Staff report

SALISBURY — Rowan County commissioners on Monday will hear how a consulting firm plans to analyze the proposed consolidation of several county departments.

Commissioners are scheduled to hear a proposal to consolidate building inspections, environmental health, environmental management, fire marshal and planning departments into one unit. The proposal, from California based Matrix Consulting Group, doesn’t yet make specific recommendations about how to do so. Instead, the company says its work would would result in a final report about consolidation.

The total cost of the project would be no more than $72,000 and the work would take place over 14 weeks.

Tasks outlined by Matrix Consulting Group in its proposal include developing an understanding of issues and existing operations, conducting a stakeholder survey and focus group meetings, determine how existing options compare to “best management practices,” evaluate staffing and service levels, evaluate organization of the permitting process and draft a final report.

Among the items included the report would be recommended staffing numbers in the new department and a description of costs to consolidate.

Monday’s meeting will be 6 p.m. in the Rowan County Administration Building — 130 West Innes St.

In other business:

• Commissioners will consider naming a bridge on Stokes Ferry Road over South Second Creek in honor of officer Robert Young Clement, who served in the Spencer Police Department.

• Commissioners will consider a tax administration software lease in the amount of $27,540 for the Register of Deeds.

• Commissioners will receive a presentation from Friends of the Rowan Public Library about their support of library programs and funding for the proposed West Rowan Branch in Cleveland.

• Commissioners will consider a permit to exceed the county’s noise ordinances for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Dragon Boat Festival on July 27 at the Shrine Club on Long Ferry Road.

• Commissioners will consider a permit to exceed the county’s noise ordinance to have a “live band play music on a pontoon boat with a floating platform” near piece of land in High Rock Lake known as “Goat Island.”

The permit, requested by Mikey Wetzel, would be for an event on June 23.

• As part of the consent agenda, commissioners will consider a request from the Rowan Public Library and the Friends of the Rowan Public Library for space at West End Plaza to be used for book sales and storage.

• As part of the consent agenda, commissioners will schedule a public hearing for debt to be incurred for capital improvements at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and in the Rowan-Salisbury School System.