By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó The battle with the N.C. Railroad Company over land along its tracks through town is heating up.
Aldermen unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night opposing expansion of the rail corridor and calling on the N.C. General Assembly to enact legislation limiting the powers of the company.
On Monday night, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and the Landis Board of Aldermen approved similar resolutions, both supporting N.C. Rep. Fred Steen’s efforts.
Steen, a Republican from Landis, is trying to amend proposed legislation to slow the company from charging rent to businesses adjacent to the tracks. Under Steen’s proposal, the company would have to go to court to prove it owns the property where the businesses are located before it could charge them rent.
Aldermen Allen Welter urged anyone who receives a notice from the company to refuse to pay.
Welter also urged the town to stop paying a yearly fee for a fence the town erected near the Little League Field to prevent children from crossing the railroad tracks.
“Let them take us to court. I’d love it,” said Welter, who also owns property along the tracks.
He said a representative of the rail company came on his property a year or so ago and told him he would have to pay a yearly fee.
Welter said his deed shows that he owns the property to the center of the tracks and he’s paying taxes on it to Rowan County and China Grove.
Welter said he ran off the company representative and he has never come back.
Town Attorney Tom Brooke, whose office is adjacent to the railroad tracks, also voiced his opposition to the company’s efforts.
Welter said more than 200 property owners between Kannapolis and Greensboro are paying the rental fee.
The board also approved a resolution opposing a state proposal to transfer ownership and maintenance of secondary roads to local governments.
In other matters, the board:
– Approved a resolution asking the N.C. Department of Transportation to place a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Bostian Road, an area that has considerable development under way.
Welter cast the lone dissenting vote, saying the resolution may dilute the town’s efforts to get a traffic light on N.C. 152 at Kress Ventures Drive, the entrance to Carson High School
– Unanimously approved a resolution asking the N.C. Department of Transportation to put a traffic light at the entrance to Carson High School.
– Heard from Mayor Don Bringle, who asked Town Manager Bill Pless to look at the town’s brush pickup policy and compare it to adjacent towns to see if it is looser or tighter.
Bringle noted that he continues to receive complaints, particularly from the town’s elderly residents.
– Considered a request from the South Rowan High School JROTC Drill Team to help pay expenses to compete in a championship event in Landover, Md., in April. The team is trying to raise $5,000.
Aldermen agreed to decide on a donation at the February meeting.
– Appointed Brie Bivens, Charles Collins and Arthur Higgins to the town’s Zoning Board of Adjustments. Their terms expire Dec. 31, 2010.
– Appointed Harry Corriher, Kathy Karelitz, Clyde Richards, Demian Stewart and Linda Williams to the Planning Board. The terms expire Dec. 31, 2011.
– Set the board’s annual retreat for Jan. 31, starting at 8 a.m. It will likely be held at the China Grove Roller Mill.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.