadcasting Company for a 1,350-foot FM radio tower. Davidson has appealed the county’s refusal to grant a permit.
Chamberlain noted that most of those who applied from Mount Ulla have been involved in the tower issue. In addition to Parker, he cited Rollans Caryle Sherrill and Betsy Webster.
Mitchell and Sides supported Parker, with Chamberlain, Hall and Barber voting against.
Mitchell, Sides and Hall then voted in favor of Rollans.
Unity – Joseph “Artie” Watson, nominated by Barber, seated by unanimous vote.
Scotch-Irish – Eric Pence, nominated by Hall, seated by a unanimous vote.
The panel will work with the Planning Department and Benchmark to develop a land-use plan for western Rowan.