By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
LANDIS ó The Board of Aldermen wholeheartedly backed a resolution opposing the expansion of the rail corridor along the North Carolina Railroad in the town of Landis.
The N.C. Railroad Co. wants property owners to pay rent annually for property they already own.
Rep. Fred Steen attended the board’s Monday meeting to discuss some of the amendments he’s proposing to include in the legislation.
The draft legislation as it is now written not only affects Landis residents as well as the town, but also those in Cabarrus County.
The town also owns property along this corridor. According to the resolution, the expansion would negatively impact the growth of the downtown area.
The resolution also calls proposed fees imposed by N.C. Railroad unconstitutional.
Two of Steen’s amendments include requiring the railroad company to prove it owns the property before any lease fee is charged and limiting the proposed “safety corridor” to 30 feet instead of the 100 or 200 feet the company is seeking.
In other matters the board also:
– Heard from John Marlow, a Landis resident who has begun organizing a South Beaver Street Community Watch.
Marlow said he moved to Landis and found it to be a “nice quiet little town.” He said a recent rash of break-ins has changed his impression.
He said he and the other neighbors have had a few meetings, the first of which was Oct. 14.
He hopes to also have an officer teach a self-defense class.
“I would like the town’s support,” he said.
Marlow said the group’s goal is to get back to a small town atmosphere where everyone knows their neighbors and they look out for each other.
– Alderman James Furr requested the board consider again an in-depth Internet-use policy.
One of the examples he briefly talked about was what to do if an employee took computer software home to download it to his or her own personal computer.
Furr said the policy would be considered more of a technology policy and encompass more than the Internet. He’s brought up the need for such a policy in previous meetings, but the matter died.
He submitted a draft of his ideas and asked the board to discuss some of them next month.
In February 2007, the board discussed the matter and some members argued the current policy was sufficient. Others said the policy needed amendments.
The policy proposal was tabled at that February meeting.
– Approved a budget amendment that will allot $32,760 in federal grant funds to be used for two fire positions. Another amendment will divide $1,750 in proceeds from noise ordinance violations between police uniforms and equipment.
Alderman Tony Hilton asked if the board had not already budgeted for police uniforms.
Town Administrator Reed Linn said it had and this money was not being used now for that, but would be available in that department’s account.
– Agreed to seek assistance from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center’s planning grants program to help with water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
Linn said the town could use this money to pay the matching portion of the grant it received from the U.S Department of Agriculture.
The USDA approved a loan of $2.9 million and a grant of $1 million in January 2008.
Hilton said if there is a way to obtain money from the government, then the town should get in on it so Landis doesn’t have to go into debt with a loan.
There’s been talk of a national economic stimulus that would provide economic relief to states and cities.
– The annual budget retreat is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Club at Irish Creek.