By Susan Shinn

For the Salisbury Post

KANNAPOLIS — The Kannapolis City Council took another step toward downtown revitalization Monday evening, securing two additional properties in the downtown business district.

Council voted unanimously 6-0 — Councilman Doug Wilson was out of town — to purchase the former K-Town Furniture property at 136 Oak Ave., as well as the Alexander House at 206 S. Main St.

The K-Town property comprises 2.85 acres and 48,818 square feet of commercial space. It was appraised at $1.125 million and is being purchased for $875,000. The Alexander House comprises 0.38 acres and 5,509 square feet of commercial/office space. It was appraised at $365,000 and is being purchased for $325,000.

Both properties are currently vacant, and both are critical pieces to the downtown revitalization plan, City Manager Mike Legg said.

Mayor Darrell Hinnant said of the K-Town property, “We realize the building itself has very little value, and we are essentially purchasing the property for future use.”

On the other hand, Legg said, the property at 206 S. Main St. is in good shape. “It could be used easily.”

Demolition and financing costs associated with these properties are being rolled into the overall downtown financing plan, Legg said.

Council also unanimously approved an asset management services agreement with the Development Finance Initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. DFI is the group assisting the city in the downtown revitalization effort. The one-year contract was set at $115,000.

The city will create a downtown operating fund, separate from the general fund, much like other city departments, Legg explained. That way, a non-profit organization can eventually easily manage the downtown. “This is the right approach to have a separate organization manage all of this.”

Right now, the downtown’s operating budget is set at $905,070, the city’s “best professional estimate” of revenues and expenses such as marketing and maintenance, Legg said. City Council will hear a presentation on the 2015-16 budget on May 11. Public hearings on the budget and the downtown plan are set for June 8.

In other business — believe it or not — council members got into the Christmas spirit with the help of the Kannapolis Police Department.

Deputy Police Chief Terry Clanton recognized numerous people who helped make the Cops Target Kids at Christmas program such a success. The program started in 2012, assisting 20 children with $250 allotted per child, and this past Christmas helped 42 children at $300 per child.

On hand from Target were Theresa Roberts, Greg Vandaveer, Jonathan White and Eric Freed. Clanton also reported that Jordan’s Car Show donated $3,000 to the effort, with Stewart-Haas racing donating $1,000.

“It was wonderful and heartwarming to see the look in the children’s eyes as they shopped,” Clanton said, not only for themselves, but for their families.

Hinnant issued multiple proclamations and recognitions, which included:

• A proclamation for Kannapolis Kares Day, April 25, a day of multiple volunteer opportunities.

• A proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, April 12-18.

• A proclamation for National Volunteer Week April 12-18.

• A recognition for Glenn Jenkins, who received the Volunteer of the Month Award. Jenkins turned 100 on Jan. 1, and is still an active Kannapolis District Committee member with Boy Scouts of America. He has also received his 65-year pin from BSA.

Wilmer Melton, director of public works, recognized Sharnelle Simpson as recipient of the Carolina Recycling Association’s Sensational Education and Outreach Award.

Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury.