By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — Residents of Landis who have a concealed carry license may be able to carry firearms on town property if a proposed ordinance passes. The ordinance, presented to the Landis Board of Aldermen at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, would allow responsible carry of firearms on the town greenway, town parks, or other town properties.

The ordinance prohibits all other forms of weapons.

“You couldn’t run with a sword at the lake, for instance.” Detective Hosey with the Landis Police Department said.

Currently, firearms are forbidden on all town property unless carried by law enforcement or another exempt party. If the new ordinance passes, there would be no restrictions on concealed carry, provided the carrier has a valid permit. Open carry would still be prohibited.

“So all those who are packing in here tonight would become legal,” Alderman Dorland Abernathy joked.

“Let’s pass that in a hurry,” Mayor Mike Mahaley added.

The town has also drawn up a proposed ordinance that would allow low-speed vehicles, such as golf carts, on town roads. Town officials based it on a similar ordinance in China Grove.

If passed, the ordinance would require all low-speed vehicles driving on town roads to be registered, with a paid permit and to have headlights, brake lights and turn signals. The vehicles could not drive on roads with a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph, and would have to be operated by a licensed driver of at least 16 years of age.

But passing the ordinance means the town would have to lower the speed limit on three major roads, where golf carts and other slow vehicles often putter from China Grove to Landis. Speed limits would need to be lowered on North Main Street, Kimball Road and Mount Moriah Church Road.

A public hearing for both proposed ordinances will be held at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting on July 11 at 7 p.m.

In other business the board:

• Will hold a public hearing for its proposed budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year at 6 p.m. on June 16.
• Voted to return the town Legion building to the American Legion. The town of Landis will provide the American Legion with $10,000 in the 2016-17 fiscal year and $10,000 in the 2018-2019 fiscal year for necessary repairs to the building. The agreement was the subject of some debate among the board, but passed unanimously.  “I feel like our hands are tied,” Alderman Seth Moore said.
• Agreed to a pole-attachment contract with Windstream. The company will pay the town $2 annually per pole used. The contract will be for seven years.
• City hall will close at noon on June 30 to close out the fiscal year.
• Mayor Mike Mahaley promised the town that the pool would be open an extra week at the end of the season. The town pool closed down opening day due to a leak, and the bottom had to be replastered. Town officials promised that repairs would be finished this week and the pool would open at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.