By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó Kannapolis City Council members will tackle curbside recycling, a new police headquarters, historic preservation and other topics when they begin a long-range planning retreat today.
Council will gather from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pity’s Sake Lodge, the Rowan County home of David Murdock, who owns Dole Food Co. and founded the N.C. Research Campus.
Friday, they will move to the Core Lab at the Research Campus in downtown Kannapolis.
City staff have been working for months to prepare for the retreat. Ten employees will make presentations on everything from parks and public art to economic development and the Research Campus.
Kannapolis, the largest North Carolina city without curbside recycling, was ready to launch a program last year but cut it due to budget constraints during the economic downturn. There is support for curbside recycling on the council.
The city has long needed a new police headquarters. The police station is currently located in a former funeral home.
Council also will discuss how to protect or preserve the city’s mill village, a controversial issue for homeowners who don’t want restrictions on their property.
The retreat will include discussion about the city’s budget.