CHINA GROVE  — As department heads gave updates during the China Grove Town Council on Tuesday evening, Police Chief Andrew Deal took time to praise one of his officers.

Officer J.A. Vail recently was awarded a traffic reconstruction certification, said Deal.

Deal said the certification is a prestigious accolade for law enforcement officers and a “concentrated field of study.”

It required more than 240 hours of traffic reconstruction classes, which enable recipients to reconstruct traffic accidents with the use of lasers and math formulas.

The precise reconstructions are beneficial in accidents when an officer is involved or there’s a fatality, Deal said. Using his training, Vail is equipped to present evidence in court about these and other cases when more severe charges may be issued.

Deal said Vail has had a vested interest in China Grove’s traffic issues since joining the force five years ago.

“If you see a car on the side of the road, it’s probably Officer Vail,” said Deal. “… Now, he’ll be able to put these new skills to use through teaching or, unfortunately, through practicality on the road.”

In other business at Tuesday’s meeting:

• The council heard an update from Benjamin Bradley of Schnabel Engineering regarding a former landfill on Patterson Street.

Following extensive testing, the property could be the site of a sports complex. Schnabel Engineering is doing the multiphase tests that include geophysics to determine metal concentrations, contamination delimitation and asbestos presence.

Bradley said the company still has two phases to go before it can make further recommendations to the council, for a total 2.5-year process.

• The council approved the annexation of Altec Industries, located on N.C. 152.

• The council heard an update from Rod Crider of the Rowan County Economic Development Commission.

Crider said the commission is continuing efforts to put acreage along Interstate 85 through the Duke Site Readiness program. Six landowners have not yet responded to inquiries and were contacted by letter recently.

The landowners have until early next week to respond and express interest, said Crider.

The Site Readiness program offers landowners valuable information for potential buyers regarding the industrial potential of land for sale. Duke compiles the information through land studies offered free as a way for the company to add industrial customers.