By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

CHINA GROVE — Town officials have put a hold on adopting a commercial building code ordinance.

Aldermen were scheduled to conduct a public hearing on the “new” ordinance Tuesday evening, but opted to forgo the hearing.

Instead, Mayor Don Bringle appointed a committee to thoroughly review the ordinance and bring recommendations back to the the Board of Aldermen.

Mayor Pro Temp Blair Lyseski and Alderman Allen Welter will serve on the committee along with Codes Enforcement Officer Tony Cline and Town Manager Eric Davis.

Officials expressed concerns about some of the wording in the ordinance, including establishing a form of a commercial zoning office.

Officials have said the ordinance was in effect for several years. Many of the town’s documents were discarded during a prior administration, leaving no record of its adoptions.

Cline, who works for Benchmark/CMR Services, found a copy of the ordinance in the Benchmark files. The Kannapolis-firm has done planning for the town for almost two decades.

Officials expressed overall support for a commercial code indicating the document will come back to the board in the future.

Currently, the town can do minimum code enforcement only on residential structures.

In other matters, the board heard information or acted as follows:

* Delayed re-adoption of zoning maps with annexations. Officials said the maps contained errors.

* Discussed preliminary plans for the board’s annual retreat, tentatively scheduling it for March 1. It will likely be held again at the China Grove Roller Mill Museum.

Aldermen will put together a list of topics at the February meeting.

* Reappointed Mayor Don Bringle to serve as the town’s representative of the Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization.

* Approved a contract with Piedmont Asphalt to pave Blackwelder Street for $31,350.

Alderman Troy Elliott was absent due to illness.