Commissioners to approve 2017 Homeland Security Grant

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 5, 2017

SALISBURY — With approval from county commissioners, Rowan County’s Emergency Management Division will execute a 2017 Homeland Security Grant received as part of a regional preparedness project.

The grant is intended to support local efforts to prevent terrorism and other catastrophic events. Specific programs funded a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises and more.

For Rowan County, the grant award involves the distribution of two electronic credentialing systems across region-specific areas.

Commissioners will consider grant terms on Monday during their 3 p.m. meeting, which will be held at the Rowan County Administration Building — 130 West Innes Street in Salisbury.

In other business from Monday’s agenda:

• Commissioners will consider approving a proclamation to recognize Nov. 18 as International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, presented by Vickie Eddlemen.

Eddlemen has been deeply impacted by suicide, having lost a friend’s nephew, her husband’s brother-in-law, and her father to this pervasive problem. In her letter to Commissioner Craig Pierce, she elaborated:

“This day is so important because so many families suffer through a tragedy like this alone. They do so because of the heavy stigma surrounding the disease and its terminal ending,” she said. “Those lost by suicide could no more think themselves healthy than a cancer patient. Like the cancer patient, they could not control when it became fatal.”

• Commissioners could approve the purchase of sidearms for retiring Rowan County Sherriff’s Office employees.

Lieutenant Gene Smitley and Deputy John Barnwell will retire at the end of 2017. If this request is approved, the pair will be able to purchase their sidearms for $1.

• Commissioners could set public hearings for the rezoning of two Rural Agricultural parcels to Commercial, Business, Industrial with a Conditional District.

These parcels are owned by Travis Cauble and Rigoberto and Zulma Maldonado.

Cauble seeks to construct a 4,000 square foot metal fabrication shop used to manufacture BBQ smokers. The Maldonados seek to continue their operation as wholesale automotive traders.

Public hearings for rezonings may be scheduled for Nov. 20.

• Commissioners will consider approving purchases for the library and the Emergency Services Department.

The library has requested $45,880 to purchase 74 new desktop computers for their computer labs. Emergency services is seeking 19 vehicle data acquisition systems at a cost not to exceed $102,395.

These systems monitor drivers, backup spotters, emergency lights, sirens, seatbelts, turn signals and more. They are meant to lower the risk of EMS crashes, improve safety and improve patient experience.