By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

Top county justice officials will meet with county commissioners Monday to make a pitch for more space.

Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown requested the meeting with commissioners to discuss immediate and future courthouse needs.

The appointment of a fifth district court judge along with the increasing cases in civil and criminal courts is fueling the need for additional space for courtroom and support facilities.

District Attorney Bill Kenerly, Clerk of Court Jeff Barger and Resident Superior Court Judge John Holshouser are also scheduled to meet with commissioners and Judge Brown.

In other matters, the board will:

* Consider adopting a policy regarding unlawful entry onto private property.

The proposed policy would prevent unlawful entry onto private property by the county or by units or government agencies acting on behalf of the county or receiving money from Rowan County.

* Conduct a public hearing on reducing the Planning Board from 11 to 9 members.

Commissioners will then consider appointments to fill vacancies — four if it remains at 11, two if it’s reduced to 9.

Applicants for the Planning Board include current members Joe Teeter, Melanie Earle and Gregory Edds. Other candidates include Dr. Arthur Steinberg and Ann Furr, previous members of the Planning Board, Carl Ford and Harry Kenneth Smith Jr.

* Hold a closed session to receive advice from County Attorney Jay Dees regarding acquisition of an undercover vehicle for the sheriff’s department.

* Consider approval of a contract for technology at Ethan Shive Elementary, which is under construction on Holshouser Road. Ken-Nect Communication submitted the low bid of $116,445.

* Consider appointments to five separate panels: Library Board, Faith Planning Board, Agricultural Advisory Board, Board of Health, and West Rowan Volunteer Fire Department Board of Commissioners.

* Consider appointing a commissioner to serve as the liaison to the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, acting as a conduit for information between the commissioners and the association.

* Consider approving an extensive consent agenda which includes 11 items. Among those are requests to seek grants for the library, approve a request to add roads to the state system, and approve a new schedule of dental fees for the health department.

The Board of Commissioners meets at 4 p.m. Monday in the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room, County Administrative Offices, 130 West Innes St.