By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
County commissioners want to cast a wide net to fill four appointments on the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners discussed the upcoming appointments recently and decided to advertise and spread the word that they want applicants from across the county with business experience.
One seat on the EDC board is currently vacant due to the resignation of Rick Hudson, who has taken a job outside of North Carolina
Three more appointments expire June 30. They are now held by Bruce Jones, Harold Earnhardt and Raymond Coltrain. Jones is not eligible for reappointment.
Chairman Arnold Chamberlain noted that the county had received only one application. Jim Greene, a Salisbury insurance agent, has applied.
“Maybe we need to advertise in the paper. … We need people who understand business,” Chamberlain said.
“We need some new blood,” Commissioner Jim Sides said. He’s not displeased with the the current board, he added, but would like to open up the process.
Sides also agreed with a suggestion by Commissioner Jon Barber to contact municipalities around the county and seek applications.
Barber questioned the need to advertise for applicants, but Chamberlain said the board has done so before.
The board voted unanimously to advertise the four EDC posts.
Anyone interested in applying may contact the County Manager’s office at 704-216-8180, or go the the county Web site at www.co.rowan.nc.us.
In other matters, the board:
– Pulled a budget amendment from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office that would have allocated $3,000 from forfeiture funds to pay postage for a survey to determine public support for building a new detention center.
Last month, commissioners deleted a presentation by Sheriff’s Office administrators related to the survey. The budget amendment was the second attempt to gain county approval, but it failed.
Commissioners have said they plan to build a dormitory-type facility that can handle around 100 inmates and forego building a $35 million-$50 million detention center at this point.
– Pulled from the consent agenda a proposal that would allow the Planning and Development Department to hire McGill Associates to review erosion control plans for the county.
– Approved a proclamation declaring May 17th as “Let’s Get Connected Day” in Rowan County.
The Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council will hold an event at the Bell Tower from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A prayer circle will be held at noon.
– Approved a proclamation declaring May 18-24 as Emergency Medical Services week.
– Approved a proclamation declaring May as Older Americans Month in Rowan County. Currently there are 24,982 citizens age 60 or older living in Rowan County.
– Approved Red Tractor Trail as the name for a road off the 1200 block of Barnhardt Road.
The board also made several appointments to various boards. They are
– Airport Technical Advisory Committee ó Brian Cooker, retired military and commercial pilot; B. Clay Lindsay Jr., contractor and aircraft owner; and Dink Safrit.- Rowan County Board of Health ó Susan Thomas to fill unexpired term of Mary Henley.
– Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency ó Bill Godair reappointed to a two-year term.
– Franklin Volunteer Fire Department ó fire commissioners, Mike Trexler, Steve Thurston and Roams Shoat Jr. to two-year terms.
– Locke Volunteer Fire Department ó fire commissioner, Ernest Cowan, two years; board of trustees, Chad Michael and David Linker.
– Criminal Justice Partnership Program ó community service coordinator, Sylvia Warren.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.