Also at Tuesday’s meeting, CityCouncil:
• Thanked Pastor Bill Godair and Cornerstone Church for starting El Latino, the only Latino newspaper in Rowan County.
Godair said the Latino population has grown by 98 percent in Rowan County, up to about 11,000 people. He introduced the six-member newspaper staff, led by editor Orlando Zapata.
The paper, which can be found online at ElLatinoToday.com, has published for about two months and is encouraging the estimated 60,000 Latinos here and in surrounding counties to spend money in Rowan County, Godair said.
• Agreed to pay a $25,000 grant to Turnkey Technologies, first recipient of the city’s new Industrial Building Revitalization Program, for completing improvements as promised at the former PowerCurbers building at 402 Bringle Ferry Road.
• Set a public hearing for June 21 to consider an economic incentive grant to “Project Tree.” The existing Rowan County company wants to create 49 new jobs paying an average annual salary exceeding $37,000, said Robert Van Geons, executive director for RowanWorks Economic Development.
The company would purchase, refurbish and occupy a vacant industrial building in Salisbury, Van Geons said.
He asked Council to consider a performance-based incentive grant of $765 per new job, with a limit of $37,500. The state, county and Duke Energy also are considering grants.
RowanWorks would include a clawback clause in the agreement to protect taxpayers, Van Geons said.
• Recognized from the Salisbury Police Department 2011 Veteran Officer of the Year Det. Travis Shulenburger, Young Officer of the Year Officer Wesley Lane, Employee of the Year Police Planner Michael Dhooghe.
• Recognized from the Salisbury Fire Department 2011 Veteran Firefighter of the Year Engineer Shawn McBride, Rookie Firefighter of the Year Fire Control Specialist Ryan Tillis, Fire Officer of the Year Captain Lewis Rogers, Medical Responder of the Year Firefighter/EMT Justin Vess, Bernard Penley-Service Above Self Award winner Engineer Marshal D. Lancaster.
• Congratulated the Salisbury Police Department for its seventh consecutive accreditation, or 21 years, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
The lengthy process holds the department accountable to 464 professional standards, Chief Rory Collins said.
“It’s not simple and it takes a great deal of effort,” he said.
Collins and Lt. Andy Efird showed a framed award for advanced meritorious accreditation and said the department has been recognized internationally.
• Donated property located at 615 S. Ellis St. for use as a city neighborhood park. The area will remain open space until the city can afford to install equipment, and the neighborhood will provide maintenance, said Amy Smith, chairwoman of the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Mary Arey, a board member and neighborhood advocate.
• Extended a permit through July 19 for facade improvements at Signs and Steins, 126 and 128 N. Main St. Dan Mikkelson, the city’s director of engineering, said crews are replacing window, cleaning and painting.
• Approved a lease-purchase contract for $714,000 to SunTrust Equipment Financing and Leasing Corporation for purchase of a new fire truck at a rate of 1.625 percent over four years.
• Approved a lease-purchase contract for $200,000 with the same lender for the purchase of security equipment with the same terms.
• Agreed to partner with Centralina Council of Governments to pursue a $40,000 planning grant from the N.C. Sustainable Communities Task Force. It costs the city nothing.
City staff will provide information about older industrial buildings available for economic development.
• Proclaimed June 25 as LGBT Pride Day. A festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 100 block of East Fisher Street will promote the elimination of discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
• Heard from Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell and Councilman Brian Miller, who are taking recent recommendations from the Better Housing Committee and distilling them into action items for City Council to consider.
• Recognized the Salisbury High School Men’s Golf Team for winning the N.C. 2A State Championship.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.