By Sara Gregory
Salisbury Post
LANDIS ó The athletic leagues run by the town will continue, Landis Mayor Dennis Brown said Monday.
About 70 residents filled the room at the start of the Board of Aldermen meeting, most in support of the recreation programs the board had considered ending at the end of the year.
At its May 19 meeting, the board agreed to eliminate the town’s Recreation Department to help balance the budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
Monday, Brown said the Little League, girls’ softball and adult softball programs would not be cut.
“The Recreation Department has always helped define what Landis is,” he said.
The department consistently loses money by offering the teams, but Brown said its importance to the town is tremendous.
“That’s the kind of thing that’s worth losing a few dollars for,” Brown said.
The initial decision to eliminate the athletic programs was part of the board’s efforts to trim the budget.
“Its getting harder and harder to fund these things each year,” Brown said.
Jackie Sechler’s two girls play on the town’s softball teams, and she came Monday to show her support for the programs.
“That’s the only chance children have to get off the couch,” she said.
Sechler thanked the board for funding the program and said the community-based teams will attract people to the town.
An advisory board will be formed to assist in finding sponsors to help fund the league.
The board set a public hearing for residents to comment on the proposed budget for June 16 at 7 p.m.
Aldermen also unanimously approved joining an agreement between Rowan County, Salisbury, China Grove and Kannapolis concerning Rowan Express, an express-route transit service that would connect the county and four towns.