County may take over China Grove planning

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 16, 2011

SALISBURY ó Rowan County soon may provide planning and zoning services for China Grove.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners plans to approve a contract between the two governments at 6 p.m. Monday on the second floor of the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Rowan County Administration Building.
In a memo to county commissioners, County Planning Director Ed Muire wrote that the town manager asked the county Planning and Development Department if it could provide services to China Grove.
ěStaff is of the opinion that addition of these duties can be successfully administered by current staff while also creating an additional revenue source,î Muire wrote. ěThis additional revenue, combined with other departmental budget cuts for (fiscal year) 2011-12, will remove the need to eliminate a position within the department.î
County staff would provide administrative planning functions and enforcement activities and inspections within the town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction for $1,500 per month.
In addition to county commissioners, the China Grove Town Council must approve the contract before the new arrangement begins.
Also at the meeting, commissioners plan to:
Set a date and time for a public hearing on the countyís 2011-12 budget.
Consider approval of a few budget amendments.
Donate a surplus stretcher to the Rockwell Rural Fire Department.
Give final approval to a lease for Piedmont Skydiving with changes made at the March 7 meeting.
Proclaim May 15-21 as Law Enforcement Week.
– Proclaim May as Shield-A-Badge With Prayer Awareness Month.