Kannapolis company plans relocation to Whitney Industrial Park

Published 12:00 am Sunday, June 5, 2016

SALISBURY — Rowan Works Economic Development plans to ask the Rowan County Board of Commissioners on Monday to financially back the relocation of a business that could create 20 new jobs.

Commissioners will discuss the relocation prospect as part of a meeting that starts at 3 p.m. A public hearing on the county’s 2016-17 budget will also be held later, at 5:30 p.m.

Aldo Products, which supplies roof coating products, is considering relocating from Kannapolis to a vacant building at 1320 Litton Drive in the Whitney Industrial Park. The park is located between Salisbury and China Grove along the U.S. 29 corridor.

The property would require renovation totaling more than $1 million. According to a memo sent by RowanWorks, the building would need improved wiring, air conditioning, dust collectors, framing, dock levelers and seals and the sprinkler system.

Due to the cost of renovations, the company is applying for a Building Reuse Grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce. The county and RowanWorks would need to provide a minimum financial match of 5 percent. Aldo Products is eligible for $180,935 in grant funds. If the county agrees to support the project, it will need to contribute approximately $9,000 for project administration.

The grant application, however, lists a $16,000 local cash match.

Aldo Products employs 13 people at its Kannapolis office. After relocating, the company expects to create 20 new jobs that would pay an average wage of $37,855.

Other business from Monday’s meeting includes:

• Holding a public hearing for a personnel amendment that would give county commissioners the authority over whether to add new, benefited positions.

Funding for part-time or temporary positions will be approved on an as-needed basis. Non-benefited employees will be limited to 1,000 hours a year and an average of less than 30 hours a week.

• Considering a permit to exceed the county’s amplified noise standards for a rodeo at 1025 Barringer Road.

The rodeo event would occur on July 2 from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. if approved.

• Holding a public hearing and considering a permit that would allow the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce to exceed the county’s noise ordinance during its annual dragon boat festival at High Rock Lake.

• Considering whether to accept a purchase offer for a piece of property in Speedway Business Park.

The purchase offer is $105,000 for lot No. 9 in the park. EGV Associates LLC has made the offer and no other offers were received during an upset bid process.

• A number of board appointments.

The board appointments include: Richard Daryl Cox for reappointment to a four-year term on the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees, Jim Sides for reappointment to a three-year term on the Rowan County Board of Social Services, David Post for reappointment to the Centralina Economic Development Committee, Thad Howell for reappointment to the Rowan County Tourism Development Authority, Kelly Alexander for appointment to the Tourism Development Authority

• Considering approval of an agreement that would designate Cabarrus County’s 911 center as Rowan County’s backup 911 center

• The Board of Commissioners will consider budget amendments for the remainder of the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The budget amendments include a $38,000 increase to canteen concessions for the Rowan County Detention Center, and $19,000 in reserve. The increase would bump costs from $50,000 to $88,000, a $14,500 increase for ambulance fees and contracted services, bringing the totals to $60,000 each, a decrease in funds for the county’s appropriated fund balance and claims expenses.

The $145.68 million budget under consideration in the public hearing is 5 percent higher that this year’s budget but does not call for a property tax increase. As proposed, it leaves the property tax rate at 66.25 cents per $100 valuation, or $662.50 on a $100,000 house.