By Shavonne Potts

Salisbury Post

ROCKWELL — Members of the Rockwell Board of Aldermen got a presentation from Emily Jackson at their monthly meeting Monday.

The presentation concerned their role as members of the Board of Adjustments.

The Board of Adjustments considers requests for special exceptions and variances to zoning regulations.

Jackson, who helped the town develop its new ordinances for the Board of Adjustments, said some towns have a separate board that hears these requests, but a town board can hear appeals.

As members of the Board of Adjustments, the aldermen can, after a public hearing, reverse or affirm, wholly or partly an appeal.

She also said the Board of Adjustments would conduct a hearing — much like a court hearing, where those parties offering testimony would be sworn in and evidence submitted.

The board’s decisions can be appealed and heard again.

In other business:

* Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Walker said he received a call from a town resident, Edna McClary, who has a group that plays cards twice a week at the Civic Center. Members are concerned about being charged for the use of the building.

At the October meeting, the board established a rental fee of $50, half of which would be returned upon the return of the building key.

The stipulations are that no fee be charged to public good groups, though private benefit groups will be charged. In this case, a public good group is a support group or other established organization such as the Rockwell Young at Heart Club, members of which are exempt from the community building changes.

The board made no changes to the guidelines Monday. They have been over those guidelines several times.

* The sidewalk project is close to completion along N.C. 152 near the old mill at St. James Cemetery on Palmer Road. The only remaining repairs that need to be made are to a section near East Rowan Cafe.

The proposal was approved in June to remove existing sidewalks and install new ones.

* Police Chief Hugh Bost asked that the board consider allowing the police department to apply unused vacation time to sick time.

Board members made no decision, but said they would look into the matter.

Bost said it would be better than the officers and him losing that vacation time. He added that it’s a common practice with other municipalities.

* Approved the appointment of Tim Linker as fire chief and Jeff Wilson as deputy chief.

* Alderman Terry Beaver commended the East Rowan High brass ensemble for their performance during the Festival of Trees, especially during the cold weather. The ensemble was sponsored by the Downtown Revitalization Committee.

* Jeff Jones, an engineer with Salisbury-Rowan Utilities told board members that the water/sewer line project was completed Dec. 15.

Jones said they were behind at the beginning of the project, but the contractor caught up and finished at the date they agreed upon.

The project was to extend lines for better flow to the south end of town.

The project also allowed Sunshine Manufacturing to expand. The town will have to sign off to approve a compliance permit, which grants the manufacturing company connection.

Jones said any property inside the Rockwell zoning jurisdiction must apply for a compliance permit.

Beaver commended Jones on the work he’s done with recent sewer/water projects.

“He went the extra mile,” Beaver said.

Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com. & lt;i/ & gt;