By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — The state has extended the deadline for Rowan County and Salisbury to agree on consolidation of 911 services.
Originally, the county needed to have the city on board by Monday or lose $700,000 in state funds, as well as $500,000 from the city to help pay for consolidation.
But the city and county are still at odds, and Chad Mitchell, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, said today the N.C. 911 Board has agreed to give Rowan more time.
“They are willing to work with us for a little while after the beginning of May,” Mitchell said. “We just don’t want to stretch this on too long.”
Both County Manager Gary Page and Commissioner Jim Sides are out of town today and Friday, and Mitchell said he did not want the board to discuss recent amendments proposed by Salisbury City Council without them.
Commissioners have called a meeting for 8 a.m. Monday.
City Council has canceled a meeting set for noon Friday but will meet as regularly scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday, where council members could address any changes made by the commissioners.
The nine-page 911 consolidation agreement has gone through several revisions. Disagreement remains over whether the city will dictate how many additional 911 telecommunications the county must hire, how long a new consolidation committee will exist and whether the city will attach strings to the $500,000 grant to the county.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.