By Josh Bergeron

Josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County officials on Thursday will hold a public meeting to gather input about proposed water and sewer line extensions in the southern part of the county.

The meeting will be from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bostian Elementary School, 4245 Old Beatty Ford Road. The meeting will be a “drop-in public work session” with no formal presentation scheduled. Instead, County Manager Aaron Church said, local residents can come at any point during the allotted time.

County officials plan to create a land use plan for a rectangular area that includes parts of Bostian Heights, China Grove, Landis and a small part of northern Kannapolis. Generally, the rectangular area is centered around a new stretch of road that will be built across Interstate 85 and include an interstate exit. That new stretch of road will be called Old Beatty Ford Road. Part of the existing road by the same name will be renamed.

Church said engineers and county staff will be at the meeting to describe water and sewer plans in southern Rowan County. Maps will be placed around a room to show the plans.

“There’s going to be lots of changes in that area, and we want to try to be there for the citizens who may have some concerns or ideas about how the county can help,” Church said.

In general, the plans would extend lines across I-85 and into rural areas for economic development purposes. The water and sewer lines would be operated by county government instead of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.

Commissioner Craig Pierce said local residents will not be required to hook onto the line.

“I’m hoping that they’ll be receptive of us trying to grow the county and make that land down there more valuable for the owners,” Pierce said. “I’m sure there might be some people who will be upset because it changes it from a rural situation to a possible residential or even commercial, but for this county to grow and prosper we’ve got to put the infrastructure in. What better place than a new interchange while they’re widening I-85.”

Material for Thursday’s workshop can be viewed on the Rowan County Planning Department’s website by using the link tinyurl.com/landusestudy. Comments or suggestions can be submitted at tinyurl.com/landusecomment.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.