By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Rowan County commissioners Monday gave an engineering company authority to begin installing casings for water and sewer lines under Interstate 85.

By a unanimous vote, the commissioners approved a task order that asks engineering company McGill Associates to survey an area in southern Rowan County, near I-85, and design water and sewer line casings. The casings will be hollow tubes under the interstate until the lines are installed. The cost is $87,000.

It’s the latest in an ongoing county project to extend water and sewer lines into rural areas of Rowan County. Primarily, county commissioners hope to boost economic development there.

On Monday, County Manager Aaron Church told the commissioners that the cost would be four times lower to install the casings while I-85 is being widened rather than after construction is complete. He also spoke briefly about other water and sewer system efforts.

The casings will be in roughly the same area as a planned I-85 exit at Old Beatty Ford Road.

Once McGill Associates finishes its work, the county will solicit bids for construction. Church said Monday’s action represents a jump ahead in the planning process for efficiency and cost savings.

The commissioners did not comment about the task order during Monday’s meeting. Shortly after approving it, they adjourned the meeting, which lasted 40 minutes.

In other business from Monday’s meeting:

• The commissioners accepted a $2.96 million loan from the N.C. Division of Water Infrastructure for a separate water and sewer line project in the Dukeville area. The loan comes with a maximum interest rate of 1.53 percent. It would need approval from the Local Government Commission before being final.

• The commissioners received a report from the Child Protection and Fatality Prevention Team. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

• The commissioners held a hearing and awarded a conditional-use permit to Scottie Goodman for a 1,440-square-foot storage building at 457 Faith Farm Road. The new building will be used to store a boat, jet skis, cars and other personal items.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.