Dart to those who would have the public believe state officials tried to wave the city of Salisbury away from starting its fiber-to-the-home network, Fibrant. While the N.C. General Assembly did eventually pass legislation to curtail Fibrant’s reach and economic prospects — after heavy lobbying from the telecom industry — that action came after the fact.

The city actually received state approval when the Local Government Commission OK’d $33.56 million in bonds the city issued to finance the system in 2008.

Susan Kluttz, mayor at the time, takes issue with those who suggest events unfolded the other way around. It was only after Salisbury had borrowed money for Fibrant and laid hundreds of miles of fiber optic line all over the city that the General Assembly decided to get involved by barring other municipalities from starting systems. The “level playing field” bill that passed in 2011 grandfathered in the systems in Salisbury and Wilson that were already in place but threw up obstacles to their growth — essentially restricting services to within the city limits.

Expanding beyond the city had been part of the city’s plan to make Fibrant profitable.

By the time the “level playing field” bill passed, there was no going back for the city. The lines were in place and the system was about to launch. “We had to stick to our business plan,” Kluttz says.

Laurels to the people who have voted or intend to vote in this spring’s primaries and/or the city’s Fibrant referendum. As of last Friday, 1,243 people had voted — not many, considering Rowan County has 94,275 registered voters. But there’s plenty of time left. Early voting continues through Saturday, and polls across the county will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, Primary Day.

Again, here are the three early voting locations:

• The American Legion building in Rockwell, 8580 U.S. 52, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday.

• The Rowan Public Library South Branch in China Grove, 920 Kimball Road, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday.

• The Board of Elections office in West End Plaza at 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd. W., open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday — the only location open Saturday.

Any eligible Rowan resident can vote at any of the early voting locations — and even register to vote, if you haven’t done that yet. On Primary Day, you should vote in your precinct.

Whenever, wherever — just be sure to vote. If you fail to cast a ballot, someone else will be deciding Rowan’s future in your stead.